‘Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired hundreds of rockets at southern Israel over a two-day span, nearly provoking an all-out war. Israel responded with retaliatory air strikes and assassinated a top Hamas commander who was reportedly a conduit for Iranian funds. A ceasefire went into effect early Monday morning.“According to translations by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), prominent Saudi intellectual Dr. Turki Al-Hamad blamed the violence on Iran and Turkey, both regional rivals of Saudi Arabia.“It’s a repeating loop: rockets [are fired] from Gaza into Israel, Israel bombs [Gaza], someone or other mediates, the fighting stops — and the common Palestinian folks pay the price,” he wrote. “This is ‘resistance,’ my friend. Iran and Turkey are in trouble, and the Palestinians are paying the price.”…
Another Saudi, Mut’ab Al-Jabrin, responded to Al-Hamad with an attack on Hamas, saying, “Since the Hamas coup and its takeover of Gaza, the [Gaza] Strip has been suffering mismanagement which has caused [its residents] to lose even the most basic services, [namely] power and water.”“[All this is] due to the foolish policy of Hamas, which does nothing but fire a few rockets that fall even before they reach their target, and which achieve no balance [of power] and exert no political pressure,” he added. “It ends with Israeli strikes that destroy the Gaza Strip’s infrastructures.”
Until recently few Arab journalists — other than someone from the PA, settling scores with Hamas — would so savagely criticize Hamas,, as Mu’tab al-Jabrin does, for the mismanagement that has resulted in a loss of basic services (energy and water) for the people of Gaza. But Hamas is now openly hated, especially in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the Emirates, for its links both to the Muslim Brotherhood and to Iran. In Saudi Arabia, it’s open season on the terror group
CogitoErgoSum says
I’m trying to wrap my mind around the term “Saudi intellectual.”
mortimer says
The term you are searching for is ‘stooge’ or ‘trained seal’.
Merriam Webster Dictionary: Definition of trained seal : an author, celebrity, or expert hired by a newspaper to lend color or authority to its coverage of a conspicuous news story.
FYI says
The Saudis are giving us the High Five.
Well,at least it’s an improvement on the one-finger Tawhid salute given to remind us polytheist infidels that Al Ilah is One.
{Actually the theology of the Christian God is monotheistic;the Trinity is ..ONE…muslims don’t get that.
“Say not “3” cease!It is better for you!” says [Al] iLah {the “BEST of deceivers” k3:54}in k4:171
But when iLah says that, he is not only denying Christ,he is ALSO denying God’s Holy Spirit{=God’s wisdom and the source of Biblical prophecy and scripture,the 2nd part of the Trinity}
So iLah tells muslims NOT TO BELIEVE in God’s Holy Spirit.
iLah tells muslims not to believe in {the truth about}God!}
christianblood says
US-led coalition aircraft drop food, medicine to Daesh remnants in western Iraq: Report
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/05/07/595353/USled-coalition-aircraft-drop-food-medicine-to-Daesh-remnants-in-western-Iraq-Report
Demsci says
Press TV? Iranian Propaganda!
christianblood says
Demsci
(…Press TV? Iranian Propaganda!…)
That statement itself is a US/Western imperialist propaganda!
christianblood says
Demsci
Iran invaded or attacked NO country in over 200 years in comparison
U$ invaded and bombed many dozens of small countries in the last few decades killing millions! Which one is really a Rogue, Mafia state?
Check the fact-sheet below:
https://wikispooks.com/wiki/US/Bombing_campaigns_since_1945
gravenimage says
christianblood thinks that the bloody Mullahs are the ‘best of peoples’…
christianblood says
CogitoErgoSum posted
(…I’m trying to wrap my mind around the term “Saudi intellectual.”…)
You are exactly right! This is another telltale sign that “Jihadwatch” is turning into a propaganda wing for the Saudi head-choppers! How much $$ is ‘Jihadwatch’ getting from Saudi head-choppers! It is a crazy world, there is no principals or morality. It is all about money!
christianblood says
(…Hugh Fitzgerald: Saudi Intellectuals and Journalists Attack Hamas and Iran, Some Praise Israel…)
Saudi dollars at work here! Jihadwatch is showing its true colors by joining the neocons, hollywood, Liberal globalists, MSM, Israel and the Trump administration it its continuous praising of Saudi head-choppers! What is next for Jihad Watch? To openly praise ISIS and Al-Qaeda and call them human rights activists?
