Saudi envoy's Zionist claims 'are offensive'

The Sunday Telegraph ^ | June 27, 2004 | Christopher Hart

[MadIvan]

The Saudi ambassador to London has reinforced controversial claims by the kingdom's royal family of a link between "Zionists" and recent al-Qaeda terror attacks in the country.

In a television interview, to be broadcast today, Prince Turki al-Faisal is asked about comments made by Crown Prince Abdullah, Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, that "Zionist hands" have been behind the attacks.

The ambassador replies: "When you're under attack by people who come and kill your countrymen and visitors to your country, and you see at the same time an attack on the kingdom from the outside, from Zionist circles, it is natural to make a connection."

He declined to expand on his remarks yesterday but his comments were condemned by Lord Janner of Braunstone, the former Labour MP. "In my view it is highly offensive and he must realise that the statement is totally unfounded."

"No terrorism serves the interests of Zionism. The allegation by the Crown Prince was rubbish and he must know that."

Prince Abdullah made his original remarks when he addressed a conference of leading Saudi officials and academics last month after an attack on contractors at the Yanbu oil facility that left six Westerners - including two Britons - dead.

"Zionism is behind it," he said. "It has become clear now. It has become clear to us. It is not 100 per cent, but 95 per cent that Zionist hands are behind what happened."

In his interview today, Prince Turki contends that Saudi Arabia has been subjected to concerted attacks by "so-called 'experts' with Zionist connections" for 50 years, and particularly since the terror atrocities of September 11, 2001.

"Is it beyond any comprehension or understanding that such attacks come at us from the Zionists on one side and from al-Qaeda on the other side and not make connection between them?" he asked.

The ambassador also says that the families of victims of terror attacks committed in Saudi Arabia, including Westerners, can still insist on the death penalty for their killers under Islamic sharia law, despite the offer of a state amnesty to terrorists who surrender in the next month.

He insists that the regime is doing everything it can to root out terrorists and rejects claims that the Saudi royal family's days are numbered.

[MadIvan]

Is it just me or do most Arab leaders sound like they've taken one too many hits of LSD? How does one arrive at such nonsense and believe so fervently in it, is beyond me.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[sheik yerbouty]

Saudi Arabia is in dire need of Turban Renewal!

[Diogenesis]

"When you're under attack by people who come and kill your countrymen and visitors to your country... "

..... you make certain that the War for Infinite Justice is ESCALATED.
Sooner better than later.

[LuigiBasco]

Ivan..They are taking lessons from the Democraps.
If you tell a lie often enough eventually people will believe it's true.

[Shermy]

"The ambassador also says that the families of victims of terror attacks committed in Saudi Arabia, including Westerners, can still insist on the death penalty for their killers under Islamic sharia law, despite the offer of a state amnesty to terrorists who surrender in the next month."

Somehow I don't think many will turn themselves in now.

[blam]

All the ragheads are stupid.

[dennisw]

Is it just me or do most Arab leaders sound like they've taken one too many hits of LSD?

They are unable to think logically, scientifically. Thus their nations are backward, seething snake pits. Whatever technology and development they have has been done by foreigners. Foreigners built their oil industries. Dar al Islam only takes and with no apologies or regret. Non-Muslims are only good for being suckered and exploited. Finland (9 million people) has a larger GDP than all Arab nations together.

[Betaille]

These assertions are an insult to the very existence of truth. To say that "Zionists" have been behind these attacks and expect people to beleive you, means you can invent your own facts completely independent of reality. I see little difference between the Saudi Kingdom and the regime of the Nazi's... thank god there are no jews currently living in that g-d forsaken country.

[cake_crumb]

Above: actual image of members of Saudi royal family conducting their war on terrorism

[cake_crumb]

Some of the Saudi royals still hope that appeasemnt will keep the terrorists from attacking them...though it's a TAD late for that. They're the Arab versions of Blaques Jaques Chirac.

[Imal]

Silly Abdullah! Everyone knows the real culprit is the Beta Reticuloids!

[cake_crumb]

BTW, is he the one that tried to give Rudy Guilliani a $10,000 dollar check...on the condition Rudy blame the Jews for 9/11/01? The check Rudy threw back in his face? There are so many Saudi "princes" that I tend to lose track of the names.

[cake_crumb]

It was the Borg. "Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated"

[Diogenesis]

Please. They spawned al Qaeda in their Wahabbi vats.
The House of Saud was behind the 911 Atrocities DESPITE the implausible "deniability".
They funded terrorists AFTER the 911 Atrocities.

[cake_crumb]

Point taken, but I couldn't find a good pic of a mad scientist with a monster in a vat. My memory is getting fuzzy with age...any movie titles we can run?

[watchin]

Is it blind hatred of the Jews, or is it name-calling at Al-Qaeda? I mean, how better to insult a jihadist than to call him a Zionist?

Ignorant, racist, and absurd, yes. But it is my best guess at a rationale for the assertion.

[Diogenesis]

[watchin]

I had completey forgotten about that episode.

[cake_crumb]

GOOD one!