Thread: Saudis plan fence along Iraq border

Haven't they heard walls don't work. They better consult the Mexican Governement before they start building.

http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Saudi_Ar ... 70807.html

Published: 09/28/2006 12:00 AM (UAE)


Saudis plan fence along Iraq border
AP



Riyadh: In a sign of regional concern over terrorism, Saudi Arabia is pushing ahead with plans to build a fence along its entire 900km border with Iraq to prevent terrorists from entering the kingdom from the chaotic northern neighbour.

The barrier, which will likely take five to six years to complete, is part of a $12 billion (about Dh44.16 billion) package of measures including electronic sensors, bases and physical barriers to protect the kingdom from external threats, said Nawaf Obaid, a security adviser to the Saudi government.

The ambitious project reflects not only concern over terrorism but also growing alarm over the situation in Iraq, where US forces are struggling to prevent Sunni-Shiite violence from escalating to full-scale civil war.

All of Iraq's neighbours, including the Saudis, fear that violence could spill over the borders and threaten their own security.

For the Saudis, those threats could come from Saudi militants returning home to continue the struggle against the pro-US monarchy or from Shiite extremists seeking to stir up trouble among the country's Shiite minority.

Since 2004, Saudi Arabia has spent about $1.8 billion (about Dh6.6 billion) to shore up its defences along the border with Iraq.

US and Iraqi officials have long complained about Saudi extremists crossing into Iraq mostly through Syria to join the battle against American and coalition forces.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/ ... CA861F.htm

Saudi Arabia plans Iraqi border fence


Wednesday 27 September 2006, 20:35 Makka Time, 17:35 GMT

Saudi Arabia has said it is pushing ahead with plans to build a 900km fence along its border with Iraq in an attempt to improve security.

Nawaf Obaid, a security adviser, said on Wednesday the $12 billion border will take between five and six years to complete and will have electronic sensors to protect the oil-rich kingdom from external threats.

"The main issue is to seal the border on the Iraqi side since there has been almost no [Iraqi security] presence since the US invasion," Obaid said.

The project reflects growing alarm in Saudi Arabia over the situation in Iraq where US forces are struggling to prevent sectarian violence from escalating into a civil war.

Since 2004, Saudi Arabia has spent about $1.8 billion to shore up its defences along the border with Iraq.

Iraq approves

US and Iraqi officials have complained about Saudis crossing into Iraq - mostly through Syria - to join the fight against US-led forces.

In addition, the Saudis want to prevent drug-smugglers, weapons-dealers and illegal migrants from using Iraq as an avenue into the country, said Obaid.

Brigadier-General Abdul-Karim Khalaf, the spokesman for Iraq's interior ministry, said officials had heard of the plans to improve border security and added "we thanked them for it".

"If the Saudis want to build border defences to stop the infiltration of terrorists, they can do that to protect their borders," he said.

Saudis arrested

US officials said last April that Saudis were among the top five nationalities among foreign fighters captured by US-led forces in Iraq.

Between September 2005 and April, security forces arrested 23 Saudis in Iraq, compared with 51 Syrians and 38 Egyptians, US officials said earlier this year.

Oh sure...the countries actually sponsoring terrorism GET A FENCE, but WE don't.

GRRRRR!!

Good fences make good neighbors! We need one so too!!!