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Saudi TV features denunciations of terror
Bakersfield Californian ^ | 5/29/04 | AP- Riyadh

Posted on 05/29/2004 7:27:22 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Saudi state television turned to interviewing everyone from children to intellectuals to try to rally citizens against terrorism as it reported Saturday on the latest outburst of extremist violence in the kingdom.

Suspected Islamic militants fired inside two office compounds in the oil city of Khobar, 250 miles northeast of Riyadh, Saturday morning, killing at least 10 people before taking dozens of hostages at a luxury resort.

As the hostage standoff continued into the night, Saudi TV's last newscast of the day included brief interviews with six men, apparently security officers, injured in Khobar. They all denounced the attacks and said they were wounded doing their national duty - protecting the country.

Since car bomb attacks that killed 35 people, including nine suicide bombers, at three Riyadh compounds housing foreigners last year, Saudi Arabia has launched public relations campaign aimed at discouraging Saudis from offering any kind of support to extremists.

It has also led to an unprecedented public discussion in Saudi Arabia about whether the austere version of Islam expounded in the kingdom might contribute to extremist violence.

On Saturday, Saudi television broadcast patriotic anthems and interviewed a number of Saudis and foreigners living here, who all denounced the latest attacks. The citizens called upon the government to deal with the militants firmly, with some calling the perpetrators the "deviant bunch," one of the labels Saudi authorities have used to describe militants. The interviews appeared with the caption "The Street Pulse."

Children were also interviewed, and many described the attacks as "terrorism."

On an hour-long talk show aired Saturday, intellectuals called upon the nation to stand up to terrorists.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Israel; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: denunciation; fallujah; features; hostages; khobar; riyadh; saudiarabia; sauditv; terror
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1 posted on 05/29/2004 7:27:22 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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Saudi police close the way to Al-Khobar Petroleum Center in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, Saturday May 29, 2004.  At least six people were killed when suspected Islamic militants sprayed gunfire inside two Saudi oil industry compounds in Khobar. (AP Photo/Okaz)

Saudi police close the way to Al-Khobar Petroleum Center in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, Saturday May 29, 2004. At least six people were killed when suspected Islamic militants sprayed gunfire inside two Saudi oil industry compounds in Khobar. (AP Photo/Okaz)


2 posted on 05/29/2004 7:29:17 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi Mac ... Become a FR Monthly Donor ... Kerry thread archive @ /~normsrevenge)
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Saudi police and security stand near the three covered dead bodies of victims at the Corniche Road in front of Al-Khobar Petroleum Center in Khobar in Saudi Arabia, Saturday May 29, 2004. At least six people were killed in the attack when suspected Islamic militants sprayed gunfire inside two Saudi oli industry compounds in Khobar. (AP Photo/Saudi Gazette)


3 posted on 05/29/2004 7:30:40 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi Mac ... Become a FR Monthly Donor ... Kerry thread archive @ /~normsrevenge)
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To: NormsRevenge
Children were also interviewed, and many described the attacks as "terrorism."

The American media refer to the terrorists as "militants" in earlier posts describing the events in Khobar. Does AP think these children are exaggerating?

4 posted on 05/29/2004 7:32:40 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Cicero

In point of fact, when I review the article, I see that AP begins: "Suspected Islamic militants . . ." Not terrorists, evidently.


5 posted on 05/29/2004 7:33:27 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: NormsRevenge

Is this a joke? Terrorism and Saudi seem to go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly.


6 posted on 05/29/2004 7:34:08 PM PDT by Trueblackman (Terrorism and Liberalism never sleep and neither do I)
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To: Cicero

And only suspected of being militant.


7 posted on 05/29/2004 7:34:30 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: NormsRevenge
On an hour-long talk show aired Saturday, intellectuals called upon the nation to stand up to terrorists.

They've never been particularly adept at doing things for themselves.

They could hire the US Armed Forces....$1,000/day/man/woman.