Last week, on a single day, Saudi Arabia executed 37 civilians, most of them Shiite civilians by public beheading and one of them, a Shiite teenager was beheaded and his headless corpse publicly crucified! Please watch more of these “Jihadwatch” heroes on the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIrmeD9g_FU
gravenimage says
What grotesque calumny from the increasingly appalling christianblood.
No one here supports Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, of course, christianblood screams “God bless Hezb’allah!”, says that the bloody Mullahs in Iran are the most civilized people in the world, applauds Shari’ah–including the murder of gay people and support for Honor Killing–in Chechnya, and lauds the Jihad against Israel.
He also demands that God allow Muslims to conquer and destroy the West–and says we are resisting the Truth of Christ if we have a problem with that.
Wellington says
Just knew you would respond as you did, christianblood. You are so predictable. Let’s see here, people like gravenimage, mortimer and myself regularly criticize, indeed, condemn, Saudi Arabia. We have no sympathy for it at all.
You, by contrast, NEVER and I mean NEVER, criticize Iran, which is as despicable as SA is. It is a country where women who dare not to wear the hijab are punished severely (my God, this SOB of a country even has “lipstick police”), where no true freedom of any kind exists, and which is intent on the destruction of Israel which even SA is not. Just as you are all Russia, all the time, so are you all Iran, all the time. No balance; none.
When the hell are you going to wake up and realize that 1) all of Islam sucks, Sunni or Shiite; 2) Russia under Putin is behaving like the thug nation it is; and 3) where freedom continues to most exist is in the West? You are so tendentious that you managed to become a parody of yourself—no mean feat.
christianblood says
Wellington
(…Hugh Fitzgerald: Saudi Intellectuals and Journalists Attack Hamas and Iran, Some Praise Israel…)
By praising Saudi head-choppers, Jihadwatch is shitting on the graves of 3000 Americans incinerated by Saudi/Wahhabi jihadists on 9/11!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQACSfzD5Ls
christianblood says
gravenimage
Hezbollah is more far honorable than the pro-jihadist US/Nato and their allies! Hezbollah protects Christians in Lebanon and Syria whereas US its satanic allies arm, support and fund the jihadists that are massacring Christians! SHAME ON YOU!
Thousands of Christians and Shiites in Lebanon came out to praise Hezbollah just for that! Go to mark 4:00 of the video see it clearly!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdZgkGI5h0A
christianblood says
Henry
You are another robotic anti-Christ propagandist for satanic, pro-jihadist globalists and their Islamic allies!
U$A is the founder of ISIS & Al-Qaeda!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCHuZM_9qTk
christianblood says
Trump administration released millions of taxpayer dollars to Al-Qaeda “White Helmets” in Syria, calling them “heroic”. More of this below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWE7Qvcp0eE
christianblood says
gravenimage
Is now directly supporting Saudi Arabia! How outrageous!
Satan controls the secular atheistic West led by the U$ and Islamic fascist world led by Saudi Arabia! MAY GOD PUNISH THEM BOTH AND WITHOUT MERCY!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_MZKRG3frQ
gravenimage says
christianblood wrote:
gravenimage
Hezbollah is more far honorable than the pro-jihadist US/Nato and their allies! Hezbollah protects Christians in Lebanon and Syria whereas US its satanic allies arm, support and fund the jihadists that are massacring Christians! SHAME ON YOU!
Thousands of Christians and Shiites in Lebanon came out to praise Hezbollah just for that! Go to mark 4:00 of the video see it clearly!
……………………….
christianblood has posted this thing many times here, claiming that it is a good thing that Muslims invaded Christian-majority Lebanon and are now oppressing Christians there.
That Christians there are reduced to saying that the kiss the feet of their Muslim persecutors there–an even greater insult in Islam than elsewhere–is just awful. That christianblood is lauding this is even worse.
More:
U$A is the founder of ISIS & Al-Qaeda!
……………………….
christianblood also does this all the time–claims that Islam is not a threat, and ludicrously that violent Jihad is actually waged by Americans and Jews instead.
More:
gravenimage
Is now directly supporting Saudi Arabia! How outrageous!
……………………….
This is, of course, nothing but calumny. Where did I ever support the bloody Saudis? Citations, please. christianblood has to lie about me because he’s got nothing else.
More:
Satan controls the secular atheistic West led by the U$ and Islamic fascist world led by Saudi Arabia! MAY GOD PUNISH THEM BOTH AND WITHOUT MERCY!!!
