JOURNAL: Target Saudi Arabia

In a recent interview by Jamestown with Dr. al-Faqih (I referenced his analysis for the post Superpower Baiting), he makes a case for an attack on Saudi Arabia later this fall (and as anticipated by this author, on the oil installations):

There are reports by the Ministry of Interior that their agents had detected a sudden decrease in the "chatter" or communications of the Jihadi groups. They are worried that this sudden scaling down of activities signifies a new tactic by the Jihadis and could be the harbinger of more ominous things to come...
They might attack the oil installations for double effect. Firstly it reduces international confidence in the Saudi regime and secondly it has a significant global impact. This fulfils bin Laden's ambitions of sabotaging the American economy. Furthermore it is possible that they could change their mind and start targeting regime figures... I think they will not attack before Bush is re-elected in November. Al-Qaeda is praying for a Bush victory, because Bush is facilitating the polarization between the Muslim and Western worlds and he is causing more and more Muslims to hate America.

Comments

[Watching Them, Watching Us]

So does *increased* "chatter" and communications (as claimed by Tom Ridge and the DHS last Christmas and New Year) mean an attack is imminent, or does *decreased* "chatter" (according to the Saudi officials) also mean that an attack is imminent ?

Surely the operational security of the attack groups means that they do not actually appear in the "chatter" of their supporters ?

[John Robb]

This radical drop off in chatter was matched in a drop off of activity. This is similar to what was seen prior to 9/11. The thinking is that they didn't want any activity that could lead to disruption of the operation.

[Demosthenes]

Everyone likes to conveniently ignore the fact that Al Qaeda is funded chiefly by Saudi Royal money, and that the VAST majority of the "identified terrorists" are all Saudi Arabian.

Everyone likes to conveniently ignore the fact that the American President and his closest associates are chiefly funded by Saudi Royal money.

Everyone seems to ignore the fact that the American President has decided to completely ignore the conclusions made of the Saudis in the 9/11 commission report, favoring instead an attack response upon a Saudi oil wealth rival who had no appreciable ties to Al Qaeda.

The American President has relatively little independent power, until a state of military emergency exists for the United States. Everyone seems to ignore this fact when considering 9/11.

And when considering 9/11 at all...everyone seems to ignore the fact that the American President did not react immediately to the biggest attack ever conducted on American soil.

Everyone seems to ignore the fact that the American President was not anywhere near the White House when these attacks occurred. This sounds like "terribly sloppy planning" for an otherwise "very efficient terrorist" to me, and seems quite preposterous, since Osama Bin Laden appears to be highly intelligent while conducting his operations otherwise.

With the energy crisis that has occurred as a direct result by this Iraq war, everyone seems to ignore the fact that the Saudis and their partners appear to be benefitting the most with a $55/barrel, at the expense of every other economy on the planet.

Look at all of these facts that have been ignored, or have been trivialized in some way by the Bush administration.

Put all of that together, and what do you come up with? The implied conclusions should be obvious.

Does anyone really want to get rid of terrorists in the world? Here's my answer: invade and occupy those who actually fund them.

When is a terrorist not a terrorist? When he's actually a mercenary.

[nathan]

Nobody is ignoring Saudi--Bin Laden connection. It is the news weekly and they are the target of financial operations against Saudi supporters for Iraq and Al Queada, though more could be done. If by “identified terrorists” you mean the 9/11 attackers, yes they are Saudi, if you mean “VAST majority” as in all terrorist fighters in operating against U. S. interests in the world, that is a misrepresentation.
Bush ties to Saudi Royal family are well known and like our ties with Israel go back through generations of American politicians. I would make an argument that President Bush are funded more by GOP war chests than Saudi money.
Love them or hate them, the Saudi’s serve a purpose in what we’re doing. Elements of Saudi society are obviously anti-western and are being targeted to one degree or another. If the Saudi family falls then control of that oil will unquestionably go to extremists. Not a good situation.
The Executive powers of the Office of the President have grown exponentially under every president since the end of WWII. The President of the United States is arguably the most powerful man in the world, wields the most influence and has access to the greatest amount of resources. 9/11 put the U. S. on war-footing but stopped well short of turning Bush into an Autocrat. He’s a war-time President running a virtually tied re-election race, DESPITE 9/11.
What is react immediately? Hop in a jet fighter himself? The American intelligence, military, law enforcement and executive branches have had protocols in place for decades on how to react if attacked. The attacks were painful but fell well, well short of disabling our infrastructure.
9/11 attacks were very well organized. They were well thought out and practiced. They still amounted to some suicide thugs with box cutters taking over planes and flying them into big, big buildings. To think they were going to have the Presidential itinerary is ridiculous. They’re good cutthroats, but this aint the KGB. As for other operations by Bin Laden; some guys drove a boat full of explosives into a ship. Some guys planted bombs in hotels or drove trucks into military bases. Again, effective, but it aint brain surgery.
By saying that the energy crisis is a direct result of the Iraq war you conveniently sweep aside a host of international finance issues as if they are irrelevancies. It is gross over simplification. Though that the Saudi’s are profiteering is obvious, so are the Sudanese, Peru and everyone else.
Invade Saudi Arabia? I assume you are trying to make a political point with that statement because if you’ve truly given global strategic considerations a hard look and come up with that plan. . .
I’m not a particular fan of Bush. It’s obvious people are making money off what is happening. The idea of a global conspiracy implicating the President in the murder of 3000+ Americans is juvenile. No matter how many times you watch Fahrenheit 9/11 it isn’t going to make every accusation made in the film actually credible. The Illuminati, Masons, Skull & Bones (well ok, maybe Skull & Bones, lol) are not all working with an alien intelligence to turn America into a police state.

When is a mercenary not a mercenary? When he never gets paid.