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Article: Birds of a fragile feather. (Middle East politics)
- Article from:
- National Review
- Article date:
- April 1, 1991
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1991 National Review, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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THERE is hardly a parakeet or canary to be found in the pet shops of Riyadh these days. Unlike dogs, which are uncommon because of Islamic concerns about cleanliness, the birds are absent because they were all purchased early in the crisis with Iraq. The reason: in the early days, when use of chemical weapons was widely expected, a pamphlet was circulated advising residents that if they saw birds falling off the trees, it was a sure sign of gas attack.
With the cessation of hostilities and, happily, no use of gas, Saudis are seeking early warnings of other dangers, both political and military. As they scan the regional horizon, they see much to give them concern. ...