……………………….
christianblood has said many times what he actually means by this–he demands that God allow Muslims to conquer and destroy the West. One time that I took issue with this he demanded that God “start from gravenimage”. When I noted that this would likely mean my being gang-raped and beheaded by Muslims. He then said that my having a problem with this meant I was resisting the Truth of Christ.
gravenimage says
That christianblood is saying that Henry is an “anti-Christ propagandist for satanic, pro-jihadist globalists and their Islamic allies” for pointing out how christianblood is slinging pro-Islam and pro-Russian propaganda here is not just calumny, it is also extremely bizarre.
mortimer says
BloodthirstyPseudochristianGenocidist, no one here supports KSA. You support the rival JIHADIST STATE Iran merely because you a Russian government agent.
Reziac says
Our bloodyminded troll also misses the fact that Trump often praises his enemies and rivals… in ways that force them to either live up to his praise, or lose face. It’s a great negotiating technique that pits the opposition against itself.
christianblood says
Mortimer & Reziac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2FKn4aMOoQ
christianblood says
U$ is directly arming its Saudi and Al-Qaeda allies in Yemen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeIpNzJhuO0
Leslie Fish says
I think this means that the Saudis are running scared. They know that if Iran teams up with Turkey, Arabia won’t last a week against them. The Saudis are desperately looking for allies anywhere who have the will and ability to take out Iran at least, and they know they’ve p!ssed off the USA. They have to know that Israel has used its top-of-the-line tech to win the sort-of friendship of China, India, and even Egypt. The world is slowly but definitely dividing up in preparation for WWIII, which will be fought between the Jihadists and everybody else, and the Saudis are afraid of being caught on the wrong side.
christianblood says
Duplictious and hypocritical US demonizes Iran, Venezuela and other nations while it is now willing to transfer nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia and tolerates its extreme savagery, religious discrimination and worldwide financing of global jihadist ideology! Last year, under secretary, Stuart Jones, couldn’t answer the same question asked about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. Watch him:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0K7qXdu8bs
Walter Sieruk says
A small section of this top main article ,in part, reads “Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired hundreds of rockets at southern Israel over a two-day span, nearly provoking an all-out war. Israel responded with retaliatory air strikes and assassinated a top Hamas commander who was reportedly a conduit for Iranian funds. A ceasefire went into effect early Monday morning….”
This is a strong reminded of the great need to reiterate the very important message which is contained in the following essay.
Those recent Hamas and Islamic Jihad rocket attacks in to Israel from Gaza reveals that even the idea of some people of dividing Jerusalem as well as other parts of the State of Israel between the Jewish people of the Muslim/ Arabs is nothing but folly. To engage the madness of such “talks” is a hoax and a farce .This is because in the so called “negotiations” between the heads of the Jewish nation of Israel and the leaders of the “Palestinians” the Muslim /Arabs the “Palestinian” leaders will speak the truth only when in happens to fit their agenda. The rest of the time the will be speaking half-truths and outright lies. For their goal is to obtain all of the land of the State of Israel ,.Even in it takes much time and it means getting the land piece by piece. So those “peace talks” are a hoax. For the “Palestinian”leaders are employing what is the Islamic doctrine of Taqiyya . Which is the Islamic dogma that lying and deception are good things to do as long as it’s done for the cause of the advancement of Islam. The insidious scheme is part of the stealth jihad .Otherwise known as “Islamic Gradualism.” This sly and something subtle strategy of disingenuous speech, lying deception of achieving the goal of all the land of Israel a war ploy that will be a disaster if the heads of the State of Israel are foolish enough to agree to divide the land of Israel with Muslim /Arabs ,the “Palestinians.” For if such a “peace dialogue” results in a divided land, the outcome will literally be murder. For “Palestinian” leader will allow the jihadists use that land as a base to launch murderous rocked attacks in to Israel. As for example, Hamas of Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Such false hopes for peace which are based on the foundation of lies are nothing new when it comes to Israel . For example, the Bible in Psalm 55:20, 21. Reads “Such men do violence to those at peace with them and break their promised word; their speech is smoother the butter but their thoughts are of war.” [N.E.B.]
CRUSADER says
Stealth Jihad — it is a real thing…. creep, creep, creep:
https://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/what-can-i-do/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE35w6JbD7E
CRUSADER says
For those currently missing Robert Spencer, here is a vintage classic !!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2B_-Izglug
gravenimage says
Thanks for the kin, CRUSADER.
gravenimage says
Sorry–that should have read, Thanks for the link, CRUSADER.
