Tribal timebomb (Saudi Arabia)

[bemildred]

KARACHI - Exclusive information gathered by Asia Times Online suggests that the latest incident of violence in the port city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is the manifestation of extreme discontent within the Saudi socio-political system, which will be further reflected in the shape of more violence in the coming days. This situation is compounded by anger at US-imposed solutions on the House of Saud to clamp down on Islamists.

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To keep the tribes united behind the House of Saud, the rulers have used the religious hierarchy as the binding force. This arrangement received its first shock in the mid-1990s with the emergence of Osama bin Laden - a Saudi - as an heroic figure among the Saudi youth. The Saudi government understood the threat and offered bin Laden several truces, but bin Laden, through Prince Turki al-Faisal, the then Saudi intelligence chief, refused all overtures. Bin Laden's initial discontent with the ruling family stemmed from the stationing of foreign (US) soldiers on Saudi territory following the Gulf War of 1991.

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However, there is a history of feuds between the House of Saud and the Shammar, the Mutair, the family of al-Aidh and many families in the Qaseem tribe. Several of these clans are believed to still bear a grudge against the ruling family.

Splits are now emerging in the pro-House of Saud (read pro-US) and anti-House of Saud (anti-US) tribes. The US invasion of Iraq and the recent offensive in Fallujah, whose residents are cousins to many Najad tribes, have further accentuated the divisions. This is reflected also among religious scholars, with 26 prominent ones coming out in support of the Iraqi resistance against the US, while under US pressure, state-run religious councils have condemned the Iraqi resistance.

Asia Times

[Tempest]

1. U.S. media not reporting attacks in Saudi Arabia

Attacks in S.A. have been going on for about a year now, and are increasing in frequency.

But since they usually don't affect U.S. installations or citizens the U.S. media has ignored them.

It's only a matter of time (months, not years) before the Saudi royal family are forced to flee.

[Old and In the Way]

2. This can't be a big surprise.

You live by the sword, you die by the sword.

And this is what I don't understand. The House of Saud, as much as they hated Hussein, should have been thinking about the fuse that'd be lit when Bush ordered an invasion of Iraq. The radical fundies that the Sauds have nurtured would most certainly have aligned with the Islamic forces fighting against the infidels. The House of Saud is forever associated with the House of Bush, so I fully expect to see the pan-Islamic war begin in ernest.

I have no doubts that Iran is busy undermining the House of Saud as well. Seems that the best defense for them will be to force a US response and focus on keeping the House of Saud in power.

I wonder how long the pipelines, pumping stations, and oil wells will remain intact in SA?

[bemildred]

3. Eh, predicted before the invasion started.

Decent piece on the Saudi situation in Harper's last Spring.
Saudi's were not at all enthusiastic about Shrub's great adventure in
Iraq, but as with so many, their opinion does not count for much.

Facts are hard to come about the Saudi situation. I've just been
watching the occasional attacks and wondering when things would
really go to hell.

This was a good piece, I thought, because it offers some insight into
the internal dynamics of the situation.

[ooglymoogly]

4. i remember very distinctly that saudi arabia was adamantly against

us jumping into the pandoras box of iraq and the cooperate press jumped all over saudi arabia wondering why america should even support the royal house of saud. saudi arabia finally after the deed was done and all hope for dissuading us from committing suicide was lost and the burgeoning terror attacks on themselves stemming from the invasion of iraq they jumped on board guessing their fate was safer with the hand that held all the cards. and they may pay for it with their kingdom for a horse to get the hell out.