Word: neutrality
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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While Moscow and Washington stay neutral, Iraq and Iran gain allies...
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...
Among the small gulf states, Dubai appears to be genuinely neutral, evidently because of its large Persian minority. The other United Arab Emirates, as well as Oman, Qatar and Bahrain, all root under their breath for Iraq. Despite apprehensions about Saddam Hussein's long-term military and political ambitions, they sense a more imminent threat from Iran. Bahrain in particular is nervous about Tehran, not only because the mullahs have revived ancient Iranian claims to its territory but because Bahrain's Sunni Emir rules a population over half of whom are Shi'ites...
...wild cards in the edgy gulf are the large guest worker populations of Palestinians in all the gulf countries. Many among them support the Palestine Liberation Organization. Though officially neutral in the Iraq-Iran conflict because both sides have supported it against Israel, the P.L.O. is irritated at Iraq for diverting military energies away from Israel. The P.L.O is profoundly concerned about potential Western involvement in the war, and its leaders say they could bring retaliation: saboteurs are said to be standing by ready to blow up oil facilities throughout the region if the U.S. in particular were...
...neutral mediator in the dispute has placed a gag order on the negotiators, but sources on both sides said last night there were still at least four major issues preventing agreement. Movement towards a settlement was "obvious" as negotiations resumed last night, sources said...