Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Socio-Economic Factors That

Contribute to Terrorist Threat
 Classification

UNCLASSIFIED
 Administrative Data

Safety Considerations: None

Risk Assessment Level: Low

Environmental Considerations: None

Evaluation: In Class Student Checks

 Objective

Action: Describe a Socioeconomic Factor and a

Religious Factor that Contribute to the Threat
Saudi Arabia Poses to the United States
Conditions: Given Lecture and Student Handouts
Standard: Described a Socioeconomic Factor and
a Religious Factor that Contribute to the Threat
Saudi Arabia Poses to the United States
 Commentary

• "Americans tend to think that deep down we all

have the same values, Americans believe that all
these terrorists, if you scratch beneath the
surface, are looking for religious equality and
justice. That's complete and utter nonsense.
Americans can't face the reality that different
people have different values."
 Introduction
• Video
• History Review of Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia (KSA)
• Overview of political/religious situation in
KSA
• Wahhabism
• Moneys supporting radical
mosques/charities
 VIDEO
“The Saudi Time Bomb”
PBS Frontline
November 15, 2001
 Early 20th Century
• Ottomans Side with Central Powers
• Arab Revolt
• TE Lawrence
• Mustafa Kemal – Attaturk
• Rashid Drive Al Saud from Riyadh
– Al Saud Take Refuge in Kuwait
– Rashid Defeated 1921
– Hijaz Taken 1924
• Khadim al Haramayn
• Wider Role in Muslim World
Ikhwan
 US – Saudi Relations

• Factors Leading to US-Saudi Strategic Partnership

– Location
– Oil
– W W 2 & Cold W ar
• US Trades Long-Term Stability for Short-Term Interests
– Corruption & Human Rights Ignored
– Saudi Regime Protected
– Oil for Arms
• Two Pillars of Saudi Rule
– Islam
– Economic Security for Freedom
 US – Saudi Relations

• Until WW1 US a Net Exporter of Oil

– German Submarine W arfare Disrupts Trade
– Europe Gets Oil from Iraq
• Oil Glut & Depression
– (1933) SOCAL Gets Oil Concession from Saudi Arabia & forms
California Arabian Standard Oil Co.
– Lack of Hajis
– Effects of Great Depression
– Lack of US Interference in Saudi Affairs
– Oil Begins to Flow in 1938
• WW2
– US becomes Net Importer of Oil
– Arabian American Oil Company formed 1944
US – Saudi Relations
 US – Saudi Relations

• Post WW2
– (1950) US negotiates
50-50 Split in Profits
– Oil Glut in 1960’s
Leads to OPEC est.
– (1970) Libya
Nationalizes Oil Fields
– (1973) General
Agreement on
Participation
– Oil Embargo
Egyptian – Saudi Relations
Rivals for Arab Leadership

• Nasser Overthrow
of Monarchy
• Pan-Arabism vs.
Pan-Islamism
• Saudi Support for
Muslim Brotherhood
• Yemen Civil War
(1962)
 1979

• Camp David
• Seizure of the
Grand Mosque
• Iranian Islamic
Revolution
• Soviet Invasion of
Afghanistan
 Operation Desert Storm

"The country of the two holy places [Saudi Arabia]

has in our religion a peculiarity of its own over the
other Muslim countries. In our religion, it is not
permissible for any non-Muslim to stay in our
country.“ -Bin Laden, 1997 Interview with CNN.
Khobar Towers
September 11, 2001
 House of War or Peace?

