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Did the Saudis get UN approval, before they took military action? Will the world condemn them for taking matters into their own hands? If Muslims want to have their civil war, let them. Not everything is our problem. Saudis bomb Yemen rebels across border By AHMED AL-HAJ and SALAH NASRAWI SAN'A, Yemen – Saudi Arabia sent fighter jets and artillery bombardments across the border into northern Yemen on Thursday in a military incursion apparently aimed at helping its troubled southern neighbor control an escalating Shiite rebellion.

Saudi Arabia is weighing buying an advanced Russian missile system to shore up its defence against a potentially nuclear Iran, Gulf analysts and diplomats said. They said Moscow and Riyadh are close to sealing a deal on a multi-billion-dollar weapons package that could include Russia's advanced S-400 missile defence system. It is the newest version of the S-300 long-range surface to air missile system that Moscow has been in discussion for several years to sell to Iran, which denies Western charges of aiming to become a nuclear power. But heavy Western and Israeli pressure and a possibly more lucrative deal...

Riyadh concerned over potential threat from Tehran MI6 chief Sir John Scarlett has been told that Saudi Arabia is "seriously considering" whether Israel should be given permission to fly over the kingdom to bomb Iran's nuclear sites, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin. The sites are seen as a major threat by both Tel Aviv and Riyadh. The matter was discussed at a meeting between Scarlett, Meir Dagan, the ebullient chief of Mossad, and Saudi Arabian officials. The meeting ostensibly was for Scarlett to introduce Dagan to Sir John Sawyers, who officially takes over MI6 in November.

WASHINGTON -- When the Dallas Cowboys play their first home game Sunday night and unveil their new stadium to a national television audience, the best seats in the house will be in the ultra-exclusive Owners Club. The suites in that area sold for $500,000 a year, feature an upscale bar, personal guards and private elevator that whisks suite holders from underground parking directly to their section on the Hall of Fame level. One of the big-money suite holders is a prince who finds himself mired in controversy over his private jet, which is painted in the colors of his beloved...

SNIPPET: "According to a report prepared by Pakistani police (the Crime Investigation Department), the AHF has funded approximately USD 15 million to Jihadi groups in Pakistan for carrying out terror attacks. These funds mostly went to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which is responsible for numerous suicide strikes in the last couple of years and also blamed for the assassination of Benezir Bhutto." SNIPPET: "Till 2004, the United States had designated at least thirteen AHF branch offices operating in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, in many African countries and in the United States. But in 2008, the US Treasury Department has designated...

According to U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the most effective way to stop the Iranian Islamist regime from acquiring nukes, is to threaten them with a military build-up of other Islamist regimes: "US allies in the Middle East should strengthen their respective militaries to deter Iran from continuing its suspected nuclear weapons program..." If by that, Gates meant supplying Israel with all the bunker busters, refueling aircraft, and F22's it has sought to purchase, that might cause the mullahs knees to knock. But since the U.S. Administration has denied Israel purchase of bunker busters and refueling aircraft, certainly needed for...

(IsraelNN.com) Minister of Transportation Yisrael Katz (Likud) noted that the Saudis rejected that Israel be given air rights.

The Obama Administration announced it was officially abandoning use of the phrase "global war on terror", as well as references to "jihadists". In fact, the only terminology now accepted by the Obama Administration is a reference to fighting Al-qaeda. As if no other "jihadist" terror organizations exist. Wonder why? Last February Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal's "Center for Muslim Christian Understanding, [CMCU], held a panel discussion on the Middle East. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, Ph.D., reported on this panel discussion in an article posted to his minaret blog entitled "Advising Obama on the Middle East" A few excerpts: "The panelists were Aaron David...

For nearly 25 years, the Islamic Saudi Academy (ISA), the Virginia school founded by royal decree of Saudi King Fahd in 1984, immersed students of its Islamic-studies curriculum in the same Wahhabi interpretation of Islam that is taught in Saudi Arabia and in Saudi-funded madrassas around the world. That curriculum includes praise for militant jihad to “spread the faith” and permission for the killing of various categories of “unbelievers,” as well as other endorsements of religious intolerance. Now, as it seeks permission from Fairfax County to expand its operations, ISA claims that, over the last school year, it replaced the...

