RIYADH - Interior Minister Prince Naif, on Thursday, accused the United States of applying a double standard in the Middle East, banning Iraq from acquiring lethal weapons, which Israel is allowed to keep.
Prince Naif also disclosed that the Kingdom had bankrolled the US-led 1991 Gulf War to the tune of $80 billion. "They (Americans) forbid Iraq and (other) Arab states from acquiring weapons of mass destruction which Israel is allowed to have, even though it threatens regional and world security," he told reporters. Having said that, Saudi Arabia does not want any country in the region to hold such weapons, Prince Naif added.
The United States has threatened to attack Iraq and oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on grounds that he is pursuing weapons of mass destruction. The Saudi official denounced perceived Western media campaigns against his country and other Arab states, saying they were "orchestrated by the Zionist lobby which works against the American people’s interests."
"Such campaigns will not cause the Saudi leadership and people to swerve from their commitments to their religion, to their nation, and to the world," he said, stressing that Riyadh rejected terrorism. "The most powerful nation in the world is hostile to Arabs and Muslims as a result of the influence the Zionist lobby wields in the United States," the prince said.
Prince Naif also disclosed that the Kingdom had bankrolled the US-led 1991 Gulf War to the tune of $80 billion. "They (Americans) forbid Iraq and (other) Arab states from acquiring weapons of mass destruction which Israel is allowed to have, even though it threatens regional and world security," he told reporters. Having said that, Saudi Arabia does not want any country in the region to hold such weapons, Prince Naif added.
The United States has threatened to attack Iraq and oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on grounds that he is pursuing weapons of mass destruction. The Saudi official denounced perceived Western media campaigns against his country and other Arab states, saying they were "orchestrated by the Zionist lobby which works against the American people’s interests."
"Such campaigns will not cause the Saudi leadership and people to swerve from their commitments to their religion, to their nation, and to the world," he said, stressing that Riyadh rejected terrorism. "The most powerful nation in the world is hostile to Arabs and Muslims as a result of the influence the Zionist lobby wields in the United States," the prince said.