Saudis seize 'terror' missiles

bbc ^ | 4-sep-2003 | beeb

[epluribus_2]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3079654.stm

Saudi authorities say they have seized a lorry-load of surface-to-air missiles destined for an unnamed terrorist group. The consignment was intercepted last month on a desert road near the port city of Jeddah.

Police say the weapons - capable of being used to bring down aircraft - had been smuggled from Yemen.

Last month, air travellers from the United States and Britain were alerted to the possibility of attack if they went to Saudi Arabia.

The alerts came after intelligence reports were relayed to Washington and London by the Saudis of a specific threat to British airlines flying in or out of Riyadh international airport.

And British Airways, one of the world's biggest airlines, suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia until further notice.

The airliner says it has had good co-operation from the Saudi authorities and hopes to resume flights soon.

The Americans are particularly sensitive to threats in Saudi Arabia following the suicide car bombings on 12 May on residential blocks housing Americans and other foreigners.

More than 30 people were killed and nearly 100 injured in the blasts.

Since then, Saudi authorities have cracked down on Islamist groups with suspected links to Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, arresting scores of suspects.

The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner says the Saudis have been proactive in their efforts, sometimes overreacting.

They find themselves dealing with a lethal cocktail - the country is near Yemen where weapons are easily available and the presence in Saudi Arabia of extremists who are ready to use them against Western targets, our correspondent says.

[epluribus_2]

amazing timing of this announcement, with all the roads to terror leading to the Kingdom.

Won't help. We know you are working with the devil(s).

[Blood of Tyrants]

For every one they catch, the turn their heads th 5 others.

[jriemer]

History Lesson: Yemen was the destination for the North Korean ship that was temporarily seized by the Spanish navy in the Indian Ocean and found to contain Scud missiles on board back in the summer of 2002.

Yemen is achin' to be on the "Axis of Evil" now that there's a spot open.

[Jumper]

The Royal Line of Succession is almost over in Saudi Arabia with those left in the Seventies.... 5,000 Princes are going to squabble by whatever means necessary to win the throne. Look for different countries, e.g., France, Russia, China, Germany, the USA, etc., to support various fractions. Until the royal family matter is settled, terrorist eminating from the kingdom is given.

[Imal]

That reminds me, I better put in my claim as the legitimate heir to the Saudi throne right now and beat the rush!

Damn, never a postage stamp when I need one. Anyone know if there's a website up where I can register my claim as the next in succession as the sole, absolute sovereign King of Saudi Arabia, blessed of Allah the Merciful, and beloved of the people of His most holy and sacred lands?

WWW.WhoWantsToBeKingOfSaudiArabia.com seems to be offline for some reason...

[jriemer]

Considering that oil-soaked Saudi Arabia is running massive budget deficits, their government could solve their budget woes by selling the advertizing rights to the ultimate Middle-eastern Reality TV / game show "Who wants to be 'the sole, absolute sovereign King, blessed of Allah the Merciful, and beloved of the people of His most Holy and Sacred lands'?"

Each month, one thousand contestants are on the show and they are whittled down to that month's grand champion. At the end of the year, the twelve grand champions duel it out in grueling contest of wits, strength, endurance and intrigue. After a year's time, the Supreme champion is crowned and wins 72 virgins because by then, there's a popular uprising because Iraq and Iran have replaced their dictatorships with represtative democracies and the Saudi Arabian populace is outraged that their country Arabia still is a monarchy in the 21st century.

One can dream...

[sheik yerbouty]

They are devils.

[The_Victor]

WWW.WhoWantsToBeKingOfSaudiArabia.com seems to be offline for some reason...

Common mistake, it's a .gov site.

[Imal]

Thanks for the tip! I was applicant #417, so I have a pretty good shot!

[The_Victor]

Good luck, but watch your back, those nasty looking knives aren't just for ceremony.

[montag813]

Saudi authorities say they have seized a lorry-load of surface-to-air missiles destined for an unnamed terrorist group.

Saudi law states that all terrorist groups must choose a name, and one that sounds impressive. All names must be approved by the Saudi Terrorism Marketing Department. The missiles will now be distributed among properly "named" groups.

[b4its2late]

Is lorry-load a polite way of saying $hit-load?

;-)

[Grampa Dave]

Yemen is just a trading center for the real Axis of Evil countries.

So it is a Wanna Be as a real Axis of Evil counntry.

[Grampa Dave]

lorry load is just a Brit way of saying a truck load.

Of course, typical BBC reporting, we don't know if it was a Toyota mini truck or an 18 wheeler loaded with these missiles.

[MadJack]

It's the Fifteenth Century in Saudi.

[MadJack]

It's the Fifteenth Century in Saudi.

[jriemer]

It's the Fifteenth Century in Saudi.

I forgot the time zone difference and didn't set my watch back. My bad. 8^)

[El Gato]

The airliner says it has had good co-operation from the Saudi authorities and hopes to resume flights soon.

WOW, a talking airliner. Yea I know about Bitching Betty, but this one seems to hold conversations and has a vocabulary beyond "Warning" "Pull Up" etc.)

[UCANSEE2]

What you say is true. However, consider that this was not a lucky break, but a planned capture. Makes them look good.

[EERinOK]

How come everytime a lorry load of surface to air shoulder missles turns up in the middle east and not in the military's possession, we never get any information, or speculation, of where they were made and who shipped them?

where are these weapons built and coming from?