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The United States And Saudi Arabia: A Foolish Alliance
Jewish Press ^ | 7-12-96/8-24-07 | Louis Rene Beres

Posted on 08/28/2007 5:19:45 AM PDT by SJackson

First Published Under This Same Title By The Jewish Press On July 12, 1996

In view of major current developments concerning Saudi Arabia, Israel and the United States (especially the recently-announced sale of billions of dollars of new advanced weapon systems to Saudi Arabia), this very early article by Professor Beres warrants another close look. One must wonder, as all of Professor Beres’ prior warnings on Saudi Arabia have now proved correct, why President Bush insists upon further arms for Riyadh. At a minimum, the president should be concerned that the monarchy could soon be overthrown by al-Qaeda and kindred Jihadist elements, a transfer of power that would give Islamist insurgents control over all of the latest advanced American weapons.

July 12, 1996:

When Americans were killed in a cowardly terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia, their deaths were the inevitable result of Washington’s sustained obsequiousness to the Arab Kingdom. When the Saudis refused to extend perimeter security in the American housing complex, the Department of Defense quietly acquiesced. Now, even when it is already too late for our murdered countrymen and women, Saudi leaders remain effectively hostile to the United States and, of course, to Israel.

Contrary to widespread public perceptions, Saudi Arabia is not a “moderate” Arab state or a reliable American ally. Although it is certainly true that we need Saudi oil and Saudi purchases of American weapons, it is a need that has already begun to backfire. Over time, the misconceived relationship between Washington and Riyadh will encourage not only additional anti-American terrorism, but also far-reaching instability in the Middle East - instability leading to intermittent war.

A principal problem is Saudi Arabia’s irreversible and existential opposition to Israel. Make no mistake about it; “moderate” Riyadh wants Israel off the map. From the beginning, appearances notwithstanding (appearances encouraged by the Department of State), Saudi Arabia has effectively been a frontline enemy of the Jewish State. During Israel’s 1948-49 War of Independence, Saudi units fought against the Israel Defense Forces under Egyptian command. During the 1967 War, the Saudis deployed a brigade in eastern Jordan. In the Yom Kippur War of 1973, the Saudi Kingdom quickly dispatched a brigade of troops to Syria. Although this history of active Saudi warfare against Israel is far less substantial than that undertaken by other Arab states, it is not insignificant. What is more, it is a history augmented by ongoing indirect warfare against the Jewish State.

After the 1991 Gulf War, Saudi Arabia supplied billions of dollars to Damascus, money used by Syria to fuel a superheated military buildup of both conventional and unconventional weapons. To date, this money, transferred with the blessings of Washington for Syrian “cooperation” in the 1991 war against Saddam Hussein, has purchased tactical ballistic missile launchers, SS-21 tactical ballistic missiles, improved versions of the SAM-6 and SAM-8 missiles, tactical C3I and electronic warfare systems, chemical warfare delivery systems and chemical warheads.

Saudi Arabia has also transferred weapons to Syria directly. These unauthorized transfers of U.S.-manufactured military equipment, which were directed as well to Iraq and to Bangladesh, were described by the Saudi authorities as “inadvertent.” Among the “inadvertent” transfers were an undisclosed number of 2,000-pound bombs. The inadvertence of this transfer would offer little comfort to those tens of thousands of Israeli citizens who may one day be targeted by these weapons.

Now, as for those U.S. weapons that remain in Saudi arsenals, an important question arises: What would Riyadh actually do with them? Clearly, despite its great wealth and potential, Saudi Arabia has never seriously prepared for its own defense. Unlike Israel – which, despite a chronic shortage of funds, usually stands up to its own enemies – Saudi Arabia depends entirely upon American soldiers, upon our blood. It is hardly a surprise, therefore, that U.S. arms sales to the Saudi Kingdom are generally about jobs in this country, and not about Saudi self-defense (the term is little better than an oxymoron).

Finally, it should be more generally understood in the United States that Saudi Arabia is theologically and doctrinally committed to the complete annihilation of Israel. Even before World War II, King Abd al Aziz ibn Sa’ud deplored “the strange hypnotic influence of the Jews, a race (sic) accursed by God according to His Holy Book, and destined to final destruction and eternal damnation.” Later, King Sa’ud informed a British visitor to his Court: “Verily, the word of God teaches us, and we implicitly believe it, that for a Muslim to kill a Jew, or for him to be killed by a Jew, ensures him an immediate entry into Heaven and into the august presence of God Almighty.”

