Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi ambassador to Britain and former intelligence chief.
Posted on 11/20/2003 8:42:38 PM PST by FairOpinion
JEDDAH, 21 November 2003 — The Nov. 8 bombings are a clear sign that the Al-Qaeda network is logistically and spiritually bankrupt, says Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi ambassador to Britain and former intelligence chief.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News during his Ramadan holiday here, Prince Turki said the fact that Muslims and Arabs were targeted in Al-Qaeda’s latest attacks showed the group no longer had any coherent aims. “In the past the whole philosophy of Al-Qaeda was based on driving away the foreign ‘infidels’ from what they called the holy land. “First they started with the military, and then their fatwa in 1997 said all non-Muslims are fair game; that they not only had the right but the duty to attack women and children and the elderly, contrary to all the teachings of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
“The fact that in the latest attacks Muslims and Arabs were targeted is a clear indication that not only is their philosophy bankrupt but so are their methods. They chose those targets just for the sake of telling the whole world that they are capable of inflicting harm on innocent civilians.”
He cast doubt on speculation in the international media that terrorism grew out of the Mujahedeen movement in Afghanistan in the 1980s. “There is now a mixing of apples and oranges on the issue of the jihad of the 1980s against the Soviet Union, and what has happened since in the 1990s onwards. People are saying that the terrorists we are facing today are a result of the jihad of the 1980s, and that is totally wrong. The people who contributed to that jihad have come back to the Kingdom, and have reintegrated back into society and have also contributed to the Kingdom. It is those who went back to Afghanistan after the jihad ended in the early 90s to participate in the civil war and were then turned by Al-Qaeda into pools of terrorists who have been carrying out these attacks.”
Arab News asked the prince about reports that most of the terrorists who have been killed or captured were under the age of 25 and some as young as 15. Is Al-Qaeda recruiting the disaffected, often unemployed, youth of Saudi Arabia?
“Al-Qaeda is a cult, and like all cults it appeals to young people,” he said. “First, they propose to fix things for the youth in a way that they want them to be fixed, and that appeals to their aspirations. But it also identifies itself with a figure — in most cult cases it’s the leader, and in this case it is Bin Laden. Al-Qaeda portrayed Bin Laden in almost superhuman terms, and when it is based on religious belief they gave him almost divine qualities.
“Like all cults their appeal is universal. They are not seeking out the disaffected or the unemployed. They generalize their appeal to young people’s ambitions and aspirations, therefore they attract both the poor and the rich, the well-to-do and those with grievances. Even among the last few groups that have been caught, some of them, before joining Al-Qaeda, had well-paid jobs, and some were from middle-income families.”
The prince said a way to counter extremist ideology was through the “middle way” Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd laid out in his speech to the Shoura Council. But he also stressed the need for a curriculum “for the needs and requirements of today’s world.”
“Another point... is that women have to have a role to play in our society, and they must be given the same opportunities as men in all fields and social activities.”
There was also a need for reform of government institutions themselves so they do not hinder economic development, he said, as well as wider participation in the political process in the Kingdom, and better opportunities for Saudis socially and economically.
“With all this, God willing, we will eradicate this evil from our society,” he added.
Saudi Arabia has had documented success in the war on terror particularly after May 12. This includes questioning thousands of suspects, the arrests of more than 600 individuals, breaking up a number of Al-Qaeda cells, the seizure of large quantities of arms and extradition of suspects from other countries, and setting up joint task forces with the United States. However, “Saudi-bashing” remains a popular activity in the Western press. Why?
Prince Turki suggested envy could be among the reasons for this. “I can only speculate, but because of the Kingdom’s position as the home of the two holy mosques, and our long record of successful diplomatic endeavors... or the stability of oil prices, this makes us a target of envy. If we were not so positive or assuming the leadership role for peace and stability, we would not have been worth targeting,” he said.
Following the Sept. 11 attacks, the Kingdom relied on the services of Western PR firms to help counter misconceptions about Saudi Arabia, particularly in the United States, but with little success. How can Saudis work to improve their image abroad?
“All of us have a role in that, and that is being ourselves,” Prince Turki said. “We Saudis throughout history have been recognized as being upright, honest, law-abiding, and instruments in mediation. These are the things that Saudi Arabia stands for, and more importantly it is our religious message.
“As individual Saudis we should not remain silent about who we are and where we are from. Whenever a Saudi has something to say in a social or academic or media gathering, they should talk freely about who they are and what they represent. We can do a lot more ourselves by being ourselves.”
Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi ambassador to Britain and former intelligence chief.
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BZZZZZZT WRONG! Their aim is to exert pressure on various countries in forms which can not be controlled so as to get their way.
The best joke since "Islam is religion of peace". Turki should look for job of stand up comedian.
Al Qaeda is alive and well and recruting in Londonistan and Bosnia.
THe only spiritually bankrupt ones are those who tell us otherwise.
Of course, one agent getting into the USA with smallpox or a few pounds of anthrax and all bets are off.
I'm afraid that is something we won't see for a very very long time.
What is he saying, that they weren't spiritually bankrupt when they were attacking all non-Muslims? This speaks volumes.
Prince Turki al Faisal
Worth a read. The earth is shifting under our feet. Or their feet...
And we wonder why we question their friendship?
And he wonders why we question their friendship?
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