The National Guard conducted military exercises on Saturday and Sunday. The exercises in Al-Ahsa are a regular training activity of the nation's armed forces. There is nothing unusual about them. Thus the place and time of the maneuvers were well known. The exercises are part of a regular program to assess the readiness of the Kingdom's forces and were carried out to enable troops to cope with any development in the area where they held their training. These military exercises are not politically motivated, unlike those undertaken by some neighboring countries which were meant to display their weapons and military might. This is the difference between the exercises conducted by our forces and those of some neighboring countries. We carry out our military exercises for professional and technical purposes. We have nothing to conceal in the Kingdom. We do not hide efforts to upgrade our forces, which guarantee the peace and stability of this country. We conduct military exercises without any hidden agenda or ulterior motives, much less any ambition to seek hegemony. The Kingdom is a peaceful country guided by the principles of peace and harmony. Our transparent endeavors attest to this. There is a big difference between what we do and what others do. The National Guard's exercises are held purely for national purposes as opposed to those of some other countries which have no noble motives and are conducted to provoke and to pour out the venom of hate. The National Guard's exercises on Saturday and Sunday were carried out to enhance the performance of our military. We pray that this goal will be achieved and that our armed forces will be prepared to defend the nation at all times and under any circumstances. __