WASHINGTON — Documents gathered by lawyers for the families of Sept. 11 victims provide new evidence of extensive financial support for Al Qaeda and other extremist groups by members of the Saudi royal family, but the material may never find its way into court because of legal and diplomatic obstacles. The case has put the Obama administration in the middle of a political and legal dispute, with the Justice Department siding with the Saudis in court last month in seeking to kill further legal action. Adding to the intrigue, classified American intelligence documents related to Saudi finances were leaked anonymously...

The potential loss of tens of billions of dollars in damages is not what the Saudis fear most, should the Supreme Court allow this lawsuit to move forward. Way down in the Washington Times' article today about the Obama administration irking 9/11 families by asking the Supreme Court to deny their appeal of a ruling barring a lawsuit against Saudi princes was this gem: "A Justice Department spokesman said the administration held the meetings to hear from family members and declined to discuss details. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said that while he sympathized with the families, the State...

Holy crap. That is about the only response I have to this Airbus A380 being developed for Saudi prince al-Waleed bin Talal. Of course, the prince has not officially announced that this will indeed be his new home on the road, but enough news has been pieced together to link him to the purchase. Not only is this the first Airbus A380 sold to a private owner, it is the most expensive private plane ever put together. For comparison - one of the most popular large private planes in the world is the Boeing Business Jet, which starts at "just"...

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — From the moment Barack Obama stepped off Air Force One, his first visit to Saudi Arabia as president was filled with, well, pomp and pageantry fit for a king. His host was, after all, the monarch who presides over the oil-rich nation. King Abdullah staged an elaborate welcome ceremony, showered Obama with compliments, put up the president at his lavish desert horse farm and gave him a gift — a bulky gold necklace that the king says carries special meaning.

As soon has Air Force One landed President Obama took off running to see his Saudi masters. The truth is that Obama talking to the Muslim world will only accomplish one thing, and that will be getting those who do not follow the subject of Islam closely to believe that the Islamic world is changing for the better. If the Muslim world wanted to change, talks are not needed. They would just do it.

Parts of the United States' policy in the Middle East under the Obama administration may, in fact, be influenced by Saudi Arabia, which is worried over increasing overtures by the U.S. for a dialogue with Iran and may be leveraging the Pakistan situation to its advantage, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin. The Saudi kingdom, the leader of Sunni Muslims worldwide, is concerned about U.S. interaction with Shiite Iran, and may be able to manipulate U.S. Middle East policy with the Pakistan issue and push the U.S. towards support in next month's parliamentary elections of Lebanese Sunnis,...

At least 13 militants were killed in a clash with security forces following arrest of five burqa-clad Arabs, one Afghan national and a local man in Mohmand Agency on Tuesday. Four of the five Arabs are Saudi nationals — Ahmed, Ali, Mohammad and Obaidullah — and one Libyan national, Abdullah. The Afghan national has been identified as Habibullah and the local man as Shad Ali. They were detained at the Khapakh checkpost. The Afghan was living in Chakdara area of Lower Dir. When troops were taking the detained men to Ghalanai, about 60 militants attacked them in an area between...

“To the Muslim world,” said Barack Obama in his Inaugural Address, “we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.” After 100 days, how’s that going? Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad summed it up best, responding contemptuously to Obama’s offer to sit down to talk without preconditions and taunting Obama for his impotence: “We say to you that you yourselves know that you are today in a position of weakness. Your hands are empty, and you can no longer promote your affairs from a position of strength.”

Why is the POTUS bowing to Saudi royalty? (.53sec mark on the video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S60U-hl35Gw

Picture of Obama bowing to Saudi King

A Saudi television show does a man-on-the-street segment similar to shows here in the US, where they ask passers-by about a controversial issue. The Saudi reporter's question? Would you shake hands with a Jew? Interesting clip...

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Oil prices fell below $54 a barrel in Asia Friday, retreating from a new high for the year, on concerns about the sustainability of recent gains.

We've previously seen that, at the same time Obama was applying to Harvard Law School, a representative of the Saudi government was raising money for Obama and pulling strings to help get him into Harvard. Watch this interview with former Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton again on YouTube if you have forgotten this extraordinary -- but almost entirely overlooked -- story. Well, it now appears that the Saudi government is finally being repaid for its "investment" in Obama's Harvard education. Incredibly, Obama has appointed a paid agent of the Saudi government to head the National Intelligence Council. Rich Lowry writing...

