Terrorist attack in Riyadh

Phil Skayhan · Post by **Phil Skayhan** » 2003-05-13 05:17am

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2003-05-13 05:22am

Bastards.

I hope we catch bin Laden and revoke his human rights, therefore allowing us to do whatever the hell we want to him. Up to and including force-feeding him pork!

Post by **Gandalf** » 2003-05-13 05:35am

Shit.

Looks like terrorism isn't going away easily.

Post by **Colonel Olrik** » 2003-05-13 05:42am

Gandalf wrote:Shit.

Looks like terrorism isn't going away easily.

However, there has been no other case of terrorism in western countries since 9/11. The promised attacks in London and other E.U cities have not ocurred. They have been choosing easier targets.

Phil Skayhan · Post by **Phil Skayhan** » 2003-05-13 05:55am

Colonel Olrik wrote:
Gandalf wrote:Looks like terrorism isn't going away easily.
However, there has been no other case of terrorism in western countries since 9/11. The promised attacks in London and other E.U cities have not ocurred. They have been choosing easier targets.

And I hope the lack of attacks in western countries continues. At the same time, this should serve to tell us all to take any warnings or increase in "threat levels" seriously no matter how often they come up.

According to a woman speaking from Riyadh via phone to CNN now, they didn't heed the recent multiple warnings from the US, Saudi, and even from Al Queda. However, I don't know if that would have made the slightest difference, or what they could have done differently without further information.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-05-13 07:18am

This is going to keep on going till the end of time, people.

Axis Kast · Post by **Axis Kast** » 2003-05-13 08:55am

I'm divided on the issue of our withdrawal even now. I'd like to hear some other positions on the situation.

While I acknowledge that our pull-out will not change the situation in the Near East from a strategic sense (Iraq serves the same purpose as Saudi Arabia) and that our troops are actually safer in another country, it still feels "wrong."

How can we be certain that by leaving Saudi Arabia at the earliest possible opportunity, we aren't handing a percieved victory to the forces of Islamofascism?

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-05-13 09:07am

Axis Kast wrote: How can we be certain that by leaving Saudi Arabia at the earliest possible opportunity, we aren't handing a percieved victory to the forces of Islamofascism?

Depends on whether the perception by anti-US Islamic fundamentalists that they had something to do with the US leaving (rather than victory over Iraq) is worth more than safeguarding your troops, eliminated a source of Arab discontent (let's face it, they just don't like Americans in Saudi Arabia) while not changing the strategic situation. I don't think it's worth much. There was no catalytic event for people to cry "we kicked the US out!" and it happening after Iraq was defeated is just so obvious.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2003-05-13 09:33am

Vympel wrote:This is going to keep on going till the end of time, people.

Clearly, curtailing more American civil liberties will solve the problem.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-05-13 09:48am

Durandal wrote: Clearly, curtailing more American civil liberties will solve the problem.

You forgot bombs. We need more bombs. JDAMs preferably. That'll solve it.

Ancalagon · Post by **Ancalagon** » 2003-05-13 10:45am

Durandal wrote:
Vympel wrote:This is going to keep on going till the end of time, people.
Clearly, curtailing more American civil liberties will solve the problem.

wow... i didn't know a member of the federal government posted on here....

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-05-13 11:36am

my completely amatuer and unprofessional analsys:

the way i see it this attack tells us something. i see it as an act of desperation. Throughout the history of warfare, if someone had a weapon they used it. It's human nature. the fact that the only attacks they have mounted in the past 2 years have been Muslim strongholds: Saudi Arabia and Bali displays their lack of penetration ability. The powers of the west have finished a stunningly successful campaign against Iraq, and all Al Qae'da can do is set of a bomb in their own backyard? I'm sorry but i don't buy into the whole 'sky is falling' bit. If Al Qae'da had the ability to strike Europe or North America again, they would have. but they haven't..so they must not be able to. Damn, not even so much as a lone wolf with a Kalishnikov has struck sucessfully against the west.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-05-13 11:49am

Well, another 9/11 attack is out the window (by that I mean using the passenger jets).

