November 25, 2002

The Saudis Support Terrorists? Say it isn't so...

The big revelation this weekend seems to be that the Saudis are supporting terrorists, and that members of the government, or the Royal Family might have been giving the perpetrators of the World Trade Center Attacks financial support. Like this is news. Anyone with a passing familiarity of Saudi poltics, Wahhabism, or non-US news sources is well aware of potential links between the House of Saud and al-Qaeda (and similar) organizations.


The main difference of opinion between the House of Saud and al-Qaeda is that the House of Saud wants to use US forces to defend Saudi Arabia again external attack. Al-Qaeda seems to think that the US presence in Saudi Arabia is just that sort of attack. On matters of religion, though, there isn't much difference. Both subscribe to an ultra-extreme brand of Islam, both view western ideas and lifestyles as corrupting.

The fact of the matter is that al-Qaeda and organizations like it are used by the Saudi government to distract radical elements from problems in Saudi Arabia that range frmo under employment to the totalitarian regime in place there. Any skepticism regarding this can be easily overcome by reading English translations of official Saudi media outlets denouncing the United States and praising terrorists.


Of course, you wouldn't know this by listening to the White House. Ties between the Bush family and the House of Saud are many and long-lasting, and with US reliance on oil and our bases in Saudi Arabia means that the chances of the US Government denouncing Saudi ties to terrorists are quite small.


So what can we do? Enough people contacting their elected representatives might have an effect, but it isn't likely. Exerting pressure on businesses who deal with the Saudis might help more, but when was the last time corporate America showed any sign of listening to the people? The best bet, other than spreading the information around, is to contact television news outlets and other mainstream media organizations.


Only media pressure or gigantic, Vietnam-era style street protests are likely to have any effect on this Administration, with with the aparent apathy of the American people, only on of those is likely.


Posted by Chris at November 25, 2002 11:27 PM
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