According to the account of Johnson’s kidnapping, posted on an Islamic extremist Web site, militants wearing police uniforms and using police cars set up a fake checkpoint June 12 on al-Khadma Road, leading to the airport, near Imam Mohammed bin Saud University.
“A number of the cooperators who are sincere to their religion in the security apparatus donated those clothes and the police cars. We ask God to reward them and that they use their energy to serve Islam and the mujahedeen,” the article read.
When Johnson’s car approached the checkpoint, the militants stopped his car, anesthetized him and carried him to another car, the article said. Earlier Saudi newspaper reports had also said Johnson was drugged during the kidnapping.
The article said they then blew up Johnson’s car.
Security officials said last week that Johnson’s car was found near Imam University. Saudi press reports said the car was booby-trapped and later caught fire.
Then there is this:
Almost half of all Saudis said in a poll conducted last year that they have a favorable view of Osama bin Laden’s sermons and rhetoric, but fewer than 5 percent thought it was a good idea for bin Laden to rule the Arabian Peninsula…
“They like what he said about what’s going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. Or about America and the Zionist conspiracy. But what he does, that’s where you see the huge drop,” said Obaid, referring to the bombings that had already begun taking place inside Saudi Arabia at the time the poll was conducted.
He also said he would like to update the poll numbers in the wake of the recent series of terrorist attacks that have taken place in Saudi Arabia.
BTW- People like to shit all over Fox News, but I defy anyone to find a more thorough grilling Adel al-Jubair. I cant find a link, but she went after the man.
Oliver
But John, we invaded *Iraq* because of their “close ties” to Al Qaeda. What do the Saudis have to do with that??? :)
capt joe
yes, every country in the ME had relations with AQ EXCEPT Iraq. Yes, the one country that paid 20K US for each suicide bombing in Israel, the one country that actually used WMD, NEVER had any relations with AQ. Nope, never a one, never happened, nosiree.
Everyone knows that a secular regime would never cooperate with a religious islamic organization. Well, there is North Korea and Iran, BUT THAT does not count.
yep, time for some more weed. yessiree.
S.W. Anderson
Rather than invade Iraq, we would’ve done much more to advance the war on terrorism by bringing things to a head in Saudi Arabia.
In today’s post, “It’s past time to tell Saudi Arabia `or else'”
http://weblog.ohpinion.com/2004_06_01_ohpinionweblog_archive.php#108777783586949634
I make the case that Saudi Arabia is overdue for a sorting out, maybe a civil war-type sorting out. If the Saudi royals want to remain in power, they’d better get busy and do what they need to do.
Otherwise, the U.S. should sever relations, slap on really severe economic sanctions, including a near-total trade embargo, and let nature take its course.
frontinus
A democratic Iraq right next door will do more to destabilize the land of Saud than anything we could ever orchestrate. Practically speaking the HoS are in the same position as Mossadegh was in Iran. Mossadegh’s main allies were the Tudeh and clerics. HoS’ allies are the West and the ulema. In both cases the former pushes for moderation and modernization while the latter for sharia and morality police. It’s impossible to please one without disgusting the other.
As much as I like the idea of our government “sorting” things out, I think I’ll pass this time. The best thing we can do is not get involved with the inevitable fall. And hope to hell Iraq is a stable, democratic country by then so the theocratic goons have a little competition.
Kimmitt
“A democratic Iraq right next door will do more to destabilize the land of Saud than anything we could ever orchestrate.”
Possibly, but so would an invasion of munchkins from Oz, and they are BOTH EQUALLY LIKELY.
frontinus
Such pessimism.
“Article II Iraq is a sovereign State–independent and free. Her territories are indivisible and no portion may be given up. Iraq is a constitutional, hereditary monarchy with a representative Government.”
That particular constitution lasted for decades. All the while maintaining a bicameral parliament. Did munchins from Oz invade back then? Maybe that’s what Orson was talking about.
Andrew J. Lazarus
Quasi-official Saudi organizations also pay Palestinian suicide bombers. I chose a link to Fox News because I know you will find it reliable.
Tatterdemalian
Strange how all those terrorist bombings and kidnappings seem to have started in Saudi Arabia after the invasion of Iraq. Doesn’t that sort of thing usually start happening in unstable countries?
Sure as hell couldn’t possibly have been the Iraq invasion that’s destabilizing Saudi Arabia. Nope, Dubya could never be so smart. He’s just lucky enough to keep falling in manure pits and coming out wearing diamond rings, is all.
Veeshir
I saw the interview of that oleaginous, reptilian Saudi mouthpiece.
Yup, Rita Cosby went after him. My favorite was when she asked him about the curious timing of the killing of the terrorist. al Jubair was all indignant that anybody would impugn the honor of the Saudi royal house.
I’m betting he won’t be on Foxnews again anytime soon. I didn’t see him on any other news service, but I bet he didn’t get any really tough questions. I’ve seen him before and they just let him spout his talking points without challenging any of it.
Dean
Fascinating. So, the likes of Kimmitt, et. al., *didn’t* trust Dubya to do Iraq right—a country which was “contained” as they like to point out, whose oil was not reaching the market (at least officially), which was looked upon w/ suspicion by the rest of the MidEast, and where action was judged to be “all about oooiiiilllll.”
But they *would* have trusted Dubya if he had gone into Saudi Arabia?
Pull the other one.
Kimmitt
‘where action was judged to be “all about oooiiiilllll.” ‘
Strawman down! Strawman down!
Dean
Kimmitt:
What straw man? Are you really going to sit there and say that the Dubya Administration has not been accused of going into Iraq for the oil??
Assuming you’re not *that* out of touch w/ reality, why is it inapropos to suggest that people who didn’t trust Dubya for going into Iraq, including those who believe he did it for the oil, would have been even *more* up in arms over Saudi Arabia, which after all is not only the world’s largest producer of oil, but sits on most of its proven reserves??
And while you can squawk about strawmen, I notice that you never *did* answer the question: Would you really have supported Dubya more if he had gone into Saudi Arabia instead of Iraq??!??
Kimmitt
I’m going to say that *I* never said that the Iraq war was all about oil, and I have a fairly extensive (if not terribly well-read) log of my thoughts. I generate enough words to satisfy anyone; there is no need to put some in my mouth.
Would I have supported an invasion of Saudi Arabia along the lines of the invasion of Iraq? Invading Saudi Arabia would have been even worse policy than invading Iraq; unlike the latter, which was posssibly a good idea, the former is mind-bogglingly foolish. I was unaware that conquest was the only tool we had in our international box.
Dean
Kimmitt:
I hadn’t realized English was a second language for you.
The term “et. al.” is a Latin contraction meaning “and others.” Hence the pronoun “they”.
Kimmitt
Yes, you said that both I and others said that the war was about oil.
Veeshir
Much as I hate it I have to stick up for Kimmitt.
Dean said;
Kimmitt:
I hadn’t realized English was a second language for you.
The term “et. al.” is a Latin contraction meaning “and others.” Hence the pronoun “they”.
Dean, you imply he doesn’t understand English but then talk about a Latin phrase. Kimmitt doesn’t understand Latin contractions, he’s obtuse with English.