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Prince Nayef
From the Independent, with thanks to Jeffrey Imm:
Al-Qa'ida terrorists whose suicide bombs killed 35 people and injured 200 at a housing compound in Riyadh last May were secretly assisted by certain members of the Saudi National Guard which protects the royal family, military trainers employed by a US firm have claimed.In exclusive interviews with The Independent on Sunday, the former trainers for the Vinnell Corporation, which has an $800m (£460m) contract to advise the Saudi National Guard, allege:
* Some members of the Saudi National Guard knew about the bombing in advance and gave inside help to al-Qa'ida, including possibly a detailed map of the target.
* An "exercise" organised by the national guard removed 50 of 70 security staff for the day of the bombing, thus leaving the compound "defenceless".
* Security was generally lax, with machine guns unloaded and guards unarmed.
* Vinnell and the Saudis were given detailed, repeated warnings that Islamic militants were planning an attack, but did nothing to upgrade security.
These claims will renew the controversy over the failure of the Saudi royal family to deal with Islamic insurgents. In recent weeks al-Qa'ida has renewed its attacks on Western targets in Saudi Arabia which have killed several British workers. ...
The bombing on 12 May 2003 was implemented with precision based on meticulous intelligence. Lt-Col Raphael Maldonado, then a Vinnell instructor, claims al-Qa'ida received inside assistance from National Guard members. "This compound was too big and complex to be bombed without inside help", he said. He points to the discovery of a detailed map in the car left behind by the assailants and an improvised ladder consisting of concrete blocks and the trace of shoe markings made by people rushing to escape just before the explosion.
On the morning of the atrocity, Lt-Col Maldonado noticed that none of his Saudi co-workers was present. A fellow Vinnell adviser angrily told him that a Saudi National Guard commander had suddenly notified him that they were leaving the compound to per- form night manouevres with 50 trainers. "I don't understand why they are suddenly going into the field for just one night," he told Lt-Col Maldonado, who was even more concerned when he drove past the local mosque at noon and noticed far fewer shoes outside the door than usual.
Lt-Col Maldonado believes that removing 50 of the 70 Vinnell trainers on what he claims was a "pointless" and unscheduled expedition 40 miles away just before the bombing, was deliberate, leaving the compound defenceless. "There is no doubt we were set up," he said. "Someone in the upper echelons of the Saudi National Guard knew the bombing was imminent." ...
The Saudi Interior Minister, Prince Nayef, condemned the bombing and called for public assistance in capturing 19 suspects. But the reaction showed how al-Qa'ida has retained support. Three prominent clerics declared the terrorists were "devout" men and called on people to disobey the regime's request. They said any help to the police would constitute aid to the US in its "war against Islam". Ten of the suspects remain at large.
Posted by Robert at May 16, 2004 6:21 AM
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I am not surprised because that is what I think Islam teaches. Killing ("Terrorism") in all ramtification against anybody that does not dance to their song.
Posted by: Dase at May 16, 2004 9:57 AMOur "Saudi friends" at their finest. Alot of people say that Alcohol, or as Arabs pronounce it al-kuhul, is the "Devil's brew"........My guess is that OIL is truly the root of Satan, as it's used the way it is.
We need to develop whatever we can so that we don't have to rely so much on our "friends" for oil. Hopefully it isn't too late.
Posted by: D.C. Watson at May 16, 2004 11:20 AMRatchet up production of alternative fuels. We need to rid ourselves of these two-faced Saudis. They know that once we have succeeded in doing this, they will be sitting on a worthless pile of sand. For this reason they need to be successful now or they might end up back in tents on the desert!
Of course they will condemn terrorism, but they are the authors of worldwide jIhad, using the jihadists to do their dirty work. A bomb or two at home will help to distract the world from their complicity, but keep looking at the big picture.
Posted by: epg at May 16, 2004 11:29 AMI just paid $205.9 a gallon for gas yesterday. I read last night that even the Saudi oil reserves may be depleted as soon as this century. As of 2000, 72.2 percent of the world's oil is produced in the Middle East.
We need to get a move on if we're going to go alternative, our survival may depend on it. Venezuela is a high producer of oil as well. We need to do something to get out from under the Saudis.
Once that's accomplished, we'll be enabled to kill off the radical Islamic threats.
Posted by: D.C. Watson at May 16, 2004 11:55 AMThe single most severe blow that al-Qaeda & Co. could deliver to the West would be to put the Saudi oil fields firmly and openly into Jihadi hands, or simply create chaos in the country. It should not surprise us if al-Qaeda, and/or the more radical elements in the royal family, attempt a coup before November.
Posted by: Dave at May 16, 2004 2:05 PMMr. Spencer,
On the same link to the speech by Mr. Bazain, there is also a link to hear a Berkely student rally support for attacks on U.S. Troops! I am appauled that we tolerate this type of speech in America. I am also saddened that it has gotten to this point. I fear for the America of my children.
In my opinion, his "free speech" has crossed the line. If he is doing this here, what is to stop some blithering, delusional Islamic from initiating attacks on bases, housing, etc. of our troops here on our own soil?
Were these things to culminate, I can easily see even Muslims who do not advocate such things as well as non-Muslim individuals of Middle Eastern heritage suffering grave reprisals.
Historically, this is what separates America and Americans from other societies. Something must be done. I am pleased to see your web site helping to expose such things as Mr. Bazain here in our own country. Keep up the good work.
DW
I think that is the hour to say, Boyccott to Saudi Arabia already!
Posted by: Franze at May 16, 2004 3:11 PMMy goodness K.C., That's ridiculous. What reasons are they giving over there for such sky high prices?
Posted by: D.C. Watson at May 16, 2004 9:46 PMSo, we should come up with commericially-viable alternative energy sources, like hydrogen fuel cells.
If we don't need oil, the law of supply and demand would make the stuff slightly more valuable than the shifting sands it lies inside, right?
Arab states dependant on oil for their economies collapse, and suddenly they cannot afford to export terror. They go back to nomadic tribal lifestyles, and the world is a kinder, gentler place.
Sounds win-win to me.
Posted by: Bob Owens at May 17, 2004 4:41 PM we can drill for oil the last time that senate brought it to the table oil went to 20.00$ a barrel as soon as the dem's blocked the vote with-in 2 days it was at 27.00$ and has been risen ever sence now this can stop called get rid of the dem's in the senate . the dem's do not seam to care about the safty of these United States.
For all you libs out there how do you think you get your food we use oil to farm and for the trucks to bring it to you or how do you think you can take out your boats on the week end. or get your drugs delivered to you geasers.
Drill In America
Part of the American Tribe
God Bless the USA and her fighting forces and all who fight with her give them strength and courage to stay the course to Victory we are fighting on many fronts Amen
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