CRUSADER says
In a way, we are all kin.
gravenimage says
True, CRUSADER.
christianblood says
U$ is footing 1 Billion taxpayer dollars to give new missiles to its Saudi/ISIS/Al-Qaeda allies!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dxtpzYL-Xs
christianblood says
U$ is transferring nuclear technology to its Saudi/ISIS allies!
Saudi Arabia=ISIS!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ_3VhASrms
gravenimage says
The “Last American Vagabond” hates democratic Israel, and calls her defense against Jihad “human rights abuses”.
Of course, despite his hatred of America, he is right that it is unwise that we are selling weaponry to the Saudis.
But it sounds as though he is mostly enraged that the Saudis are not buying enough weapons from the Russians.
Of course, christianblood hopes we don’t know that the Russians are also playing footsie with the Saudis:
“Putin’s Middle East power surge: Russia sells WEAPONS to Saudi Arabia in lucrative deal”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/863101/Vladimir-Putin-news-russia-weapons-saudi-arabia-middle-east-king-salam
Then christianblood keeps posting this thing from Tulsi Gabbard, who hates Trump.
christianblood says
CRUSADER
Got a better video for you and I think “Jihadwatch” people like “Hugh Fitzgerald” should join in the fun! Why not?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f35TUFmCtYY
gravenimage says
Why does christianblood keep posting this thing?
I am *no* fan of anyone kissing up to these thugs–but this is something that virtually all world leaders do.
Here is Putin high-fiving the Saudi crown prince:
https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2018/11/30/high-five-putin-saudi-crown-prince-mbs-sot-vpx.cnn
Wellington says
Dancing with the Saudis, bad. High-fiving a Saudi prince, good. Eh, christianblood?
What a hypocrite you are.
christianblood says
Wellington
Iran hasn’t attacked a country in over 200 years in comparison
U$ invaded and bombed many dozens of small countries in the last few decades killing millions! Which one is really a Rogue, Mafia state?
https://wikispooks.com/wiki/US/Bombing_campaigns_since_1945
christianblood says
Wellington
U$ is a Mafia state!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Skyw2TH29s
gravenimage says
Notice that christianblood once again ignores this about Putin doing just the same as most leaders with Saudi Arabia–but what could he say, really?
And here he is again, posting this ludicrous thing from 9/11 “Truther” Jimmy Dore.
CRUSADER says
Say it ain’t so, Saudis !
Walter Sieruk says
It should never be forgotten and always remembered that even though that heinous “mullah regime” of Iran is very guilty of funding and supporting violent and murderous Islamic terror entities as Islamic Jihad Hamas and Hezbollah there is still much blame to go around. For the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is also guilty of the promotion of Islamic terrorism.
The Islamic kingdom of Saudi Arabia has not and will not spare any of its vast oil wealth as to use its financial resources to fund and promote the advancement of Islam by and through the jihad. By this it means both the stealth jihad and even the subtle support violent jihad.
As explained, for example in the book HOW ISLAM PLANS TO CHANGE THE WORLD by William Wagner. For on pages 109, 110. The reader is informed that “The Wall Street journal on April 15, 2003 published an article titled ‘In law Seminars, A Saudi Group Spreads Extremism.’ The article began by saying ‘In late February more than 300 young men from across Europe gathered for a weekend seminar on Islamic Law put on by Al-Waqf al-Islaami Foundation.’ The article went on to explain that the most famous graduates from the seminar were half a dozen members of the group of young men from Hamburg, Germany, who plotted the September 11, attacks. The language of the was Dutch, but ‘the message was imported from Saudi Arabia, via Saudi books and lecturers who taught a strict orthodox interpretation of Islam.’ “
Further on the very same page of 110 the information is given that “TIME MAGAZINE , in an article on Saudi Arabia: Inside the Kingdom,’ stated ‘Apart from channeling money to foundations that have assisted terrorist groups, Saudis have for years supported institutions abroad the propagate Wahhabism.’”
In addition to all this, in the book of the title of THE HISTORY OF JIHAD FROM MUHAMMAD TO ISIS, by Robert Spencer on pages 333 through 337.Mr Spencer provides valid information of the subject of “ The Saudi involvement in September 11.”
So with that Islamic regime of Saudi Arabia and its oil money support the different type of the jihad, both stealth and the violent kind, with its Islamic agenda advancement and spread , influence and infiltration of the Western nations ,this kingdom of Saudi Arabia is no friend at all of America or any other country of the West.
I
CRUSADER says
” Two Faces of Islam: The House of Sa’ud from Tradition to Terror ”
by Stephen Schwartz
Few people outside the Muslim world really focused on Wahhabism until September 11, when the fact that fifteen out of nineteen hijackers were Saudi Arabian, as is Osama bin Laden, brought people face to face with this extremist ideology.