8 posted on 05/29/2004 7:37:52 PM PDT by dasboot
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To: NormsRevenge
Let me guess, it denounces the Jews responsible for terrorism.
9 posted on 05/29/2004 7:38:02 PM PDT by zencat (Visit my profile for MAGNETIC Bush/Cheney '04 bumper stickers!)
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: NormsRevenge

The alligator done ate everyone else now it's the Saudi Royal Family's time.


11 posted on 05/29/2004 7:41:03 PM PDT by bayourod (Kerry has no track record in negotiating with foreign nations, nor does Sec of State Sharpton)
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To: JBSCOTCH
These Saudi kings will soon be history. I see them slaughtered like pigs at which point we will definately drill in Alaska or ride bikes.

I think you're right, and I think the Saud royalty have the same expectation.

There was a brief interview on the news tonight - I'd swear that the fear in the prince's voice was palpable.

12 posted on 05/29/2004 7:42:28 PM PDT by neutrino (Everybody, soon or late, sits down to a banquet of consequences. Robert Louis Stevenson.)
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To: bayourod
It only takes one bad apple to spoil the barrel after all. And sadly, it may only take one bad tribe to bring down the kingdom.

The public announcements against terrorism indicates a level of sensitivity and insecurity rarely before exhibited by the modern Saudi rulers.

13 posted on 05/29/2004 7:47:17 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi Mac ... Become a FR Monthly Donor ... Kerry thread archive @ /~normsrevenge)
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Suspected al Qaeda militants killed at least 16 people, including Westerners, and seized 50 foreigners as hostages in a Saudi city on May 29, 2004 in an attack on the world's biggest oil exporter. Saudi forces stormed the Oasis housing compound, where the hostages were being held, in the eastern city of Khobar after the militants -- spraying gunfire at several buildings in their attack -- killed at least nine Saudis and seven foreigners. (Reuters Graphic)

Suspected al Qaeda militants killed at least 16 people, including Westerners, and seized 50 foreigners as hostages in a Saudi city on May 29, 2004 in an attack on the world's biggest oil exporter. Saudi forces stormed the Oasis housing compound, where the hostages were being held, in the eastern city of Khobar after the militants -- spraying gunfire at several buildings in their attack -- killed at least nine Saudis and seven foreigners. (Reuters Graphic)


14 posted on 05/29/2004 7:49:07 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi Mac ... Become a FR Monthly Donor ... Kerry thread archive @ /~normsrevenge)
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To: zencat
Let me guess, it denounces the Jews responsible for terrorism.

Not yet, but Arab 'honor' won't be satisfied if there isn't a Jew involved in this somehow.

16 posted on 05/29/2004 7:59:24 PM PDT by xJones
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To: NormsRevenge

yup, now that Al Kaida is trying to effect Saudi revenues, suddenly Saudis are against terror. My how things change.


17 posted on 05/29/2004 8:00:00 PM PDT by rageaholic
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To: JBSCOTCH

I wish but unfortunately, I see them partying and living it up in Vegas


18 posted on 05/29/2004 8:01:06 PM PDT by Coroner
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To: NormsRevenge
The public announcements against terrorism indicates a level of sensitivity and insecurity rarely before exhibited by the modern Saudi rulers.

There are approximately 7000 or so princes of the House of Saud. They are very expensive to maintain and require an estimated 40% of the oil revenues, the kingdom's only source of income. And what do they give back? Nothing, really, and the average citizen's per capita income has fallen substantially over the last few decades. Not good....

19 posted on 05/29/2004 8:04:37 PM PDT by xJones
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To: NormsRevenge

Whether people realize this or not this is a very important step in defeating terrorism. Once the Saudis start denouncing these people as terrorists, the rest of the Islamic world will follow. I expect to see the more militant Imams disappear and more moderate ones take their place. I also expect to see many of the Royal family decide to take extended vacations on a very small allowance, if they are lucky.


20 posted on 05/29/2004 8:11:26 PM PDT by McGavin999 (If Kerry can't deal with the "Republican Attack Machine" how is he going to deal with Al Qaeda)
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