Finally, tough talk from a politician ... from Saudi Arabia:
April 18 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. should intensify its hunt for Osama bin Laden because the al-Qaeda leader is inspiring and directing terrorist attacks more than four years after Sept. 11, according to Saudi Arabia's new ambassador to the U.S.
Prince Turki al-Faisal, who met with bin Laden years ago as Saudi intelligence chief, criticized the ``lack of resources'' devoted to finding bin Laden. ``He should be a primary target for the United States and the world community,'' Turki said yesterday in an interview in Washington.
...Turki's comments reflected a Saudi frustration with U.S. Middle East policy. The envoy noted that Iraq hadn't turned out as policy makers had envisioned, and suggested that the war there has been a distraction from the goal of getting bin Laden.
The Iraq invasion has been a ``boon, if you like, for al- Qaeda and not just in Iraq, I think in other places as well,'' Turki said. He was also wary about the possibility of a U.S. military strike to destroy Iran's suspected nuclear arms program, which would invite retaliation against U.S. interests.
...Turki said he believes bin Laden ``is alive and well and living and traveling between Afghanistan and Pakistan.'' While al-Qaeda has been ``hit hard,'' its fugitive leader remains a potent symbol, he said.
Will Dubya listen to his pals from the House of Saud?
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