Al Queda: The Dammam Cell

News cycles missed an important story due to the double hurricane hits of Rita and Katrina.

And their ultimate target was the global economy. Saudi Arabia is the greatest source of oil on earth, with a quarter of known reserves and a proven policy of trying to stabilize prices even in today's volatile markets. [...]

Pundita has the round up. If you think that global terrorism is something a politician uses to change the subject, you need to read this.

Comments

[callmeBetty]

Very good article by Pundita and why isn't anyone talking about it?

The "scorched earth" theory that a major attack on the Saudi/or Iraqi oil resources would cripple the industrialized world's economies has been the only reason that ever made any sense to me, for the US invasion of Iraq.

Her article makes a lot of sense and the Saudi situation very possible, if not probable.

My only question is:
If this consideration does drive our foreign policy - why not state it truthfully? Why lie about WMD in Iraq? I think that the world is ready to face the truth........ if this be it.

[GrannyToad]

Betty, my guess - already established policies, Congress 1998 regime change & UNSC. 40-some nations who did not have their hands jammed into Saddam's hind pockets seem to have agreed.

[Katz]

Betty, do you feel that because we didn't find them there, during the “inspections” (care to bet some money wasn’t accumulated during said “inspections”) that they were never there? Is it not possible we were being laughed at as Saddam "relocated them" during say . . . like the "inspections; perhaps Syria?

My opine is that this world is FAR better off without “the serial murderer” and more Iraqis face a far FAR better chance of attaining that which so many of us wake up each morning, have taken for granted? Is that such a bad thing to fight for or against?

Elated to see you GrannyT . . . might the biggest pockets be none other than our endeared Kofi . . . and the WMD inspectors?

[TheAlamo]

The remains were so charred and reduced to jell by artillery fire that it took DNA tests to establish exactly how many people were inside the house. This is no way to extract intelligence on al Qaeda activities in Saudi Arabia.
According to a Saudi Interior Ministry statement [the evidence] included forged passes to enter "important locations."

The Saudi daily Okaz quoted the minister, Prince Nayef, saying the cell -- which was linked directly to Al Qaeda -- had planned major attacks on some of Saudi Arabia's key oil and gas facilities.

I find it interesting that the bodies were charred so badly that they needed DNA test for ID's but papers and passports with supposed "important locations" did not burn.
Kind of like the 9-11 situation where it was so hot the steel beams all meleted at the same time to produce a perfect implosion, yet people right next to the fire were calling people via their cellphones...which, for some reason had not melted. Guess plastic is stronger than steel, and paper won't burn as well as a body does.

Uh....yeah.

[Katz]

ETA but no time

Why are there not more people asking WHY Al Queda doesn't want Iraq to attain what Afganistan has? What is their loss compared to the wants/gains of Iraqians, ours and, as well, the entire free nations of this world? IMO, their are of the ilk I compare to our "gangsters" clans, here in the good old USofA . . . and Al Queda is specifically targeting "our gangsters" . . . in and out of our prison systems.

[callmeBetty]

Granny Toad>Betty, my guess - already established policies, Congress 1998 regime change

Katz>this world is FAR better off without “the serial murderer” and more Iraqis face a far FAR better chance of attaining that which so many of us wake up each morning, have taken for granted?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you granny for pointing me toward the above. Like a lot of people, I had never read the 1998 reports. Do you know where I can find a list of the 40? countries aligned with this policy? To respond to both of you, all I can say is what i know from experience.

My church, Episcopal, had contacts and reports from on the ground in Iraq before the "War on Terror" - not the Let's go in and get Saddam war. Our contacts were part of the on-going ministry to bring medication and other desparately needed supplies to needy children dying in Iraq before the war because of the embargo. And we do follow the words of Jesus...... not false idols, IMO.

Saddam was a despot and worse but Iraq is not Afganistan. I can't tell you how many people I've talked to who don't know the difference between the two. They thought that women in Iraq wore burkas and hide in their houses. Not so.....they were college educated and productive members of society, more Western than most Middle Eastern countries.

What I am tired of is a War of Rhetoric, aimed to mobilize the emotions of this great nation. Just give me the facts. Where is Joe Friday when you need him......

[callmeBetty]

>And their ultimate target was the global economy. Saudi Arabia is the greatest source of oil on earth, with a quarter of known reserves and a proven policy of trying to stabilize prices even in today's volatile markets. [...] Pundita

Saudi Oil is not unlimited, the actual resources available are a speculative question...... In fact, they are already into secondary recovery techniques - meaning they inject steam or in this case, water into the wells. This is a much more expensive process. The Wall Street Journal has the story here:

http://www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110006880