Saudi Arabia arrested at least 172 Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in a plot to attack oil facilities and military bases. It's no surprise that some of the terrorists were trainee pilots. Saudi police seized weapons and more than 20 million riyals ($5.33 million) in cash, from seven armed cells, according to the Washington Post.
"Some had begun training on the use of weapons, and some were sent to other countries to study aviation in preparation to use them to carry out terrorist operations inside the kingdom," the statement said."One of their main targets was to carry out suicide attacks against public figures and oil installations and to target military bases inside and outside (the country),"
Can you imagine what would happen had these terrorists been successful? We don't know how far along in their planning they were, but damage to world markets, oil supplies, and yes Americans, could have been huge. Think for one minute about the $5.33 MILLION in cash these cells had. Where did that money come from? Can it be traced or tracked? What kind of operation did they have in mind that would cost them $5.33 million dollars? Were these suicide attacks they planned? If so, where was the money going, the terrorists would be yucking it up in heaven with their 72 virgins?
This has the smell of something BIG, really big, bigger than Saudi Arabia. I look forward to hearing more details about the terrorists, items in their possession and particularly their plans.
I would pay $8/gallon for gas, gladly, if we could put away Iran, Chavez, SA - all the oil crazies - BUT, a strike on the Saudi oil fields won't help my 401K :-) I hope there's another way.
If it's true, there's a bunch of terrorists out of commission. True or not, the Saudi's are among the most evil of our enemies.
Just a note: when I heard this on Fox, I didn't catch it all, there was also something about attempts to use airplanes to hit someone or something - perhaps SA. I can't find anything about it now. Seems to have disappeared, but I heard it.
I missed a lot of reading here yesterday - will be back tomorrow for Iraqi Red Crescent post.
Maggie
Maggie's Notebook
Posted by: Maggie M. Thornton | April 27, 2007 at 09:04 PM
Remember, I'm the original Devils Advocate. Mr. Sarcastic at your service.
My take on the other possibility, that this was actually a real event, is: Damn! Too bad they caught them! I would love to see the Saudis trashed, their government utterly destroyed and their oil production brought to a screaming halt. They truly deserve no less and it would eliminate most of the terrorist funding in the world.
So oil goes way up? So? Is that too much to pay for the destruction of the largest source of terrorism on the planet?
Rasta
Posted by: Rastaman | April 27, 2007 at 08:46 PM
Debbie, no offense, but my neighbors are Martians and I have proof! I saw a picture of the Face On Mars that looks just like their grandfather.
The Saudis have billions of American dollars. They could BURN 5 million, laughing at the flames, to help along a hoax.
Pictures of money and guns and digging up tubes out of floors and the desert prove absolutly nothing. The Saudis are our ENEMIES! They HATE US. By staging stuff like this for Bush, they get assistance in all sorts of ways from him. The Saudi king refers to our diplomats as his slaves. Does that sound friendly?
Nothing they say or do can ever be taken at face value. They are Wahhabists. We are the Infidel. They are duty bound to lie to us and decieve us. To them it's a matter of honor.
Rasta
Posted by: Rastaman | April 27, 2007 at 08:40 PM
Rastaman, I don't doubt that the latest al-Qaeda mastermind was held, interrogated, etc. for a long time, and brought out at an opportune time. But I'm not buying that this latest Saudi bust if all fake. I could be wrong, and certainly have been wrong before. I may eat my words.
Posted by: Debbie | April 27, 2007 at 08:34 PM
I don't believe a word of this. Every time Bush needs a boost for his Iraq fiasco, the Saudis dramatically quell a major Al Qaeda plot. This stinks to high heaven. Along with the astronomical oil prices.
Another orchestrated crapola "terror alert" at the appropriate time, right along with the announcement of the capture of Abdul Hadi al-Iraqi, supposed mastermind of the 7/7 London bombings, WHO WAS ACTUALLY CAPTURED WEEKS OR MONTHS AGO! First he was held for an indeterminate time by the CIA, who then turned him over to the Pentagon, who then decided to announce his capture yesterday, same day the Senate approved the bill to end the war. Notice of his capture was delayed for a propitious moment. Orchestrated! As usual!
This is all crap! You watch. There was no foiled Al Queda conspiracy in Saudi Arabia, the whole thing was faked.
Rastaman
www.islamanazi.com
Posted by: Rastaman | April 27, 2007 at 08:29 PM
Layla, this is NOT a hoax. I've seen the pictures of the cash and checked out many sources. Even the Fox website is still reporting it as fact.
Posted by: Debbie | April 27, 2007 at 08:26 PM
I heard on Fox News that this may not be true. Sigh....
Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Layla | April 27, 2007 at 04:34 PM
At least, dog bites dog...
... or snakes bites each other.
Posted by: Ernesto Ribeiro | April 27, 2007 at 03:21 PM
hiya Debbie..I heard the whole thing may be a scam and a set up..sheesh!
Posted by: Angel | April 27, 2007 at 02:48 PM
Saudi Arabia is a plum ready to be plucked by the jihadis. Talk about the chaos this would produce and the economic damage would be extreme.
Posted by: Paul | April 27, 2007 at 10:52 AM