...One Obama appointee after another hold views that have little relationship to reality despite their academic resumes. Steven Chu, the new Secretary of Energy, is on record saying the coal threatens the environment. Obama’s science advisor, John Holdren, in the 1980s was predicting massive famines because of global warming. It’s one thing to be wrong. It’s another to be wrong and to hold a high level government position. Other advisors, those men and women who help set policy, are a frightening collection of dedicated socialists and totally loony environmentalists. His most recent proposed addition, Charles W. Freeman, as chairman...

We are now seeing the third round of bailouts for Citigroup, after the US government already has taken a 36 percent stake in the bank. This makes the US government the largest shareholder of a bank, whose second largest shareholder is Saudi Prince Alaweed Bin Talal. Currently American taxpayers are in hock for 45 billion dollars to bailout Citigroup, while the Treasury, the FDIC and the Federal Reserve cover 90 percent of Citi’s 335 billion dollar losses. The numbers are scary and since most financial experts predict that the bailout isn’t done yet, is likely to only be the beginning....

SANTA ANA, Calif. (Feb. 3, 2009) – The oppressive, isolated country of North Korea headed by dictator Kim Jong Il retains its grip as the worst persecutor of Christians in the world. According to Open Doors’ 2009 World Watch List released today, North Korea is ranked No. 1 for the seventh year in a row. Christians are persecuted constantly under the communist government, which denies human rights to its citizens. The Wahhabi kingdom of Saudi Arabia is No. 2 and Iran No. 3. Both countries are ruled by Shariah law. Afghanistan, Somalia and the Maldives take the fourth, fifth and...

Sami Alrabaa So long as we Arabs are one-sidedly informed, the longer we remain demagogic, and peace will never become a reality in the Middle East. Thanks to modern electronic multimedia, the culture of reading is dwindling worldwide, slowly but steadily. But the culture of reading in the Arab world has sparsely existed. According to a recent UNESCO report, the Arab countries still have some of the highest rates of illiteracy in the world. The majority of Arabs do not read.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia's most senior cleric was quoted Wednesday as saying it is permissible for 10-year-old girls to marry and those who think they're too young are doing the girls an injustice. The mufti's comments showed the conservative clergy's opposition to a drive by Saudi rights groups, including government ones, to define the age of marriage and put an end to the phenomenon of child marriages. "It is wrong to say it's not permitted to marry off girls who are 15 and younger," Sheik Abdul-Aziz Al Sheikh, the country's grand mufti, was quoted as saying. "A...

Saudi Arabia's most senior cleric Sheikh Abdul-Aziz Al Sheikh. has come out and stated that not allowing 10 or 12 year-old girls to marry is "unfair" to the girl. He has also stated that Islamic law has not done any "injustice to women".

Israel's campaign in Gaza is serving to expose the strategic fault lines in the Arab and Muslim world. The essential divide is between, on the one hand, states aligned with the West - chief among them Egypt and Saudi Arabia - and on the other an alliance led by Iran, of which Hamas forms a part. Israel's action in Gaza has led to unprecedented tensions between representatives of these rival blocs. Because of the strategic importance of Egyptian control of the Rafah Crossing, this divide also has immediate practical implications for the direction and likely outcome of the current battle....

A Saudi Web site reported on Sunday that a popular cleric issued a fatwa urging Muslims to target Israeli interests "everywhere," to avenge the attacks on the Gaza strip. The site, Rasid, posts news about Saudi Arabia's Shiite community and said that Sheik Awadh al-Garni issued a religious edict urging Muslims to target "interests and anything that has a link to Israel," calling it "a legitimate target for Muslims everywhere." Al-Garni, whose is popular in the kingdom, is not a member of the official religious establishment. Fatwas are not legally binding, and it is up to the individual Muslim to...

RAWFORD, Texas (AFP) – Saudi King Abdullah told US President George W. Bush by telephone on Saturday that major countries must take action to halt Israel's attacks on Gaza, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported. White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe had said earlier that the king had called Bush, who was preparing to usher in 2009 on his Texas ranch, to discuss "the Middle East" and had declined to offer further details.

