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Did the U.S. military presence in Saudi Arabia cause the September 11 attacks? U.S. Marines during the Gulf War, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 1991. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami) The presence of about 5,000 U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's two holiest sites, is one of Osama bin Laden's bitterest grievances against America—both because he is offended by having "infidel troops" stand guard over Islam's holiest sites and because the U.S. presence makes it harder for him to topple the Saudi monarchy. Why are U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia? Their purpose is to deter Iraq from attacking Saudi Arabia and monitor the "no-fly" zones (which are off-limits to Iraqi planes), U.S.
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