The Saudis' Secret Iraq Plan

ALSO: -- • Chechen Terrorists Target Montana?

• Sailing Ships of Terror? Not Likely

Saudis Make Secret Iraq Occupation Offer

By Vince Cannistraro

Feb. 20 — The crown prince of Saudi Arabia has recently transmitted a secret proposal to the Bush administration, using one of his own sons, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah as an emissary, rather than officials from the Saudi Embassy in Washington, sources told ABCNEWS.

The Saudis are proposing that after Saddam Hussein's fall, Saudi Arabia should lead a coalition of Islamic nations to occupy Iraq while a transitional Iraqi government is established. According to the Saudis, the Turks would play the leading role in the Islamic force.

Senior government officials told ABCNEWS that according to the crown prince, an Islamic occupation force would defuse the anti-American hostility that is sweeping the Middle East and putting pressure on moderate Arab governments that are allied with the United States.

The Saudis would then be free to crack down on the extremist Jihadis in the Kingdom who are allied with al Qaeda or are sympathetic to Osama bin Laden.

Right now, Saudis feel a full scale crackdown would look like the kingdom is doing American bidding, at a time when President Bush is very unpopular there.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer reacted to the story by calling it "laughably wrong." He added, "There is no truth to it."

The crown prince has also been instrumental in making secret overtures to Saddam through his son Qusai, offering Sadam refuge in Saudi Arabia if Saddam were to chose to leave before hostilities break out.

It appears that no Saudi emissary has had the temerity to make the refuge offer directly to Saddam. The only word the United States has heard back on the Saudi overtures to Saddam is: "no."

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Are Chechen Terrorists Headed for Montana?

By Chris Vlasto

Feb. 20 — The U.S. Customs Service issued a bulletin late last week urging law enforcement to be on the lookout for two possible Chechen terrorists who may try to enter the United States through Mexico, then travel to Montana.