WASHINGTON – Former President Bill Clinton's foundation has raised at least $41 million from Saudi Arabia and other foreign governments that his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton may end up negotiating with as the next secretary of state. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gave $10 million to $25 million to the William J. Clinton Foundation, a nonprofit created by the former president to finance his library in Little Rock, Ark., and charitable efforts to reduce poverty and treat AIDS. Other foreign government givers include Norway, Kuwait, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, Italy and Jamaica.

The world's top oil exporter Saudi Arabia has already cut supply in anticipation of OPEC agreeing further curbs at its meeting on Wednesday, OPEC's President said on Monday. Chakib Khelil said the kingdom's oil minister Ali al-Naimi informed him Riyadh had cut its supply by eight percent. OPEC's last overall cut of 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd), agreed in October, was just over 5 percent. "Everybody is supporting a cut -- I don't have any doubt about it. The Saudis have already taken a decision ahead of the meeting, as you know, they have reduced their supply to the...

FrontPageMagazine.com | Friday, December 05, 2008 When the Saudi Embassy earlier this year asked officials to renew the lease of a radical school it runs in Alexandria, Va., local residents strenuously objected. They argued the school teaches hatred toward Jews and Christians, and has become a breeding ground for terrorists. Gerry Connolly, at the time the Democrat chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, gave a full-throated defense of the Islamic Saudi Academy, even smearing protesters as anti-Islamic "bigots."

The Christian oppressing Saudi Royal Family has asked Russia if they can build a Mosque in Russia. Russia has done what no other country has done and said yes, but only if they can build a Church in Saudi Arabia. Do any of the politicians of the US or the UK have guts to take this stand?

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Saudi Arabia said Saturday that it hoped to raise oil prices to $75 a barrel, but indicated that no measures would probably be taken until an OPEC meeting next month in Algeria. OPEC countries will have to cut oil production by 3 million barrels a day to hike price to $75, group says. OPEC countries will have to cut oil production by 3 million barrels a day to hike price to $75, group says. Saudi Oil Minister Ali Naimi said that OPEC will "do what needs to be done" to shore up falling oil prices when...

The Saudi Royal Family condemned Somali pirates as terrorists today after losing $100 million worth of oil in an audacious heist that saw bandits seize a supertanker in the Arabian Sea. The Sirius Star, which was carrying two million barrels of oil, a quarter of the Kingdom's daily output, was captured with its multi-national crew, including two Britons, 450 miles off the coast of Kenya on Sunday. The hijack was the biggest ever act of piracy in the perilous shipping lanes off the east coast of Africa. Vela International, the ship’s owners, said today that the crew were safe and...

The country's lack of religious freedom betrays its lofty rhetoric. The real aim of its 'dialogue' is to promote a global blasphemy law. World leaders gathering at the United Nations this week for a special session of the General Assembly to advance interfaith dialogue should have no illusions that their efforts will miraculously promote mutual respect between religious communities or end abuses of religious freedom. Saudi King Abdullah, who initiated this week's special session, is quietly enlisting the leaders' support for a global law to punish blasphemy – a campaign championed by the 56-member Organization of Islamic Conference that puts...

Saudi Arabia foiled a 2003 terror plot by militants who planned to hijack a plane and blow it up over a densely populated American city, a Saudi official said Sunday. The official said the plan, first reported Sunday in government-guided Al-Watan newspaper, was for the attackers to transit through the U.S. to another destination so they could avoid applying for hard-to-get American visas required for Saudis. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the militants were preparing to execute the alleged plot when it was halted.

DAMASCUS - Word is coming out of south Lebanon that Saudi money under United States urging is being pumped into the Shi'ite community - in vain - to create a bloc among Lebanese Shi'ites against Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The Saudis are strongly opposed to Hezbollah, claiming that it is an extension of Iranian influence in the Arab world. More recently, the Saudis have began coordinating with former vice president Abdul-Halim Khaddam to break Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon. In testimony of just how influential Nasrallah is as secretary general of Hezbollah, the Saudis have stunningly failed - despite tremendous efforts...

Video at link Prominent Muslim, black nationalist and close Obama associate, Khalid Abdullah Tariq al-Mansour, rants against Jews and whitey Khalid Abdullah Tariq al-Mansour is well known within the black community as a lawyer, orthodox Muslim, black nationalist, author, international deal-maker, educator, and outspoken enemy of Israel. He also was looking for backers to support Obama's entry into Harvard Law School decades ago. Dr. Khalid al-Mansour asked prominent friends to back Obama in his efforts to attend Harvard Law School. Newsmax reported: New evidence has emerged that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was closely associated as early as age 25...