King Feisal, in the tradition of his father, was known for his giving notorious anti-Semitic tracts, including a forgery called The Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion, to all visiting dignitaries. Presently, it is “moderate” Saudi Arabia that finances the bulk of Holocaust denial literature, much of which is written by American neo-Nazis.

Saudi Arabia is not a moderate Arab state. Although under continuous threat from regional Islamic fundamentalists, the Kingdom is already animated by the view that peace with Israel is impossible, and by close ties with Israel’s most unrelenting enemies. Moreover, these ties – over the next several years – will likely nurture various Islamic terror attacks against the United States.

Riyadh should not be discounted as a major source of regional aggression. While the Kingdom is assuredly not inclined to initiate war against Israel, itis inclined to do a great many things that would make such belligerency possible. And it will surely continue to clandestinely foment harms against its “dearly beloved” American allies.

Copyright The Jewish Press© July 12, 1996* and August 24, 2007.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: energy; geopolitics; muslims; saudi; saudiarabia; wot
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1 posted on 08/28/2007 5:19:46 AM PDT by SJackson
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To: SJackson

What?? after all the the Saudis have done for us?? I am truly shocked...


2 posted on 08/28/2007 5:26:46 AM PDT by wyowolf ("we were the winners , cause we didn't know we could fail.")
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To: SJackson

I don’t now and never have viewed Saudi Arabia as a friend.

I was “detained” by their security (guards with uzis) for a few hours once because I was carrying my chaplain supplies into their country.

You know at a time like that that they hate your religion.


3 posted on 08/28/2007 5:27:22 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
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To: wyowolf

Yeah, they sent 19 of their finest to come here and learn how to stear planes.


4 posted on 08/28/2007 5:30:30 AM PDT by Long Island Pete
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To: wyowolf
I can tell you what the Saudis have DONE to us.

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

5 posted on 08/28/2007 5:32:03 AM PDT by expatguy (Support Conservative Blogging - "An American Expat in Southeast Asia")
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To: SJackson

Given that the Saudi’s are not acting in the best interests of the U.S., can the U.S. quit buying their oil or supporting their security?

1) Because the U.S. did NOT continue to grow it’s nuclear power industry, drill it’s own oil where it is available, or maintain it’s refinery capacity, it needs Saudi oil.

2) If the U.S. does not maintain Saudi security, the terrorists will gail control of their resources and income.


6 posted on 08/28/2007 5:36:16 AM PDT by G Larry (Only strict constructionists on the Supreme Court!)
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]

----------------------------

7 posted on 08/28/2007 5:43:27 AM PDT by SJackson (isolationism never was, never will be acceptable response to[expansionist] tyrannical governments)
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To: SJackson
Much of this post is true. However, there is another side of the coin. Saudi Arabia and the USA have had a close relationship since the 1930s and 40s when ARAMCO (five US oil companies in partnership) discovered oil in Eastern Province after European oil companies had declined. The Saudi’s felt that the USA was preferable to the Europeans, since there was a history of colonialism in the Middle East.
The Saudis (I speak of the Royal family) will continue to support the USA in two areas, commercial (selling their oil to us) and military (a counterweight to Iran). Sure, the country’s predominant sect is Wahabism, which does create some extremists. Sure, the country does not support Israel. At this point, only Jordan and Egypt have a tenuous peace with Israel.
The Saud family does have its problems, just as did the Shah of Iran, but what replaced him was 100 times worse. This is most likely true of the Saud family.
8 posted on 08/28/2007 5:53:39 AM PDT by GeorgefromGeorgia
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To: GeorgefromGeorgia
The Saudis have given billions of dollars of money they made from US to establish madrassas, all over the world, that teach young muslims that Israel and America must be destroyed. They have sent out imams to preach the message of wahabbism and teach their flocks to hate us and wish us dead.

They are intellectually and spiritually, heads and tails, committed to our destruction.

That's the coin I recognize.

