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 Washingtons 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 Arabias 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 Israels 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 Saud 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 Saud 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 Israels 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.
PING
Without our help, they would have been taken over by them a long time ago or at the least would have got the help from another super power and in either case it would surely not be beneficial to us.
I do.
I would tend to agree. Remember the Saudi ‘fundraiser’ for Arafat in 2003 to help the ‘palestinian people’ in July of 2002? 109 million dollars shipped to Arafat, used for continued funding of the infitada. This bulk of this money donated was yes you guessed it, by Saudi princes. They nor the USA can have it both ways for much longer. Energy dependence on this nation is a very dangerous double edged sword these days and it will the USA and Israel at the losing end of the stick when the times get very rough. The joke of the devil is truly upon the American elite in Washington.
Genocide and ethnic cleansing is NOT an option. Those solutions are reserved for totalitarian states like NAZI Germany, the Soviet Union, the PRC, etc.
"Wahabbi" ain't a race.
And don't think of it as 'ethnic cleansing'. Think of it as flushing a toilet.
L
The Saudis can buy their arms from any country in the world, e.g., the UK, France, Russia, China, etc. The competition is fierce. Selling arms to the Saudis helps the US in many different ways. Besides giving us leverage in how they are used, economically the sales create jobs in the US and lower unit costs to the US military. We would be fools not to sell arms to the Saudis.
An ally of convenience perhaps, but not a friend. And an alliance that should be examined.
Good relations are important, like China the Saudis are important trading partners.
Like the Soviets, and to a lesser extent China of today, the Saudis, along with Iran and Egypt, are exporters of a virulently anti-American ideology which we are confronting violently in various regions, as well as within the US. That needs to be taken into consideration when assessing the relationship.
Given the 1991/2003 experiences with the kingdom I think it's fair to say the Kingdom will welcome our blood, they'll even use their own treasure, when they're threatened. As an ally, unlike Kuwait for example, they'll be no help militarily.
This doesn't mean we don't trade with them, don't have cordial relations, but imo it does mean we don't supply the Saudis, or Egypt, with multi billion dollar packages of advanced arem that are unlikely to advance our interests. Egypt has no land enemies in the region, other than the one to the NE their military trains to attack. The idea that the Saudi's will confront Iran for us militarily is naive.
Neither were the Jews.
The difference is that Jews don't demand the entire world become Jewish or be murdered.
Wahabbis do.
The world would be negatively affected if Jews disappeared for whatever reason. That case does not attain regarding wahabbis.
The world would be better off if Saudi were entirely bereft of any native human population. Other than Western oil workers anyway...
L
Agree with you 100%.
Nations don’t have friends, they have interests.
since I lived in Saudi Arabia for five years.
Bully for you. Did you enjoy putting up your Christmas tree while you were there? How about those Bibles you brought with you?
Most havent the faintest idea of World Wide Jihad.
Bull.
Islamic World still has not matured past the pre-Enlightenment stage.
Then why on Earth should we tolerate its continued existence?
L
I agree with the first part of your assessment, the second part is highly questionable. The Saudi "military" being a counterweight against Iranian military adventurism in the region is laughable. The only real military force that acts as any type of counterweight to both Iranian and Syrian proclivities to military mischief is the nation of Israel.
I worked in Saudi Arabia fro a while and have witnessed up close the Saudi military. A more motley, undiscplined and pampered bunch of pansies you'll never find. I used to comment that the Israeli's could fly across Saudi airspace unhindered on their way to Tehran 24/7 for fear of garnering their "attention."
lol.... Right. so next time Saudi gives American arms to Damascus we can wag our fingers at them and they will listen? Your argument is that since our enemies are going to get guns anyway, that we should be the ones to supply them, and at a bargain price as well. Throw in some free training on our most advanced weapons systems and what could go wrong?
sheesh,, if in a few years Al Quadea has ballistic missile systems and the training to use them, it will be because of thinking like yours. The funny thing is, it’s happened before, and we still don’t learn.
First, I am not aware of the Saudis giving any weapons to the Syrians. Second, yes we do set conditions on our arms sales and we do more than just wag our fingers. Cutting off spare parts and training are options. We can also limit future sales of more advanced equipment. We did sell the Saudis AWACs aircraft, but our personnel are riding onboard.
Your argument is that since our enemies are going to get guns anyway, that we should be the ones to supply them, and at a bargain price as well. Throw in some free training on our most advanced weapons systems and what could go wrong?
The Saudis are not our enemies. We have had problems with the Israelis selling our arms technology to China, more of a threat and enemy than the Saudis.
sheesh,, if in a few years Al Quadea has ballistic missile systems and the training to use them, it will be because of thinking like yours. The funny thing is, its happened before, and we still dont learn.
LOL. Please be realistic. AQ with ICBMs and IRBMs. You must be joking.
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