Writer Michael Totten has repeatedly claimed that Kosovo was different from other Islamic countries. A point of view that I have never really believed in. Maybe in some ways it is, but those Kosovons who are so tolerant must of the been the "Christians in hiding" there. Because as more people are converting back to Christianity in Kosovo, the head of the Islamic community has come out against building any new Churches in Kosovo.

Back in May 2006 Nina Shea, director of Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom wrote in the Washington Post, “Saudi Arabia’s public schools have long been cited for demonizing the West as well as Christians, Jews and other ‘unbelievers.’ But after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001—in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis—that was all supposed to change.” In fact major changes were announced publicly. Shea cites a Saudi embassy spokesman who said in 2005, “We have reviewed our educational curriculums. We have removed materials that are inciteful [sic] or intolerant towards people of other faiths.” This was...

A prominent Saudi Islamic cleric has issued a fatwa, or religious edict, against Mickey Mouse, whom he characterized as an agent of Satan sent to corrupt young minds. Sheikh Mohammed Al-Munajid told Saudi Arabia’s Al-Majd Television that his beef with Mickey is that he is a mouse, a creature that Islam sees as “repulsive and corrupting.” Al-Munajid explained that Islamic law refers to the mouse as “little corrupter” and a creature that is “steered by Satan,” and grants permission to all Muslims to “kill [mice] in all cases.”

According to Islamic law, the mouse is a repulsive, corrupting creature. How do you think children view mice today – after Tom and Jerry? Even creatures that are repulsive by nature, by logic, and according to Islamic law have become wonderful and are loved by children. Even mice. Mickey Mouse has become an awesome character, even though according to Islamic law, Mickey Mouse should be killed in all cases.

Who is Khalid al-Mansour? And more importantly, why was he promoting Barack Obama in the 1980’s and raising money for him, when Obama was in his twenties? I caught this story, first, over at Atlas Shrugs, where this odd thing jumped out at me: Townhall links to a video in which civil rights activist Percy Sutton claimed he was asked by a certain “Dr. Khalid al Mansour”, adviser to ‘one of the richest men in the world’ to write a letter of reccomendation on behalf of Barack Obama to help him gain acceptance to Harvard many years ago. Mansour was...

A federal appeals court on Thursday ruled Saudi Arabia could not be held liable for the September 11 attacks against the United States despite charitable donations that ended up in the hands of Al-Qaeda. Upholding a 2006 decision by a lower court, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled inadmissible a lawsuit in which families of victims of the 9/11 attacks charged that Saudi Arabia, four Saudi princes, a Saudi charity and bank had given material support to Al-Qaeda. The plaintiffs in the case cited Saudi donations to Muslim charity groups that were later transferred to the Al-Qaeda...

More than a dozen Christians in Saudi Arabia who were accused by government officials of worshipping in their homes have been ordered deported. According to a report from International Christian Concern, the Christians will be expelled tomorrow for one specific home worship service in Taif in April.

Islamofascism: A new study confirms our "ally" Saudi Arabia is still poisoning young Muslim minds with anti-Western textbooks. So? Its hate-filled graduates are enrolling at our colleges.The Hudson Institute reviewed the 2007-08 textbooks distributed by the Saudi Ministry of Education and found that, despite promised reforms, the kingdom still teaches students to "hate the infidels." The texts assert that it's "permissible" for a Muslim to kill an "apostate," an "adulterer," a "homosexual," as well as non-Muslims practicing "polytheism," or Christianity. The violent ideology is introduced in a religion textbook in the first grade and reinforced and developed in following years...

(ANSAmed) - PARIS, JULY 17 - A "luminous and liberated" veil, in the spirit of Islam's poetics, will cover but not hide, thanks to a light transparent structure, the Visconti Court of the Louvre Museum in Paris, in the right wing, to host the new museum of Islamic arts, to be established in 2010. ¿It is a political museum¿, as explained to ANSA by Rudy Ricciotti, of Italian origins, one of the two architects, with Mario Bellini from Milan, who designed the project, selected among 52 applicants. "In the sense that it recognises all the peoples in a lay state,...