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In my ignorance of Islam

I had forgotten that the annual Haj to Mecca is this month.

The Haj is an annual pilgrimmage to the holy sites in the city of Mecca that all Muslims are compelled to take at lest once in their lifetime. What it means is that during the Haj, all around the Muslim world is a tremendous transfer of humanity into Saudi Arabia.

So what could go wrong, right?

Well...

"In 1979, radical Muslims from Saudi Arabia managed to seize the Grand Mosque in Mecca in a two-week stand-off that the monarchy has been determined never to see happen again.

Al Qaeda militants, who hold dear the memory of the Mecca rebellion, launched a violent campaign in 2003, targeting foreigners, oil installations and government buildings."

Sometimes you need a gentle reminder that its not always all about us. Al Qaeda hates just about everybody, but they have a special hate for the Saudis.

Later on in the article, theres this:

"Gunmen killed two Saudi security personnel last week when they opened fire on a guard post at a prison in the Red Sea port of Jeddah, the main arrival point for most pilgrims just 45 minutes drive from Mecca."

"The kingdom said earlier this month it had detained 136 foreign and Saudi militants, some of whom were posing as pilgrims, who were planning a series of suicide bombings and assassinations around the country."

This is just what the Saudis have admitted to, since the assailants had the bad taste to be so public about their efforts. You can be sure that there is much,much more that is going on that isnt being talked about.

That reminds me. The ISG makes a big to-do about talking to Syria and Iran to "stablize the situation", but I dont remember anyone saying what we should do to bolster Kuwait, Jordan, UAE and yes, the Saudis.

Posted @ December 14, 2006 08:46 PM | Current Affairs