SAUDI VIPERS: US-SAUDI RELATIONS ON-THE-ROCKS

At least on this specific matter, Osama bin Laden is correct. The Saudi royal family is patently corrupt, and deserves to be overthrown. Of course, many Americans have reached the same conclusion, but from a radically different perspective than the al-Qaeda leader. Osama bin Laden is said to abhor the Saudi regime due to its long affiliation with America, also known as the reviled "Great Satan" among Islamic fundamentalists. Cooperative efforts between the two nations led to the presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia, and the ostensible "defiling" of Islamic soil by the "infidels". Yes, this sounds bizarre to most, but thoroughly congruent with the mindset of Islamic extremists. Moreover, the US now has its own axe to grind with Saudi Arabia. In the common parlance, the Saudis have "done us dirty". They actively promulgated a twisted, militant version of Islam that directly resulted in the 9/11 attacks on America by committed Islamic terrorists. And fifteen out of the nineteen indoctrinated fanatics that perpetrated the atrocities on that "Day of Infamy" were Saudi nationals. Unfortunately, Saudi Arabia radicalized the Middle East through disseminating religious extremism, and America has directly incurred the consequences.

The profound thanklessness of the Saudis must also be underscored. Approximately a dozen years ago, Saddam Hussein had captured Kuwait, and was poised to invade oil-rich Saudi Arabia, as well. Who rescued their fat from the fire? Well, the good ole USA that led the coalition in the Gulf War. And, now, when we need Saudi Arabia as a launching pad for strikes against Saddam, the Saudis want our military personnel to be withdrawn from their nation. Crown Prince Abdullah has decided to shut down Prince Sultan Air Base, at least to American forces. And US military equipment is being transferred to Qatar. To coin a phrase, with friends like the Saudis, who needs enemies?

For years, the US had been enmeshed in a mutually beneficial alliance with Saudi Arabia. The US received the free-flow of oil, and in return the Saudis garnered not only beaucoup American bucks, but also US military protection for their rulers and their oil fields and pipelines. In order to sustain this relationship, America chose to ignore pivotal facts regarding the Saudi royal family including their perverse dedication to radical Islamic beliefs, and their funding and propagation of this destructive ideology throughout the Middle East in nations such as Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen. Known as "Wahhabism", and taught through "madrassahs" or special religious schools, this highly militant form of Islam specifically targets Israel, America and other Western democracies for annihilation. The concept of Jihad or "holy war" is key, with adherents bent on the destruction of the "infidels" or non-Islamic peoples. Of course, "holy war" is reminiscent of something right out of the "Middle Ages", incredibly antiquated and outmoded to the average American. But Islam never adapted to modernity, and it never experienced a reformation period that would facilitate needed change. Ironically, Islamic fanatics despise America for all the same reasons that Americans love this great land. The Muslim fundamentalists feel very threatened by our prosperous, free-and-open society that values equality, including gender equality.

Saudi Arabia is a national entity that was only founded in 1932, and has been ruled by the House of Saud. And, as noted by Rich Lowery in his 2/25/02 "National Review" piece, Saudi Arabia "has always been characterized by its backwardness and irrationality. Slavery was abolished only in 1962. Sheik Bin Baz, eventually the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, issued a fatwa in 1966 ruling that the world was flat". Obviously, the members of the House of Saud are not the most astute bunch, which sheds some light on their mind-numb embrace of religious gobbledygook. However, the Saudis were savvy enough to realize that Wahhabism effectively renders America, Israel and other democracies as scapegoats, which have the capacity to deflect and displace the frustrations of the oppressed Islamic masses. Anti-American and Anti-Israeli demonstrations in the "Arab streets" serve a salient purpose, funneling protest and incendiary emotions away from the Saudi ruling class. Now the US and other democracies are reaping the awful consequences of Islamic militancy and concomitant terrorism, all brought about by the doctrine of malevolent Wahhabism. How incredibly convenient for Saudi Arabia! But how tragic for us.

Importantly, there has been an emerging sea change in official Saudi policy that bodes ominously for America. Radical Islam continues to gather momentum in Saudi Arabia, in large part attributed to the rule of Crown Prince Abdullah. A United Press International article dated 4/22/02 states, "relatively moderate policies have become increasingly hard-line over the past three years because of the replacement of the pro-American King Fahd by the tougher Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, and because of the collapse of the Oslo Process and start of the second Palestinian Intifada". Unfortunately, Crown Prince Abdullah is steering away from the more tempered Saudi stance of the recent past, instead opting to forge new ties with nearby rogue states Iran and Iraq. And, despite formal denials, Saudi Arabia does indeed fund terrorist activities according to intelligence data. In fact, royalty actively participated in a recent Saudi telethon that raised millions for the families of "suicide bombers" and other so-called humanitarian assistance. The Saudi ruling class evidently feels that terrorism is compatible with their Islamic fundamentalist beliefs. And the monarchy’s blatant disregard for American and Israeli sensibilities reflects their contempt for us.

Reportedly, President Bush is asking Crown Prince Abdullah and other Mid-East leaders to step up to their "responsibilities" and help curb violence in the region. However, given what we already know about the Crown Prince’s propensity toward Islamic extremism, it’s doubtful that President Bush’s words will resonate and influence him. According to news accounts, the Crown Prince wants Bush to abandon all thoughts of war against Iraq until the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is resolved. Of course, that could take ages. And President Bush will not be diverted despite the efforts of Abdullah. The President is determined to dismantle Saddam Hussein’s dangerous regime and his Weapons of Mass Destruction in a timely manner.

Although there are current threats from Iraq and other OPEC nations to cut off oil from the American market due to our support of Israel, the Saudis claim that they will not participate in any type of oil embargo against us. But can they be trusted? Their recent anti-American behaviors indicate that we must be keenly vigilant, and plan for a variety of contingencies in terms of our energy needs. For American society, oil has become like heroin to the heroin addict. Obviously, America needs to lessen its oil dependence, and create new sources of energy as rapidly as possible. We can no longer procrastinate. And the day may come when America can only rely upon itself in the energy arena.

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Carol Devine-Molin is a Republican District Leader, a community activist, and the host of "On The Right Side", a local program sponsored by the Republicans, and seen throughout most of Westchester County, New York. She is a regular columnist for Ether Zone.

American demands on the Saudi Royal Family:

1. Stop funding terrorism.
2. Stop funding Wahhabism.
3. Stop teaching, publishing and spreading anti-American, anti-Semitic propaganda.
4. Co-operate on finding the Khobar Towers terrorists and other terrorists in Saudi Arabia.
5. Recognize Israel.

The Threat: We will break Saudi Arabia up into several independent Emirates. The Royal Family will be out and at the mercy of Islamic Justice.

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