| THE
WAR ON TERRORISM
Saudi Arabia and
Counterterrorism
Anthony H. Cordesman
Saudi Arabia still has a long way to go in developing
effective counterterrorist efforts. The Ministry of the
Interior needs a more structured effort, much better
HUMINT that clearly distinguishes probable terrorists
from those with "Afghan" or some Jihadi
background, and better ways to distinguish religious
extremists from violent extremists.
There is still a tendency to conduct large sweeps,
while sometimes being easy on the sons of leading
families and sensitive clerics -- a problem currently
affecting other Gulf nations.
Saudi Arabia also is talking far too much about Al
Qaida as if its problems were the product of outside
direction and a largely outside ideology, which is far
more neo-Salafi than Wahhabi. Much of the motivation
behind its problems with extremism seems to be internal,
and it is far from clear how much outside direction such
efforts are getting versus actions by local groups that
may only be affiliated with Al Qaida.
As Crown Prince Abdullah has stressed, Saudi
stability has to be linked to economic and education
reform and to creating real jobs. The focus for Saudi
youth has to be changed from a traditional education
that leads a minority towards untraditional religious
extremism and violence, to one based on training for
success, real job opportunities and real careers.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia has made real progress
in many areas since 9/11, and has reinforced this
progress in dealing with internal terrorism since May
2003. The following list of statements and actions comes
from Saudi Arabia and has an obvious bias. This does
not, however, mean that any aspects of it are factually
incorrect. It also provides a basis for much
better media coverage of the issues involved, rather
than the kind of generalizations that have rushed on air
or into print from people who seem to have little
working experience with the Kingdom.
Latest
Developments: Saudi Arabia's Progress in the War on
Terrorism
[Washington, DC] [November 10, 2003]
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I vow to my fellow citizens
and to the friends who reside among us, that
the State will be vigilant about their
security and well-being. Our nation is
capable, by the Grace of God Almighty and the
unity of its citizens, to confront and destroy
the threat posed by a deviant few and those
who endorse or support them. With the help of
God Almighty, we shall prevail.
Crown Prince Abdullah bin
Abdulaziz, Deputy Prime Minister
and Commander of the National Guard, May 13,
2003
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Actions
to Counter Terrorism
-
Questioned thousands of suspects
-
Arrested more than 600 individuals
-
Broke up a number of Al-Qaeda cells
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Seized large quantities of arms
caches
-
Extradited suspects from other
countries
-
Set up joint task forces with the
United States
Specific
Cases
Yousif Salih Fahad Al-Ayeeri, a.k.a.
Swift Sword, a major Al-Qaeda operational planner and
fundraiser, was killed on May 31 while fleeing from a
security patrol.
Ali Abdulrahman Said Alfagsi Al-Ghamdi,
a.k.a. Abu Bakr Al-Azdi, surrendered to Saudi
authorities. Al-Ghamdi, considered one of the top
Al-Qaeda operatives in Saudi Arabia, is suspected of
being one of the masterminds of the May 12 bombings in
Riyadh.
Turki Nasser Mishaal Aldandany, another
top Al-Qaeda operative and mastermind of the May 12
bombings, was killed on July 3 along with three other
suspects in a gun battle with security forces that had
them surrounded.
Eleven suspects were taken into custody
on May 27 and May 28 in the city of Madinah. Weapons,
false identity cards and bomb-making materials were
confiscated.
In addition, Saudi national Abdulmonim Ali Mahfouz Al-Ghamdi
was arrested, following a car chase. Three non-Saudi
women without identity cards, who were in the car he was
driving, were detained.
Saudi security raided a terrorist cell
on June 14 in the Alattas building in the Khalidiya
neighborhood of Makkah. Two Saudi police officers and
five suspects were killed in a shootout. Twelve suspects
were arrested, and a number of booby-trapped Qur'ans and
72 home-made bombs, in addition to weapons, ammunition,
and masks were confiscated.
On July 21 Saudi authorities defused
terrorist operations which were about to be carried out
against vital installations and arrested 16 members of a
number of terrorist cells after searching their hideouts
in farms and houses in Riyadh Province, Qasim Province
and the Eastern Province.
In addition, underground storage
facilities were found at these farms and homes
containing bags, weighing over 20 tons, filled with
chemicals used in the making of explosives.
Three men were arrested on July 25 at a
checkpoint in Makkah for possessing printed material
that included a "religious edict" in support
of terrorist acts against Western targets.
Saudi security forces killed on July 28
six terrorist suspects and injured one in a gunfight at
a farm in Qasim Province, 220 miles north of the
capital, Riyadh.
Two Saudi security officers were killed
and eight suffered minor injuries. Four people who
harbored the suspects were arrested. Nine security
officers have been killed and 19 injured in
counter-terrorism activities since May 12.
Security forces surrounded a group of
suspected terrorists in an apartment in the city of
Jizan on September 23, 2003. During a gun battle, one
security officer was killed and four officers injured.
Two suspects were arrested and one suspect was killed.
The suspects were armed with machine guns and pistols
and a large quantity of ammunition.
