On The Third Hand

Saudis eliminate al-Qaida at home, fund abroad

U.S. officials say Saudi Arabia has eliminated al-Qaida leadership at home but continues to fund the terrorist network abroad, reports Geostrategy-Direct, the global intelligence news service.

Officials said Saudi Arabia has captured or killed many al-Qaida leaders over the last three months. Saudi security forces, with support from U.S. intelligence and law enforcement, raided al-Qaida strongholds in Buraida, Mecca, Jeddah and Riyadh, they said.

“Saudi Arabia is working hard to shut down the facilitators and financial supporters of terrorism, and they have captured or killed many first-tier leaders of the al-Qaida organization in Saudi Arabia,” the White House said in a Sept. 11 statement. “Today, because Saudi Arabia has seen the danger and joined the war on terror, the American people are safer.” [Yeah, right. –kk]

…

But U.S. officials said Saudi Arabia has failed to stop financing to al-Qaida. Despite U.S. appeals, Saudi charities continue to relay funds to al-Qaida abroad, particularly in financing Arab operatives in Africa and Chechnya.

Surprise, surprise. The Saudi attitude to terrorism has always been “good job, just don’t do it here.”

Hat tip: Jihad watch.