WASHINGTON, Aug 6: A briefing to a Pentagon defence panel last month described Saudi Arabia as an enemy of the United States and recommended that it be given an ultimatum to stop “backing terrorism”, The Washington Post said on Tuesday.

“The Saudis are active at every level of the terror chain, from planners to financiers, from cadre to foot soldier, from ideologist to cheerleader,” said Rand Corp analyst Laurent Murawiec in his July 10 briefing to the Pentagon’s Defense Policy Board.

“Saudi Arabia supports our enemies and attacks our allies,” Murawiec said, describing the country as “the kernel of evil, the prime mover, the most dangerous opponent” in the Middle East.

He said Washington should demand that Saudi Arabia stop funding “fundamentalist Islamic outlets” around the world, cease anti-US and anti-Israeli statements and “prosecute or isolate those involved in the terror chain, including the Saudi intelligence services”.

If Riyadh did not comply, Saudi oil fields and overseas financial assets should be “targeted”, Murawiec added in his briefing, without specifying exactly how.

Murawiec’s comments did not reflect the Pentagon panel’s views or official US policy, although they had “growing currency” within the administration of President Bush, the daily said.

The newspaper quoted Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke as saying in a written statement that “Saudi Arabia is a long-standing friend and ally of the United States. The Saudis cooperate fully in the global war on terrorism and have the department’s and the administration’s deep appreciation”.

However, an unnamed official told the paper opinion about Saudi Arabia was changing rapidly within the US government.

RUMSFELD: US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was quick to attack the leak from a classified briefing, stressing it was one analyst’s opinion and represented neither the views of the U.S. government nor the advisory Defense Policy Board of former top government officials and military officers.

“I just think it’s a terribly unprofessional thing to do. It’s harmful in this case ... because it creates a misimpression,” he told Pentagon employees in response to questions about the report by the Washington Post.—Reuters