31.   The Saudis have long been concerned by religious extremists and the Shiite minority in the kingdom as well as security threats from its neighbors.

32.   Several people had died last month in clashes between SSP activists and militants of the Shiite minority community in the southern port city of Karachi.

33.   The Gulf War also left unfinished business -- a new Iraq-Kuwait border to guard, Kurds and Shiite minorities to protect, Iraqi weapons capabilities to dismantle.