Word: arabia
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1980-1989
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Even as hopes for an early cessation of hostilities faded, so did fears that the conflagration could spread to neighboring Arab gulf states or even escalate into a confrontation between the superpowers. Responding to Saudi Arabia's fears of possible spillover attacks against Middle East oilfields, the U.S. lent Riyadh four AWAC (Airborne Warning and Control System) electronic-surveillance planes. Mindful that Iran might misinterpret the gesture as an act of pro-Iraqi collusion, Muskie wrote a letter to Banisadr re-emphasizing U.S. neutrality. Indeed, Iran promptly denounced the action as "provocative." As usual, it did not help...
Some Arab leaders made it obvious which side they were on. Saudi Arabia's King Khalid phoned Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to express support for his battle against "the enemies of the Arab people," according to Iraqi reports. Jordan's King Hussein publicly applauded the attack. Kuwait's official news agency, which reflects the views of the ruling family, adopted a hawkish, pro-Iraq stand. To varying degrees, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Oman all jumped on the Iraqi bandwagon...
That growl from Tehran was enough to send the gulf states scuttling for the shelter of avowed neutrality. Saudi Arabia immediately contradicted Iraq and insisted that King Khalid's phone call had expressed only his "concern and good brotherly feelings" for Iraq and prayed to "God Almighty to grant what is best for our Arab and Muslim world." Kuwait's ruling Emir, Sheik Jaber al Ahmed al Sabah, implored both combatants to pursue peacemaking channels. Like Kuwait, both Bahrain and the U.A.E. denied reports that they had allowed the Iraqi air force to use their bases and adamantly...
...Africa's richest and most powerful nation-and a rising economic force on the world scene. With daily shipments to the U.S. of nearly 1 million bbl. of low-sulfur "sweet" crude oil, Nigeria ranks as the U.S. 's second largest supplier of foreign petroleum (after Saudi Arabia). Nigeria's staggering trade surplus with the U.S. this year is expected to top $11 billion-possibly more than that of any other nation. This week Nigerian President Alhaji Shehu Shagari will arrive in the U.S. to address the United Nations and pay a three-day official visit...
...leaving it in Swiss or other bank vaults. Reason: after the American seizure of Iranian financial assets in June, wealthy Arabs became leery about leaving their property in any Western banks. Since August, more than 150 tons of gold have been repatriated from European banks to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia...