Report: US Asks Saudis to Arm Libyan Rebels

The United States has secretly asked Saudi Arabia to airlift weapons to the rebels fighting Moammar Gadhafi’s military forces in Libya, according to a new report.

The Saudi assistance would allow the Obama administration to disclaim any military involvement in the ongoing struggle in Libya. The arms would be American but paid for by the Saudis, the report in The Independent observes.

So far the Obama administration has said publicly only that Gadhafi should relinquish power to avoid further bloodshed.

The U.S. wants the Saudis to supply anti-tank rockets and ground-to-air missiles to target Libyan aircraft.

According to The Independent, Saudi Arabia “has so far failed to respond to Washington’s highly classified request, although King Abdullah personally loathes the Libyan leader, who tried to assassinate him just over a year ago.”