Oil jihad. Yet if the US were really only interested in the Middle East to gain control of its oil fields, American forces could have kept Kuwait’s in the early 1990s. Instead, they returned them to Kuwaiti control.
From Reuters, with thanks to Nicolei:
DUBAI (Reuters) – Al Qaeda’s top leader in Saudi Arabia has praised a recent series of militant attacks in the kingdom which helped send oil prices to record highs on fears of instability.
The statement, issued by Abdulaziz al-Muqrin on an Islamist Web site, called on Saudis to support the militants’ campaign against the U.S.-allied Saudi monarchy and accused the government of lying about details of the attacks.
“The operation in Khobar was a new victory which God bestowed upon the mujahideen and which put the Saudi government in a deep crisis,” it said.
“It took the oil price to its highest levels of over $42, while Saudi Arabia is committed to America’s prosperity by providing oil at the cheapest prices.”