Schwartz, a journalist who has been studying Islam and extremism for more than a decade, set out to write a history and exposé of Wahhabism, which he believes is at the root of “two and a half centuries of Islamic fundamentalism, and ultimately terrorism, in response to global change.” Schwartz describes how over the years, Wahhabis have infiltrated Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Balkans, the Philippines, Western Europe, and of course America in their efforts to attack those who don’t believe as they do. Schwartz, who has spent several years in the Balkans working with the Muslim community, argues passionately that Islam must not be viewed as a monolith—that people need to understand that much of Islam is based on a rich, pluralistic, multi-ethnic, moderate tradition. But at the same time, people must recognize the dangers of Wahhabism, and of supporting the Saudi regime.
Schwartz is caustic about those who he believes have encouraged our close ties to Saudi Arabia and have discouraged any real examination into Saudi involvement in terrorist attacks in the U.S. and elsewhere—his opprobrium falls on everyone from oil-company executives to journalists to lobbyists to the President and his cabinet. Ultimately, though, Schwartz finds room for optimism, both in his knowledge of the true, tolerant face of Islam, and in his belief that war in Iraq may touch off a chain of events that will eventually lead to an end of Wahhabi influence in the Middle East.
What misunderstandings about Islam do you most want to correct with this book?
First, I want Westerners to get over their fears. Second, I want to correct the misunderstanding that there’s just one Islam, and that it’s the Saudi-extremist form. Third, I want to correct the misunderstanding that Islam is inherently intolerant of the Christians and Jews. I want to correct the view that Islam is inherently violent. I want to correct the view that Islam is incompatible with democracy, prosperity, and pluralism. And, finally, I want to correct the view that Islam as a religion is an impediment to democracy in the Middle East.
…..
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2003/04/the-real-islam/378533/
kuriakose says
He’s just another deluded muhameddan. Sufism indeed. Nothing mystical about real islam.
CRUSADER says
“Sleeping with the Devil:
How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude”
by Robert Baer
————————–
“Hatred’s Kingdom:
How Saudi Arabia Supports the New Global Terrorism”
by Dore Gold
Renate says
I couldn’t agree more with Hugh Fitzgerald. You have to give credit where credit is due. MBS and his father are the two best people to come out of the Arab world in a long time. The other Arabs just want to be at everybody’s throat 24/7. They’re Islamic and they may always be Islamic, but they are not trying to force Islam on the rest of the world. The Muslim Brotherhood is the culprit there. I like them.
gravenimage says
Alas, Renate, the Saudis are doing exactly that–spreading Islam in its purest, most hideous form all over the world. Here are two such stories:
“Saudi Arabia largest funder of extremism in UK, report finds”
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/saudi-arabia-largest-funder-of-extremism-in-uk-report-finds-1.3144020
“Saudi Arabia boosting extremism in Europe, says former ambassador”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/13/saudi-arabia-boosting-extremism-in-europe-says-former-ambassador
Grimly, there are many more.
Terry Gain says
They’re Islamic and they may always be Islamic, but they are not trying to force Islam on the rest of the world.
….
Seriously? How many mosques have the Saudis built in America in the last 30 years? They are even more dangerous than the Iranians as they suck in the naive.
Renate says
Even the naive have to acknowledge facts when they are presented with them. But facts do have to be presented to them and there are those that would prevent this from happening apparently.
Renate says
Governments, (like the British government), should be open about who they’re letting fund mosques then. They seem to want to keep it on the down low, and to not be honest with the public. I think that the saying, “Money talks.” is still true. When Tony Blair was out of office, the first thing he did was to go to work for the Saudis because that’s where the money was. Our own governments are cutting our throats over money they hope to gain.
Terry Gain says
Renate says
May 8, 2019 at 8:01 pm
Even the naive have to acknowledge facts when they are presented with them. But facts do have to be presented to them and there are those that would prevent this from happening apparently.
………….
No one is preventing you from expressing your naive, misguided love for the Saudis.
Renate says
Terry, I read the articles that gravenimage posted here. It’s hard to dispute printed facts. I was hoping that MbS was going to get the Muslim Brotherhood out of Saudi Arabia and that he would also stop the Saudi Royal Family from funding extremism in other countries. Evidently I was wrong.
gravenimage says
Thanks, Renate.
