America Accuses Saudis

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 5-15-2003 | Toby Hernden

[blam]

America accuses Saudis

By Toby Harnden in Washington
(Filed: 15/05/2003)

The White House demanded last night that Saudi Arabia crack down on al-Qa'eda and accused it of failing to try to prevent the Riyadh suicide bombings that killed 25 people, including seven Americans and two Britons.

The aftermath of the attack on an expatriate compound in Riyadh

"Saudi Arabia must deal with the fact it has terrorists inside its own country," said Ari Fleischer, President George W Bush's spokesman.

"Their presence is as much a threat to Saudi Arabia as it is to Americans and others who live and work in Saudi Arabia."

A Foreign Office spokesman said that two bodies found yesterday at the scene of one of the four bombs were believed to be those of two British workers who had been reported missing. Their names were not given.

The United States embassy in Riyadh said that it would arrange evacuation flights for any of the 40,000 Americans living in the kingdom who wished to depart. All families and non-essential staff from American missions were told to return home.

Foreign Office officials said there was a "high threat" of further attacks in Saudi Arabia and warned Britons not to travel there unless necessary. Several companies said all dependants would be leaving.

There were fears of a mass exodus involving the 100,000 western expatriates, but many companies said they would not abandon their lucrative contracts with the world's biggest oil exporter.

[wretchard]

This may be the beginning of the end of the House of Saud. The policy of buying the Al-Qaeda off is no longer working. If the Islamic militants can make no headway outside their protected sanctum of the KSA, they will make their gains within.

If so, it bodes ill for every other country which has adopted a stance of appeasement towards the irreconcilable enemy in their midst. France, in particular, has tried to "establish" Islam but providing it with state recognition and support, only to have the radical Islamists seize the councils they have funded; only to face rejection in the smallest of French requests, that the veil be avoided in secular functions.

Two courses of action lie open to the Sauds: increase the amount of tribute paid paid, which will in turn only bloat their enemies further, or face them resolutely. They will probably up the blackmail payments. Saudi Arabia RIP.

[McGavin999]

Mass exodus of western workers would cripple the SA economy. Most of these jobs are highly specialized. As a matter of fact many of them are what keeps the oil fields running and if they left the entire world would take the hit. That is precisely why these people were targeted.

[blam]

The problem is that about half of the House Of Saud wants the most extreme version of Islam, the other half want something a little more moderate.
Saudia Arabia cannot survive in the 21st century with the most extreme version of Islam.
One side will have to die before this is 'worked' out.

[thinktwice]

Saudi Arabia RIP.

Perhaps it is good that the U.S. Third Infantry Division remains in Iraq. American interests are served far better with that division in Iraq instead of Georgia.

A lesson from history in that regard, is that Alexander magnanimously let his newly-wed Macedonian soldiers go home on leave once a year -- no general had ever done that before.