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Bin Laden Moves Toward Economic Terror

The shootout almost a week ago in Kuwait between the security forces and an Islamist group in the town of Umm al-Haiman highlighted an apparent new trend in the behavior of Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups in the Arabian Peninsula: the movement of Saudi militants across the border into neighboring countries. Indeed, the cell operating in Umm al-Haiman apparently included Saudi militants on the run from the massive clampdown at home, as well as Kuwaiti militants returning from fighting U.S. forces in Fallujah.
The fact that the Kuwaiti cell was discovered in an oil-producing region of the emirate and that, the Kuwaiti authorities stated on Sunday, the group planned to attack vital installations, allows us to look back on recent Al-Qaeda statements, and what they bode for the future of the Persian Gulf.
As a recent Al-Qaeda-affiliated website put it: "We call on all the mujahideen in the Arabian Peninsula to unify their ranks...and target the oil supplies that do not serve the Islamic nation but the enemies of this nation."
In a recent address bin Laden declared: "Targeting America in Iraq economically and through loss of life is a golden and unique opportunity--one of the most important reasons that our enemies control our land is the pilfering of our oil--Prevent them from getting the oil and conduct your operations accordingly, particularly in Iraq and the Persian Gulf."
From an economic standpoint any disruption of Saudi Arabian oil supplies would probably mean an immediate spike in oil prices, easily within the range of $100 a barrel or more. Such an increase would have a devastating effect on the livelihood and economies of all nations, developed and otherwise.
Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure is made of five large oil fields connected by a network of pipelines. The pre-eminent need to protect these is something Saudi security officials have long recognized. According to a report by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Saudi authorities have put together special units comprised of various military and security forces to guard wells and installations. Members of the Special Emergency Forces and the kingdom's National Guard, as well as regular police units, protect the perimeters of the installations.
With this in mind, it is important to assess where Saudi Arabia's branch of Al-Qaeda is today. As 2004 came to a close, Saudi security forces had managed to capture or kill up to 500 militants, including the leaders of five cells. As noted, the Umm al-Haiman cell was a hybrid cell that included Saudi militants on the run. When it comes to border security, according to Reuters, in 2004 the kingdom's border guards were successful in detaining close to a million people trying to gain illegal entry into Saudi Arabia.
However, when addressing the issue of terrorist funding the results are mixed.
Another important facet of the kingdom's war against terrorism will be defeating the sympathy factor. Bin Laden's rhetoric about Western exploitation of the oil of Muslim nations hits a sympathetic nerve with Saudis, particularly those who are unemployed or are hurting financially.
Bin Laden's latest Fatwas no longer call merely for violence. The Al-Qaeda leader has also issued a clearer vision for political and economic terrorism. If such a plan is realized, it could spell disaster for the Middle East and the rest of the world.
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