RIYADH, July 2: With military option against Iraq deferred for the time being, apparently because of lack of support from the Arab world, the United States is focussing on developing the Al Udeid airbase in Qatar.

This airbase, some say, could be of critical importance to the US in any such eventuality. There have been press reports that hawkish elements within the US administration want to exercise the military option against Iraq to dislodge President Saddam Hussain.

When Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, visited the region in March, one of his basic objectives was to garner the support of Arab world against any military exercise against Saddam Hussain.

However, he failed to muster enough support from the Arab leaders.

The option was however, never given up. Indications are that the that the US military also wanted to have some more time for its preparation before launching any attack on Iraq.

Some now believe that an attack on Iraq may only be a matter of time. The US is waiting for the right time, both politically and militarily, to hit Baghdad.

Currently the largest US Air Base in the region is the Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj 70 kms south of Riyadh. This is the nerve centre of the US military presence in the region hosting US support aircraft and a combined Air Operations Centre.

However, Saudi Arabia has been openly opposing any military adventure against Iraq. Only a few days back, the chief of Saudi intelligence Prince Nawaf in a press interview has criticized any such possibility.

The entire Saudi leadership from Crown Prince Abdullah to the foreign minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal have opposed any such move.

There have also been some voices, both here and in the US, criticizing the presence of the US troops in Saudi Arabia. Some of the US legislators have been quoted as saying that if the US troops are ‘unwanted’ here, they should be moved to some other place.

In the nearby Bahrain, where the 5th fleet of US Navy maintains its headquarter and at least one aircraft-carrier in the nearby waters, there have been demonstration recently against their presence, in the wake of the Israeli oppression against the Palestinians and the apparent ‘blind’ support to Israel.