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| Arabia |
| Saudi troops head to Mecca |
| 2003-11-10 |
| EFL: Saudi security officials are deploying thousands of troops to the city of Mecca because of concerns that terrorists may be planning new attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, government sources told CNN. They’re worried. Good. Seventeen people, including five children, were killed and 122 people were wounded in Saturday’s suicide car bombing in a mostly Arab neighborhood in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency said. Officials expect the toll to rise as rescuers continue searching the rubble for any other victims. The Saudis blamed al Qaeda for the attack and pledged to track down those responsible. "We will get the perpetrators no matter how long it takes," Interior Minister Prince Nayef told Saudi state television as he inspected the devastated compound. "All those who are propelled to do these acts must stop or surrender because it would be better for them and their salvation. There is no crime more heinous than this." "Why can’t they stick to killing infidels?" Expecting another terrorist attack at any time, Saudi security officials have ordered 4,600 troops to Mecca for the remaining three weeks of Ramadan. Hope they are "trustworthy". The car that exploded Saturday night left a crater in the center of the neighborhood, which was littered with rubble and burned-out vehicles. The attackers stormed the affluent neighborhood near Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter late Saturday, first firing on security guards and then driving their explosives-laden cars through the gates. Sources said the attackers apparently had stolen a jeep from Saudi security forces to disguise themselves. Saudi guards opened the gate upon seeing the jeep before the attackers opened fire, the sources said. That’ll teach them. First you check IDs, then you open the gate. The attack came a day after the United States said it was shutting its embassy and consulates in Saudi Arabia, citing intelligence of an imminent terrorist attack. Westerners who work in Saudi Arabia are considering sending their families home because of the dangers there and moving their companies out of Saudi Arabia until it becomes safer, some Western businessmen told CNN. In addition to Saudi and Egyptian fatalities, a Sudanese and an Indian were also killed in Saturday’s attack, the Saudi Press Agency said. The 122 wounded included Jordanians, Palestinians, Indians, Pakistanis, Sudanese, Ethiopians, Eritreans, Indonesians, Filipinos, Turks, Sri Lankans, and Romanians, the agency said. Officials, citizens, and journalists were shocked at the attack because it hit a target where most of the people are Arabs. This had to be deliberate, AQ’s intel should be pretty good in Saudi land. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #11 Can some one tell me these "troops" are? When I read the word "troops" I think of the regular army. That is a good question. It does tend to indicate regular army, but more likely National Guard. In any case, still a dubious proposition. With the exception of the air force, the Saudi forces have been infiltrated. Kind of like the Chicago Black Sox in the World Series. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2003-11-10 11:07:03 PM |
| #10 Can some one tell me these "troops" are? Doesn't matter. Sending any Arab soldiers against any organized force is like sending a Pee Wee football team against year 2003 Oklahoma Sooners. |
| Posted by: badanov 2003-11-10 10:28:19 PM |
| #9 Still think 9/11 was a dreadful miscalculation on the part of AQ. They thought the US would fold and were wrong. Do they now think that the US would allow AQ to take over Soddiland and all it's oil? |
| Posted by: Sgt.DT 2003-11-10 4:05:04 PM |
| #8 I think that this was supposed to be a bold move, on a par of 9/11. It wasn't only because much of the plot was foiled. Like 911, AQ hit hard, but not hard enough. Like 9/11 it's going to cost them dearly. |
| Posted by: B 2003-11-10 2:53:40 PM |
| #7 Can some one tell me these "troops" are? When I read the word "troops" I think of the regular army. The Minister of Defense, Sultan's people. But Saudi Arabia has a White Army, the National Guard, who are accountable to the Crown Prince, Abullah to protect the royal family. Is their a third army of security forces. Who do they belong to? Nayef? Damn, does every prince have his own army? |
| Posted by: Gasse Katze 2003-11-10 2:25:59 PM |
| #6 ok..thanks RC and mwh. It's funny how confusing things suddenly make sense when you view them in the right light. |
| Posted by: B 2003-11-10 12:56:55 PM |
| #5 "Black Rock" == that chunk of meteoric iron in Mecca around which the pagan temples were built. Old Mo', in the time-honored tradition of all religions, usurped it for his upstart religion. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-11-10 12:41:30 PM |
| #4 mwh..good point. But re: Black rock...are you refering to just the money in general? I don't think negotiating with Russians would be ultimately beneficial to AQ. http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=8200 |
| Posted by: B 2003-11-10 12:03:35 PM |
| #3 it is also about purity and it is also about opportunity. Al Q wants purity of Islamic belief and the place they want it most is SArabia because of the black rock. Also, the number of Saudis sympathetic to Al Q type dreams is greater than the number of any other sympathizers. This makes operations easier. It makes finding safe houses easier. |
| Posted by: mhw 2003-11-10 11:28:55 AM |
| #2 I guess this is a simplistic thought, but I am a simple minded person. It seems to me that AQ having lost their hold in Afghanistan need a new base of operations in the ME and they think that Saudi Arabia is the easiest prey. Other governements have sympathetic players, but already established power-bases that would be far too difficult to overcome. I note from one of Fred's blubs on Muslim brotherhood: "Al-Ikhwan believe that ruling a government should be the step which follows preparing the society for accepting Islamic laws. Preparing the society is achieved thru plans for spreading the Islamic culture, the possible media means, mosques, and da'wa work in public organizations such as syndicates, parliaments, student unions. Parallel to that, muslims should be trained to administer political, economical, social, and student organizations efficiently (and Islamically). Moreover, the Ikhwan don't demand rule for themselves; they welcome any leader who wants to establish a TRUE Islamic government to have all the Ikhwanic ..." but is it too simple minded to attribute this to AQ and affiliates being anxious to move to the "ruling a government stage". When viewed in that light, the efforts to unstabilize SA make perfect sense. Afterall, let's be real, like most power struggles, this isn't really about Islam or jihad or any other buzzwords. It's about wanting to be the ones in charge. SA is weak and it looks to me like they are going for it. |
| Posted by: B 2003-11-10 10:59:20 AM |
| #1 but, but, but Mecca is only open to members of the Religion of Peace! Surely it is the most peaceful place in the world! Why would they need soldiers? And on such a peaceful holiday as Ramadan? |
| Posted by: BH 2003-11-10 10:11:19 AM |