"Perhaps someone will say that if those who died

[on September 11, 2001] are innocent women,
elderly, and children, who must not be harmed even
if they belong to a group from Dar Al-Harb, then how
are these operations permitted by religious law? We
say [in response] that the sanctity of the blood of
women, children, and the elderly [from among the
people of Dar Al-Harb] is not absolute. Moreover,
there are certain cases in which it is permitted to kill
them when they [belong] to the people of Dar Al-
Harb…”

– “The Truth of the New Crusader War," Salah Al-Din,

September 2001
 Justification

• Saudi cleric: Al-Jarbu, November 2001

– "All the sages agree that it is permissible to kill
women, children, and the elderly if it is not
possible to distinguish between them and the
other [warriors].”
– “It was indeed forbidden to kill them [however]
the prohibition was waived if they were
participating in war [against Muslims] or
counseling the warriors.”
 Justification

• "It has become clear to us from past

experience that America is a country
warring against Islam and Muslims.
Indeed, it is its greatest enemy. It uses
war against Islam, and crimes and
corruption that are inconceivable to
humankind. Thus, it should be treated
according to the laws of war on Islam, and
not according to [laws] of peace and
dhimmitude (servitude)."
 Great Satan

• Skeletons in closet of American

History
• Sex, Drugs and Hip Hop (Rock ‘n
Roll)
– Decadent American culture
threatens Islamic values
• Foreign Policy
– Support for Israel (Little Satan)
– Support for “moderate” regimes
(Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt,
etc)
– Globalization: Muslim world
being left behind
 Killing of Innocents

• Example of the
Prophet
– Use of catapult (WMD)
– Surprise attacks
against enemies
– Slew 2 singers for
incensing songs
– Prophet killed all Jews
from betraying tribe
– Assassinated leaders
 Repayment in Kind

• "If you desire to exact

retribution, then adjust
the penalty to the
wrong you have
suffered" [Quran
16:126]
• 10,000,000 killed with
American bombs and
guns
Wahhabi Islam
 Wahhabi Doctrine

• Wahhabism Enjoins Three Main

Concepts:
– Tawhid al-Rubabiya
Recognition that Allah Alone Has the Attribute of
Rabb, Lord and Creator of the Worlds
– Tawhid al-Asma’ wa ‘l-Sifat
Simple Affirmation of the Divine Names and
Attributes Mentioned in the Quran
– Tawhid al-Ibada
Directing all worship to God Alone
 Battle of Ideas

• Council on American-Islamic Affairs, Muslim

World League
• Uses Charities, mosques
• Claim to represent the views of all Muslims, yet
only a “narrow band of fanatics and agents of a
foreign regime, the Saudi kingdom”
• Wahhabis claim raids on mosques indicate
bigotry and infringement of religious freedom,
questions about Muslims as racial profiling
 Soviet
Active Measures

• New Times, Pravda,

Izvestiya, Novosti, and
Tass propaganda
vehicles, World Peace
Council
• Used Labor Unions
• Claimed to represent the
entire labor movement
• Lawyers defended clients
by calling others racists
and bigots
 Techniques

• Savvy
– Freedom of Speech
– Racism/Religious Bigotry
– Rights covered by Constitution
• Raids on mosques suspected of supporting
terrorism are touted as attacks on Islam
• "Like the Communists before them, the Wahhabis
have presented arrestees, detainees and indicted
suspects as people persecuted because they are
'foreign-born' or victims of 'ethnic profiling.’”
 Prison
Conversions

• W ahhabi efforts support conversion

efforts in the U.S. and British prison
systems:
– U.S.: 350,000 of 2.1 million (17%)
• 80% of inmates seeking spirituality
convert to Islam
• Half-way Houses to Re-integrate
Muslim Inmates into Society After
Release
• If No Place to Stay Upon Release,
Muslim Inmates Stay at Masjids
Muslim prisoners prayer during an eid in the yard
– Britain: 4,000 Muslims of 67,500 of New York’s Wende Correctional Facility.
inmates (16%) (Courtesy of Jolie Stahl. Photos originally
– Many of these efforts are directly or appeared in “Black Pilgrimage to Islam” (Oxford
indirectly supported by Saudi Arabia University Press, 2002))
 Prison Conversions