However, car bombs, suicide bombers, etc? Sure you can still pull them off.

Heck, if I was a crazy Islamic fundie, I'd grab a Kalashnikov, get my fellow psychos, and go shoot up Times Square or something before blowing myself to bits. Can't be that hard.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-05-13 12:01pm

Col. Crackpot wrote:my completely amatuer and unprofessional analsys:

the way i see it this attack tells us something. i see it as an act of desperation. Throughout the history of warfare, if someone had a weapon they used it. It's human nature. the fact that the only attacks they have mounted in the past 2 years have been Muslim strongholds: Saudi Arabia and Bali displays their lack of penetration ability. The powers of the west have finished a stunningly successful campaign against Iraq, and all Al Qae'da can do is set of a bomb in their own backyard? I'm sorry but i don't buy into the whole 'sky is falling' bit. If Al Qae'da had the ability to strike Europe or North America again, they would have. but they haven't..so they must not be able to. Damn, not even so much as a lone wolf with a Kalishnikov has struck sucessfully against the west.

I agree, the fact that they are choosing targets in their own backyard is very telling of their capabilities. Juicier targets with better PR attached to them are available in a multitude of different places including the USA itself. But they choose a target in SA and a realitivily small target at that. (Disclaimer) I lament the loss of life in SA yesterday, but a bunch of foreign workers in SA is hardly a massive strike at the 'great satan' and as such it shows the deminished ability of the terrorists network in influence, money, planning, leadership, and equipment.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-05-13 12:03pm

Vympel wrote:Well, another 9/11 attack is out the window (by that I mean using the passenger jets).

However, car bombs, suicide bombers, etc? Sure you can still pull them off.

Heck, if I was a crazy Islamic fundie, I'd grab a Kalashnikov, get my fellow psychos, and go shoot up Times Square or something before blowing myself to bits. Can't be that hard.

but you know what Vympel, that hasn't happened. and the fact that it hasn't happened , IMHO, bodes well for the future. Before the Iraq campaign left leaning pundits (and even some on the right) were proclaiming armageddon would rage on the streets of New York if we attacked Iraq....hasn't happened. not so much as a peep! There was nothing after Afghanistan campaign, and nothing after the black ops that went down in the Phillipines. And i'll bet you all the beer you can drink that there have been black ops missions in more countries than we care to count...and next tp nothing. A possible attack on a French oil tanker in the gulf. a probable failed attack on an Airliner in Kenya. Although the firebombing in Bali...however that did happen in a rrelative Muslim stronghold. But the fact is, at home you are safe. at work, you are safe. even on vacation, if you avoid Muslim dominated areas, you're safe.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-05-13 12:47pm

The Saudis are the friendly ones, right?

Seriously, we need to put pressure on the Saudis to clean up their act. Clearly no one can stop every last wacko hell bent on dying for God and taking some people down with him but they can do better than this.

Axis Kast · Post by **Axis Kast** » 2003-05-13 02:17pm

Clearly, our troops didn't belong in Saudi Arabia. They still don't.

As you've said Vympel, their mission is as easily prosecuted from better-secured Iraq. Relocation means greater safety for our troops. I support the decision.

That does not mean that I'm not wary of consequences however. I wonder whether or not we'll later wish we'd waited a few months longer. Obviously, the same is true in Korea. I don't want to see our troops moved off the penninsula (out of Seoul is fine) until Kim Jong-Il at least quiets down and the whole issue about his nuclear weapons is laid to rest.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-05-13 02:31pm

Vympel wrote:Well, another 9/11 attack is out the window (by that I mean using the passenger jets).

However, car bombs, suicide bombers, etc? Sure you can still pull them off.

Heck, if I was a crazy Islamic fundie, I'd grab a Kalashnikov, get my fellow psychos, and go shoot up Times Square or something before blowing myself to bits. Can't be that hard.

