Rumsfeld cites effects of war in Muslim nations

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, preparing allies for possible military strikes in Afghanistan, said Saudi officials expressed concern Wednesday that a war on terrorism could create harmful "secondary effects" in the Muslim world.

Rumsfeld met in the Saudi capital with King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, then dined at the palace of Prince Sultan, the kingdom's minister of defense. It was the first stop on a mission to boost support from Arab and Central Asia nations with bases that could be vital for military action.

While the Saudis offered praise for President Bush's handling of the crisis created by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, they also had concerns, Rumsfeld told reporters traveling with him.

"We had a very substantive and interesting and thoughtful discussion about the nature of the problem and the complexities of the problem, and the importance of dealing with it in a way that recognizes secondary effects that could occur," the Pentagon chief said.

Rumsfeld told his Saudi hosts that Bush is sensitive to concerns by Arab nations and emphasized recent U.S. aid to Muslim nations such as Bosnia and Afghanistan.

"We recognize that there are elements in the world -- terrorists and terrorist networks -- that make an active effort to turn that portion of the globe against the West and the United States," he said.

Saudi officials have said American troops must not use bases inside Saudi Arabia to launch attacks on other countries in the region, including Afghanistan.

At a midnight news conference at his palace, Prince Sultan was asked whether his country would permit the United States to use Saudi bases to launch attacks against the Taliban.

Speaking through an interpreter, he said the United States had made no such requests and he and Rumsfeld had not discussed it.

"We do not feel there are any strikes that are going to be taken against the Taliban," he said.

Rumsfeld, asked if he had come to Riyadh to iron out such issues, indicated he saw no insurmountable problems.