The terror slick

Terrorist acts targeting foreign, especially American, citizens and interests have been on the increase in Saudi Arabia in the past year. Many of these have focused on those associated with the oil industry. The strike at Al Khobar last month and the beheading of an American hostage this month are just the most alarming manifestation of a simmering threat to both the desert kingdom’s oil installations as well as the thousands of foreigners who work in key sectors of its economy. This has finally stirred the Saudi authorities to crack down on Al-Qaeda and its kindred organisations which have struck deep roots in the kingdom. The security forces killed Al-Qaeda’s leader in the country, Abdulaziz al-Muqrin along with three senior leaders last Friday. They also arrested 12 militants, including some prominent figures.

The speed with which Saudi security forces were able to hit the top Al-Qaeda leader in the country within hours of an American hostage being killed clearly indicates that Saudi intelligence about the whereabouts and actions of Al-Qaeda members was obviously good. Some cynics may even be moved to ask why the terrorists could not have been neutralised earlier? But the important point is that the kingdom is finally taking action. Obviously it must do more, much more, if for no other reason than that the country had supported the rise of the Taliban who nurtured Al-Qaeda and gave refuge to hijackers and terrorists. Saudi Arabia, it may be recalled, was one of the three countries to recognise the Taliban regime, Pakistan being another.

It is good that the Saudi government has followed up its last week’s successes against Al-Qaeda with an offer of amnesty which is obviously directed at lower level operators and sympathisers to surrender voluntarily within one month or face the oil kingdom’s “unflinching power and unshakable determination” to eradicate terrorist groups from Saudi soil. A stick and carrot approach would be useful. At the same time, Saudi focus should not be narrowed down to Al-Qaeda only, but rather should address the use of terror in the name of Islam. The kingdom, after all, has unique moral, ethical as well as temporal power and responsibility to do so. In any case, the very viability of its oil infrastructure depends on the efficacy with which it faces the terrorist challenge.