Posted on 03/10/2003 9:14:41 PM PST by Richard Axtell
I knew this was going to happen, so ... I am reposting this in light of the following story blurb that just appeared on Drudge:
From Drudge 10:12 PM 03-10-03
By Bill Gertz: Al Qaeda is seeking recruits in the Middle East for terrorist attacks on oil fields in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in the event of U.S. military action against Iraq, U.S. intelligence officials say... MORE... The al Qaeda recruitment is targeting radical Islamists in Saudi Arabia and Yemen who are willing to conduct suicide attacks and other sabotage against the oil fields outside Iraq, the WASHINGTON TIMES will report on Tuesday. The threats to oil facilities highlight the possibility that military acton will disrupt the flow of oil from the Middle East, where most of the world´s oil originates... Developing...
This is my original post, what do you think now?
Thoughts have previously occurred to me, regarding similarities the Frank Herbert's "Dune" as relates to the Ozama Bin Laden phenomenon and the rise of Isamofascist fundamentalism, but they involve a specific aspect of the Herbert story, and thereby reflect some of the economic dangers to the West that may just now be appearing. Please forgive the strains this kind of speculation and comparison of actual events with a fictional tale put on credibility, and just bear with me for a moment. Also, please don't take my musings as any kind of endorsement or lionization of Bin Laden as some kind of hero, as they are not. But do think about the distortions inherent in myth making and the kind of megalomania that seemingly rules Bin Laden's evil character.
Ok, here goes: The Frank Herbert epic tale of "Dune" begins with the anointing of a new messianic character in Paul Atreides as "Muad'dib". This occurs as Paul's family clan is overwhelmed by treachery after migrating to take over control of the desert planet of Arrakis- the only source of the highly valued, life-prolonging "spice" Melange. Paul survives the onslaught of his treacherous enemies, the Harkonnen clan, and becomes an outcast among the indigenous people of "Dune", the "Fremen". Paul is reborn in the eyes of what become his devoted followers as "Muad'dib". According to a prophecy, a messiah would appear that would lead the virtuous but oppressed Fremen to Galaxy wide victory, in a "holy jihad" that would cleanse the universe of corruption and evil.
The interesting point I find in all of this is a line from a speech given by Muad'dib to his Fremen followers, in which he commands them to destroy all spice production on Arrakis, because "... he who can destroy a thing, controls a thing." Muad'dib's strategy is to bring the galactic empire to its knees by cutting off the supply of the absolutely essential "spice" as it is crucial to the lives of the corrupt, ancient and decrepit ruling class, and the entire culture of the galaxy, and forcing even the Galactic Emperor himself to kneel to Muad'dib's absolute authority.
The obvious comparison of oil to the "spice" in Herbert's tale didn't really hold up, until recent reports of Al Quaida plans of attacking Saudi oil refineries surfaced. Attacking oil production by the self styled "mahdi" Ozama Bin Laden made little sense, as long as his material support relied on oil rich arab states as his economic benefactors. But now, the "evil" Americans have succeeded in smashing his system of training camps and his strongholds in Afghanistan, and is chasing him worldwide, with even increasing success. He may still be alive and at large, but he is no fool, and clearly recognizes that his days are numbered.
So, why not now take that final apocalyptic step, and attack world oil production, with the aim of destroying the world economy? Wouldn't that be the most crushing blow Bin Laden could ever really hope to mete out against his envisioned mortal enemy, America and the West? Who cares about the well heeled arab aristocracy and current corrupt governing class? To hell with them! The true believers will suffer little anyway from the fall of the infidels, but instead will replace them in world dominance... ultimately! "Allah Akbar!"
Think of how very vulnerable the world's petroleum distribution infrastructure is, by its very volatile and inflammable nature. Quick, stealthy attacks by small shoulder launched missile wielding terrorist units on poorly protected oil wells, ocean drilling platforms, tankers, pipelines, refineries, oil tank farms, and even gas stations could drive the price of oil into the stratosphere, in a matter of days! It would be next to impossible to protect all of the vast and strung out storage, production, and transportation, distribution, and retailing infrastructure as it currently exists. The threat alone would have a profound effect on prices, much less a determined "suicidal" attack on world oil production. A world-wide oil/energy crisis would precipitate an world-wide economic depression, that would take enormous resources to reverse, devastating already fragile Western economies... potentially setting off the kind of world war Bin Laden has long lusted after, ... Petro-Armagedon!
Our only protection against such a "war on oil" has been the simple reality that only a fool would cut his own economic throat. But this constraint may now mean nothing to a fatalistic future martyr, with a bigger, grander agenda than just enormous economic wealth. Will Bin Laden "destroy a thing to control a thing"? Can he even attempt such a thing? We shall see.
In Dune, the oppressed people revolted against the emperor and anyone else who oppressed them.
Seems natural enough. But, to compare Paul with Bin Wacko is a real stretch, as we are not oppressing the Arabs. We buy their product. We help them develop it.
This is a religious wacko attack and not a rebellion.
BTW, I was really looking forward to "Children of Dune" on Sci-Fi until I discovered to my dismay that Susan SaranWrap was in it.
I am afraid that Sci-Fi will have to do without me for this one.
First, Gertz has not been very accurate in his predictions. Secondly, this could and will be done from the inside. There are likely sympathizers in every oil company. All they need to do is ram a unit with a pickup truck. They do it for Allah. They are ignorant tools, and see us and anyone who sympathizes with us as evil and against their God.
They have been preconditioned to believe the nonsense by their own governments and religious leaders.
Their governments do this in order that their subjects cannot see who their true oppressors are.
The problem is that a significant number of them believe that we are oppressing them. In this context, perception trumps reality.
D'oh! Shoulda known. I wish I'd read it 20 years ago...
A well made Dune flick is long overdue and would be an excellent additon to my sci fi collection.
Correct...and that has been their modus operandi since the inception of this cult. Precisely why islam is a cult not a religion.
Now the new one, a combination of books two and three,(The children of Dune) will be aired Sunday on Sci-Fi.
I just now found that Saran Wrap (Sarrandon, I hate her guts)) is in it and I am so depressed.
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