9 posted on 08/28/2007 7:14:01 AM PDT by Max in Utah (O Great and Benevolent Rulers of America: WHERE'S OUR FENCE?!)
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To: Max in Utah
I disagree with your conclusion. Not every Wahabi is a terrorist.
10 posted on 08/28/2007 7:32:53 AM PDT by GeorgefromGeorgia
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To: SJackson
Ray Mendez, mole-rat specialist, quoted from the documenty Fast, Cheap, & Out of Control (1997):

"The whole concept of stability is a concept of death.

It’s part of my problem with the Bambi concept of natural history, where everything is beautiful and cute and benign. It’s not the world. The world isn’t like that at all.

You’re either ‘prey, you’re an ‘enemy’, or you’re ‘ignored’.

Now think about all the islands. Island wildlife was wiped out because people could walk up to them with a stick and hit it on the head because it’s much easier to kill something that doesn’t see you as an enemy. By the time they realized it, they were extinct.”

The Saudis have been exporting and funding Wahabism for decades.

11 posted on 08/28/2007 7:36:27 AM PDT by weegee (NO THIRD TERM. America does not need another unconstitutional Clinton co-presidency.)
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To: wyowolf
Robert Baer: Sleeping with the Devil

This book would be banned in Britain, all copies shredded and the author tarred and feathered. He shows how dysfunctional the AraBS are and how their money makes them the puppet masters of the western world.

12 posted on 08/28/2007 7:38:55 AM PDT by x_plus_one (Allah is not Yahweh.)
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To: GeorgefromGeorgia
Not every Wahabi is a terrorist.

Not every neonazi or klansman is a terrorist either but they all preach a supremacist ideology that seeks to identify "others" as lesser beings under the law.

The very concept of "muslim lands" should be offensive to everyone around the world.

What countries should the kufir vacate to please the Islamic supremacists? Iraq? Kuwait? Saudi Arabia? Israel? Lebanon? Turkey? Spain? Indonesia? Michigan?

Freedom of religion is an undeniable right. Saudi Arabia shows little tolerance for other faiths. Jews are barred entry into the country now.

13 posted on 08/28/2007 7:40:37 AM PDT by weegee (NO THIRD TERM. America does not need another unconstitutional Clinton co-presidency.)
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To: x_plus_one

great book read it long ago...


14 posted on 08/28/2007 8:13:19 AM PDT by wyowolf ("we were the winners , cause we didn't know we could fail.")
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To: SJackson

The Saudis (and most Gulf states) are as afraid of Al Qaeda and militant Islam as the West.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.


15 posted on 08/28/2007 8:55:13 AM PDT by Bob J (Rightalk.com...a conservative alternative to NPR! Check out nat synd "Rightalk with Terri and Lynn")
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To: SJackson

“why President Bush insists upon further arms for Riyadh. “

You can always count on Bush and the US state department to arm our enemies and endanger our freedom and democracy in any way they can.


16 posted on 08/28/2007 9:58:28 AM PDT by monday
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To: Bob J
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

That is the type of idiotic simplistic thinking which spawned Al Qaeda and the Taliban in the first place. Remember when we supported them against the Soviets in Afghanistan?

The enemy of our enemies is often, not a friend, but an even worse enemy. When speaking of Muslims they are never our friends no matter who they are battling. Bush and the US state department are too stupid to learn this simple lesson however. They are traitors.

17 posted on 08/28/2007 10:05:56 AM PDT by monday
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To: Bob J
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

We've followed that Arabian proverb in the Mideast since 1945. I don't think it has worked for us...do you?
.
18 posted on 08/28/2007 10:12:37 AM PDT by radioman
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To: GeorgefromGeorgia
This is most likely true of the Saud family.

Who's talking about eliminating the Royal Family alone? I'm not. SA is a wahhabi hotbed. Just eliminate everybody but the foreign workers.

Then let Standard Oil back in there to run the fields.

No wahabbis, no more wahabbi problems.

L

19 posted on 08/28/2007 11:56:52 AM PDT by Lurker (Comparing moderate islam to extremist islam is like comparing small pox to ebola.)
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To: radioman

SA is an ally, in the way the USSR was an ally in WW2. Temporary. At least until Iraq is stabilized anyway.


20 posted on 08/28/2007 3:31:49 PM PDT by Zhangliqun (The Blue and Gray had infinitely more in common than the Blue and Red. We're headed for Civil War.)
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