On October 5, 2003 security forces
arrested three suspects during a raid in the desert to
the east of Riyadh. On October 8, 2003 security forces
raided a farm in the northern Muleda area of Qasim
Province and were able to arrest a suspect. Three other
suspects fled the scene. Two security officers suffered
injuries. Security forces found large amounts of
material to make explosives and light weaponry in the
farm where the suspects had been hiding.
On October 20, 2003 Saudi security
forces raided several terrorist cells in various parts
of the country, including the city of Riyadh, the Al-Majma'a
District in Riyadh Province, Makkah Province, the Jeddah
District of Makkah Province, and Qasim Province.
Security forces confiscated items including C4 plastic
explosives, home-made bombs, gas masks, and large
quantities of assault rifles and ammunition.
On Monday, November 3, 2003, Saudi
police arrested six suspected Al-Qaeda militants after a
shootout in the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia. The
raid on an apartment triggered a shootout that left two
suspected terrorists dead, and one security officer
wounded. Officers also seized a large cache of weapons
they believe were stockpiled for attacks during the
Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The militants had rented
the apartment for just the month of Ramadan.
On Thursday, November 7, 2003, Saudi
security forces encircled two terrorists in Riyadh. The
terrorists shot at the security forces and committed
suicide by blowing themselves up.
International
Cooperation
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said
on November 2, 2003: "The Saudi government,
particularly since they were attacked some weeks and
months ago, has been very aggressive, more aggressive
than ever in the past."
Attorney General John Ashcroft commended
Saudi Arabia's efforts in the war on terrorism and
stated, on August 29, 2003: "I believe that
progress is being made and I think not only that it
(cooperation) is good but it continues to improve."
Saudi Arabia and the United States
established a second joint task force in August 2003,
this one aimed at combating the financing of terror. The
task force, which was initiated by Crown Prince
Abdullah, is further indication of the Kingdom's
commitment to the war on terrorism and its close
cooperation with the United States in eradicating
terrorists and their supporters.
In May 2003, a Saudi-U.S. task force was
organized from across law enforcement and intelligence
agencies to work side by side to share "real
time" intelligence and conduct joint operations in
the fight against terrorism. The U.S. Ambassador to
Saudi Arabia, Robert Jordan, described the cooperation
of Saudi investigators with the U.S. law enforcement
representatives as "superb".
Saudi Arabia has provided extensive
intelligence and military cooperation in the assault on
Al-Qaeda. Public disclosures to date have revealed major
Saudi contributions to the breakup of a number of
Al-Qaeda cells, the arrests of key Al-Qaeda commanders,
and the capture of numerous Al-Qaeda members.
Saudi Arabia is engaging other countries
to locate and extradite Al-Qaeda operatives who may be
hiding in those countries.
Actions
Taken in the Financial Area
Saudi Arabia implemented the 40
Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations on
the prevention of money laundering and the eight special
recommendations on terrorist financing. Saudi
Arabia has established a High Commission for oversight
of all charities, contributions and donations.
A Financial Intelligence Unit was
established to monitor financial transactions to ensure
that funds do not reach evildoers.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the
United States took steps to freeze the assets of a close
bin Laden aide, Wa'el Hamza Julaidan.
In March 2002, the U.S. Treasury
Department and Saudi Arabia blocked the accounts of the
Somalia and Bosnia branches of the Al-Haramain Islamic
Foundation. While the Saudi headquarters for this
private charity is dedicated to helping those in need,
it was determined that the Somalia and Bosnia branches
supported terrorist activities and terrorist
organizations such as Al-Qaeda and AIAI (al-Itihaad al-Islamiya).
In February 2003, the Saudi Arabian
Monetary Agency (SAMA) began to implement a major
technical program to train judges and investigators on
legal matters involving terrorism financing and
money-laundering methods, international requirements for
financial secrecy, and methods followed by criminals to
exchange information.
In May 2003, Saudi Arabia asked the Al-Haramain
Islamic Foundation and all Saudi charities to suspend
activities outside Saudi Arabia until mechanisms are in
place to adequately monitor and control funds so they
cannot be misdirected for illegal purposes.
Also in May 2003, SAMA instructed all
banks and financial institutions in the Kingdom to stop
all financial transfers by Saudi charities to any
accounts outside the Kingdom.
In August 2003, the Council of Ministers
approved new money-laundering and terror financing laws
that include harsh penalties for the crime of money
laundering and terror financing.
Saudi Arabia has investigated numerous
bank accounts suspected of having links to terrorism and
has frozen more than 40 such accounts.
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After the terrible attacks in
Riyadh on May the 12th, the government of
Saudi Arabia has intensified its long-standing
efforts against the Al-Qaeda network. Recently
Saudi's security services apprehended Abu Bakr,
believed to be a central figure in the Riyadh
bombing, and killed a major Al-Qaeda
operational planner and fundraiser, a man
known in terrorist circles as "Swift
Sword." ..America and Saudi Arabia face a
common terrorist threat, and we appreciate the
strong, continuing efforts of the Saudi
government in fighting that threat.
George W. Bush,
President of the United States
July 1, 2003
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