From Metro Networks...
The al-Qaeda-linked militant group believed to have kidnapped and executed American engineer Paul Johnson last week is claiming to have received assistance from Saudi police. The "New York Times" reports that members of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula say security forces within the Saudi kingdom provided uniforms and vehicles needed to set up a phony checkpoint not far from the area where Johnson was abducted. The Saudi Interior Ministry has been quick to reject the claim that appears in the militant group's monthly magazine, which is posted on the Internet. However, other details of Johnson's kidnapping remain undisputed.
What the F**k? Saudi Arabia better clean their country of this or risk being put on our "list".
You shouldn't be at all shocked. Saudi Arabia is the home of Wahabbism and is riddled with al-Qaeda sympathizers. The Saudi royal family has had a long-standing (decades/centuries) agreement with the Wahabbis that they can stay in power as long as the Wahabbis control society. There is a major split within the royal family about how to deal with this issue (not saying either side wants to end Wahabbism, just how to moderate it).
The war in Iraq is much more about Saudi Arabia (the home of terrorism) than it is about Saddam (and I'm damn glad we're doing it, because Saudi Arabia is likely to implode within 18 months-five years).
Posted by: Gasman | June 21, 2004 at 09:02 AM