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The Saudi Mega-Plot
NY Sun ^ | June 9, 2005 | NIBRAS KAZIMI

Posted on 06/09/2005 4:34:30 PM PDT by dervish

Is there or isn't there a Saudi megaplot to thwart democracy in the Middle East and spread fundamentalism in its place? Is Lebanon the staging ground for a fundamentalist Sunni restoration in Syria to be orchestrated by the Saudis?

'snip'

A few weeks ago in downtown Beirut, and a short distance from Hariri's grave, the espresso-sippers at trendy cafes got the privilege of first-row seating to the spectacle of fellow Lebanese demonstrating for an Islamic state and the imposition of Islamic law. They were Sunnis from the furthermost northern region of Lebanon around Akkar that hugs the Syrian border. Some in the noisy crowd that carried black banners of "God is Great" looked suspiciously like veterans of the Afghan mujahedeen wars. In fact, the slain liberal Lebanese journalist, Samir Kassir, was called out by a colleague during an interview to take a peek at the scenes from Taliban-era Kabul right outside his office window.

The Syrians had kept close tabs on and harassed these Lebanese fundamentalists, but with them out and the Saudis in, the Sunnis of Akkar are out on the streets flexing their stuff. Could Akkar be the next Deoband, the town in Pakistan where Saudi-bankrolled religious seminaries spawned the Taliban? The structure of power in Saudi Arabia is based on an alliance between the royals and the Wahhabis. The royal family needs to legitimize itself in the eyes of its fanatic allies by putting up the cash and its strategic global alliances in the service of Wahhabism as it did in Afghanistan. What better prize than to win back Damascus - the celebrated capital of the first Islamic empire - to the Sunni fold, in compensation for the loss of the second capital, Baghdad, to the Shias?

NY Sun

(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alawite; democracy; fundamentalism; hariri; islamist; lebanon; panarab; saudiarabia; syria; taliban; wahhabi
"President Bush needs to understand two things: Democracy can save Lebanon from itself, and Saudi Arabia is not an ally for democracy. Right after Prince Abdullah returned from his most recent visit to Crawford, Texas, a Saudi court passed harsh judgment on three Saudi democratic dissidents, while the Wahhabi clerics who call for jihad against America in Iraq are roaming free. Subcontracting American policy and allowing the Saudis to micromanage Lebanese politics in the post-Syrian era, even with the tempting "low-hanging fruit" of regime change in Damascus, will not realize the Middle Eastern freedom and democracy that Mr. Bush envisioned in his second inaugural address."
1 posted on 06/09/2005 4:34:30 PM PDT by dervish
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To: SJackson; Patrick_k; SunkenCiv; chukcha

ping!


2 posted on 06/09/2005 4:36:10 PM PDT by dervish
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To: dervish
"President Bush needs to understand two things:

You bet.

1) Quit f'in around in foreign politics.

2) Button up his own borders.

3 posted on 06/09/2005 4:58:57 PM PDT by iconoclast (Conservative, not partisan.)
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To: dervish
President Bush needs to understand ...

I think we all do. I love it when Larry King interviews an "expert" on Middle East democracy - Queen Nora. Of when her son - King Abdullah - lectures about "democracy" on Fox. And what about all those Saudi paid media consultants and advisors debating values of "democracy" on talk shows?
4 posted on 06/09/2005 5:36:16 PM PDT by chukcha
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To: chukcha; dervish

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an Authocracy. I am not going to give Pres. Bush any advice about his decisions. He has the most formidable agencies and think tanks at his disposal to do so.
However for the common reader, Islam has among its precepts many values, we do not deny it. But it has a very special characteristic which is not to dissociate Religion and State. A direct result is the Shari'a, which rules every facet of the community life. So no need for a parliament or house of representatives which first mission is to legislate, all the needed legislation is already here from 14 centuries!
The next mission of the House is to observe and control the acts of government done by the administration according to the Law. Here it is according to the Shari'a.
So you can ask: Where is democracy, or the government of the people by the people?


5 posted on 06/09/2005 9:24:23 PM PDT by Patrick_k
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To: Patrick_k

I can give Bush some advice:
(1) Stop saying "Islam is a religion of Peace"
(2) Stop helping the Palestinians, they hate you.
(3) Stop speaking Spanish, demand that INS remove everyone
who isnt papered, revoke citizenship of all anchor babies and kick out their families.
(4) Stop encouraging Americans to do business in China, kick out all chinese students who are here on visas.
(5) Get our valuable soldiers out of Iraq and let those murderous bastards kill each other.
(6) If you really want "Homeland Security" secure the border.(Like Duh!)
(7) Tell Mr. Magoo over at the fed to stop printing fiat
currency notes.
(8) The Islamic Nations HATE us please learn to Hate them back.


6 posted on 06/09/2005 9:42:31 PM PDT by claptrap (optional tagline under re-consideration)
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To: claptrap

"(6) If you really want "Homeland Security" secure the border.(Like Duh!)"

and the ports!


7 posted on 06/09/2005 9:56:58 PM PDT by dervish
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To: dervish; TexKat; Seadog Bytes

"Could Akkar be the next Deoband, the town in Pakistan where Saudi-bankrolled religious seminaries spawned the Taliban?"

I guess it depends. Does spawning include getting taken out by a smart bomb? Just curious.


8 posted on 06/09/2005 10:35:24 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (FR profiled updated Tuesday, May 10, 2005. Fewer graphics, faster loading.)
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To: Do not dub me shapka broham

Ever wonder why a pro-US regime in an Arab country located smack in the middle of the the rats nest? Iraq has borders in common with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Kurdistan :'), Syria, and Jordan, and hmm, probably some I've left out... ;'D


9 posted on 06/09/2005 10:39:38 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (FR profiled updated Tuesday, May 10, 2005. Fewer graphics, faster loading.)
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Iraq

10 posted on 06/09/2005 10:43:45 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (FR profiled updated Tuesday, May 10, 2005. Fewer graphics, faster loading.)
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To: dervish

Big huge DUH to this.

islam wants to destroy everything and take over the world. The HQ of that is Saudi Arabia.

Anyone that doesn't understand islam is an idiot, and it like someone sitting on the 105th floor of the WTC on 9/11. Just ready to die.


11 posted on 06/09/2005 10:47:32 PM PDT by LAURENTIJ
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