Not big enough. It reduces you from a great martyr solider of Islam to a mere Palestinian distraction. Most of the people who would be willing to do such things have targets to deal with closer to home, while the Saudis and others won't reduce themselves to such levels.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-05-13 02:35pm

Stormbringer wrote:The Saudis are the friendly ones, right?

Seriously, we need to put pressure on the Saudis to clean up their act. Clearly no one can stop every last wacko hell bent on dying for God and taking some people down with him but they can do better than this.

We are. However just because terrorist come from Saudi Arabia doesn’t mean there based out of there. Most are smart enough to distance there home country from there actions, and don't like the current government anyway because its allowed the US in for so long. Unless we have Saudi Arabia become like the Soviet Union with visas needed simply to leave there will continue to be problumes.

They do need to do a better job cracking down on their citizens within the country finance terrorists. But then so does every nation on earth, just look at all the funding sources that where found in the US.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-05-13 02:51pm

We are. However just because terrorist come from Saudi Arabia doesn’t mean there based out of there. Most are smart enough to distance there home country from there actions, and don't like the current government anyway because its allowed the US in for so long. Unless we have Saudi Arabia become like the Soviet Union with visas needed simply to leave there will continue to be problumes.

Of course we are putting pressure but they need to go after the recruiters, preachers, and support network. Clearly these are not just the work of lone wackos, there's some organization to this. They haven't gotten the people that organize all this.

They do need to do a better job cracking down on their citizens within the country finance terrorists. But then so does every nation on earth, just look at all the funding sources that where found in the US.

Financing especially but also recruiting and other support functions as well.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-05-13 04:12pm

Actually, the way to really terrorize America, in my opinion, is to NOT do something in New York or a big city. That doesn't scare people really. After all, Columbine only really terrified people, despite school shootings happening in big cities for decades, because most of America in rural and suburban areas never thought it would happen to them. When it did, the outcry and sheer bullshit policies it generated was huge. Suddenly, people realized that it wasn't something that just happened in big cities a thousand miles away, but could happen to them.

So what I would do is I'd go to a moderately wealthy suburban/rural community, wait for a big football game or something, bomb it, and make it really obvious that Islamic terrorists did it. Then a week later, do it again in another state. And again and again. Attacking the heartland of America would be perfect for causing terror, since small towns and communities everywhere would think that if it could happen to them, it could happen to us! I would have half the country running around in circles crying chicken little. After all, if it happens in New York City, people in Podunk USA are mad, but they expect it to happen. If Podunk USA gets bombed, all the other Podunks get terrified.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-05-13 05:38pm

I agree. Car bomb at a football game would be pretty terrifying, and there'd be no real way to stop it. Hell, load up your truck and just drive through the chainlink fence around the school, right onto the field, and up onto the bleachers. Boom, dozens of people dead.

NapoleonGH · Post by **NapoleonGH** » 2003-05-13 10:53pm

if it is al quedia attacking something in Saudi arabia, it is more of a civil war situation than anything else

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-05-14 12:24am

Axis Kast wrote:How can we be certain that by leaving Saudi Arabia at the earliest possible opportunity, we aren't handing a percieved victory to the forces of Islamofascism?

Hell, they may want us gone, but we want us gone just as much. I say let's leave, maybe then al-Queefa will spend more time on the Saudi royal family than on us. Nothing would be like a good assissination to get the Saudis to take these assholes out for good.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-05-14 12:56am

Wicked Pilot wrote:
Axis Kast wrote:How can we be certain that by leaving Saudi Arabia at the earliest possible opportunity, we aren't handing a percieved victory to the forces of Islamofascism?
Hell, they may want us gone, but we want us gone just as much. I say let's leave, maybe then al-Queefa will spend more time on the Saudi royal family than on us. Nothing would be like a good assissination to get the Saudis to take these assholes out for good.

It doesn't really matter. These people hate America and the west too much to simply give up the fight, even if we did completely leave the Persian Gulf area. Leaving Saudi Arabia might make them think they're winning, but on the other hand it undermines their cause, especially in the eyes of moderates who might be divided in there views.