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Kansas City | Saudi Arabia Granted Unrestricted Access to US Airspace
How about this for national security?! The US and Saudi Arabia have signed an "Open Skies" agreement that will permit unrestricted air service by the airlines of both countries between and beyond the other’s territory. The agreement means the Saudi airlines may now fly from any point in the kingdom to any point in the US. and likewise US airlines may fly from any point here to any airport in Saudi Arabia. The deal was just signed May 28, by the US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and the Deputy Director of the General Authority of Civil Authority of Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia. In addition to permitting the nations’ airlines to provide unrestricted air service to any point in the other country, the agreement also eliminates restrictions on how often the carriers can fly, the kind of aircraft they can use and the prices they charge. To be clear, Saudi Arabia’s seven airlines will be permitted “unrestricted” access to US skies and airports for the purpose of international travel and shipments. They will not, however, be permitted to service domestic flight routes within the US. If you listen to the official comments, this move is suppose to help in facilitating further develop the relationship with the Kingdom in regards to tourism and trade. Now, if you -- like me -- find this announcement a little unsettling -- granting unfettered access to our airspace to a major Middle Eastern power -- the State Department said the deal will benefit businesses and travelers while preserving their commitments to aviation safety and security. I realize Saudi Arabia has been and continues to be an important player in the fight against global terrorism and according to a recent State Department report, they maintain a robust counter-terrorism relationship with the US. The report said Saudi authorities in August 2012 announced they had discovered and partially rounded up two separate terrorist cells (one in Riyadh and the other in Jeddah) affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. However, we also need to recognize that 15 of the 19 men who hijacked and crashed American planes on September 11, 2001 were from Saudi Arabia!!! Again, I am assuming that the State Department and Homeland Security had all their ducks in a row before they fully granted access to the Saudis. But I can’t help but feel uneasy about it. I’m sure other people feel the same way, and that’s why you don’t hear much about this in the news media. Interestingly enough, the US has over one hundred identical agreements with foreign countries. Saudi Arabia is actually the last county on the Arabian Peninsula to sign the Open Skies agreement -- after Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Yemen, the U.A.E, and Qatar. Lets just hope this doesn't end up backfiring on us.
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You guys are going to love this story.....