I wish the Saudis were actually reforming, as well.
gravenimage says
Hugh Fitzgerald: Saudi Intellectuals and Journalists Attack Hamas and Iran, Some Praise Israel
………………….
It looks as though–right now, in any case–the Saudis hate their Islamic rivals even more than they do Jews.
jewdog says
The thought of what the Iranians would do to the Saudis has made them think long and hard about some things. As Samuel Johnson once put it, “Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.”
Hugh Fitzgerald says
i am sorry that a number of people believe i have gone soft on the Saudis. I assure you I have not. The regime, the crazed clerics, the decapitating despots, the waddling emirs, the herds of niqabbed wives dutifully following their husbands — all this fills me with moral nausea and horror. But if there are signs of sanity, and even the possibility of decency, I wanted to draw attention to them, just as the staff of MEMRI did.
gravenimage says
Thank you, Hugh. This story is important whether one trusts the Saudis or not.
Mark Swan says
Absolutely Mr. Fitzgerald, Saudi Arabia is a major part of many events—
I do appreciate what you shared here.
carpediadem says
Well said, Hugh, these things are very good to note and you wrote it up beautifully. Their fear over Iran and current support for Israel does not negate the dangerous parts of their society.
“Waddling Emirs” would be a great children’s toy or rock band! 😉
CRUSADER says
Three Westerners try – and fail – to solve the enigma of Saudi Arabia.
————————————————————–
https://www.haaretz.com/life/books/1.5373412
“The Two Faces of Islam: The House of Sa’Ud from Tradition to Terror”
by Stephen Schwartz
“Sleeping with the Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude”
by Robert Baer
“Hatred’s Kingdom: How Saudi Arabia Supports the New Global Terrorism”
by Dore Gold
It has been 37 years since I received orders to report as a junior diplomat to the U.S. Embassy in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. As I had just completed a grueling course in colloquial Moroccan Arabic, which was unintelligible in Saudi Arabia, I went kicking and screaming – at least figuratively. What I found there was utterly fascinating: a proud, intensely private and traditionalist people, newly flush with oil money, rushing headlong from somewhere between the 7th and the 18th century into the modern world.
Saudi Arabia was not a household name in those days. It had few of the modern amenities that are associated with the kingdom now. King Faisal shunned the radical Arab nationalism of the Egyptian president, Gamal Abdel Nasser, against whom he was fighting a proxy war, with covert Israeli aid, on the side of Yemeni royalists in a civil war against the Egyptian-backed republicans. Saudi Arabia had proved a staunch friend of the United States, and following the Arab defeat the following June in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, Faisal was one of the few Arab leaders to maintain friendly diplomatic relations with the United States.
Fast forward and the picture is totally changed. Saudi Arabia became a household name in the 1970s when it led the Arab oil embargo against the West, and again in 1990 to 1991 when American troops landed on Saudi soil to repel Saddam Hussein from Kuwait. The Saudis even put up over $50 billion to pay for the war.
But post- September 11, 2001, things have been different. Fifteen of the terrorists that day were Saudi citizens, and their leader, Osama bin Laden, though stripped of his citizenship, was still a Saudi in the eyes of Americans, and was funded by private donations from the Gulf oil states, including Saudi Arabia. What had happened to the staunch personal friendships that existed between the Saudi people and the thousands of Americans who went there to share in the oil wealth and protect the kingdom from outside threats? What happened to the close cooperation between the Saudi government and the American government, dating back to World War II, on a whole range of political, economic and military issues at considerable political costs to both countries? Three books have recently been published, each in its own way challenging whether Saudi Arabia was ever a true friend in the first place, and claiming that the relationship was based on the self-serving American desire for oil revenues and on the self-serving Saudi desire to perpetuate its own corrupt, antidemocratic governmental system and its terrorist campaign to propagate its hate- filled Wahhabi ideology for Islamist world domination.
Wahhabism, the enemy…..
https://www.haaretz.com/life/books/1.5373412
Wellington says
Yeah, christianblood, per gravenimage’s link, what of good ole’ boy Putin high-fiving a Saudi Prince? No dodging this, christianblood (but you will).
Chand says
Battle ships are heading to the Gulf to threaten Iran. So Saudi Arabia is getting a chance to add to the war drums and sabre rattling.
Darrell Lynch says
We must never forget, that the Saudis constantly engage in taquiya, which is lying to the infidel (all of us) to further the cause of islam. No moslem is to EVER be trusted. Not ever! As for me, I will fight islam in every one of it’s facets, until my dying breath, or their last drop of blood! I swear it to God.