• Institute of Islamic Information

– Supports Propagation of Muslim
Literature to Prison System
• Books
• Classes in Arabic
• Islamic History
– Also Provides:
• 24-hour Toll Free Phones
• Or Collect-calling Services
– Readily Acknowledge the Support of
Saudi Arabia in Providing These Services
 Prison Conversions

• Dire Consequences
– Zealous Converts
– Outside of Society’s Norms
– Network of Criminals
– Expanded Knowledge of How to Perpetrate
Crimes
– Involvement in the Drug Business
 Charities in Question
Al Haramain Foundation
Alavi Foundation
Benevolence International Foundation (BIF)
Global Relief Foundation (GRF)
Help the Needy
Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF)
Human Appeal International
Institute of Islamic and Arabic Science in America (IIASA)
International Islamic Relief Organization
International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) or Internal Relief Organization(IRO)
Islamic American Relief Agency and/or Islamic African Relief Agency
Islamic Assembly of North American
Islamic Association for Palestine
Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)
Islamic Foundation of America
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) (provides ideological material to about 1,100
mosques in US)
Kind Hearts
Muslim Arab Youth Association (MAYA)
Muslim Student Association (MSA)
North American Islamic Trust (NAIT) (Physical control most mosques in US)
Muslim World League
Rabita Trust
SAAR Foundation and all members and related entities
Solidarity International and/or Solidarity USA
United Association for Studies and Research (USAR)
World Assembly of Muslim Youth
 Mosque Infiltration

• Erect New Religious Buildings in Area of

Moderate Muslims
• Muscle Out the Moderate Religious
Leaders
• Moderate Muslims Pay Zakat (2.5%
Tithe)/ Sadaqat (Donations) to Extreme
Mosque
 Al ash Shaykh

• Direct Male Descendents of Al Wahhab

• Al Saud Married Daughter of Al Wahhab
• Subsequent Intermarriage Forms Political Alliance
• Al ash Shaykh Power Political & Religious
• Grand Mufti Traditionally Al ash Shaykh
• Scholars, Qadis, Lawyers, Seminary Teachers &
Imams comprise KSA Ulama
• Council of Senior Ulama
• Symbiotic Relationship Exists between Ulama and
Royal Family
 The Royal Family
• King Rules by Consensus
• “Those Who Loose & Bind”
• Al Saud Numbers About
20,000
• The Al Faisal Branch
Supplies the Ruling Elite
– Several Lineages W ithin the
Al Faisal Branch
– Al Sudairi Clan Most
Influential with Al Faisal
Branch
• King Fahd & His 7 Brothers Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
All Share Same Mother King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
• Many Half Brothers of Other
Sudairi Women Occupy
Important Government Posts
 Royal Family

• Al Faisal Clans
– Al Sudairi (The Sudairi Seven)
– Al Thunayyan
• Closely allied to Al Sudairi
• King Faisal’s favorite wife was Al Thunayyan
• Closest to the US
• Al Jiluwi
– Descended from greatnephew of Abd Al Aziz
– Assisted in 1964 coup
• Al Kabi
– Descended from cousin of Abd Al Aziz
– Not in the line of succession
 Crown Prince
Abdullah
• Also Commands National
Guard
• Arab Nationalist
• Devout Muslim
• Set against corruption
• Minister of Foreign Affairs
Saud Al Faisal strongest
ally
• Criticized KSA
dependence on US
• Called for closer relations
with Iran & Syria
 Saudi Stability
• Greatest threats: Islamic Extremists & Royal
Intrigue
• “Sudairi Seven”
– King Fahd
– Minister of Defense Sultan
– Governor of Riyadh Salman
– Amb to UK Turki (former head of Intelligence)
– Deputy Minister of Defense Abdullah Rahman
– Minister of the Interior Nayef
– Minister of Culture Ahmed (deceased)
• About 103 Princes control KSA
• Weak Western Oriented Liberal Opposition Exists
 Sudairi Seven vs.
Abd Allah
• Numbers favor Sudairi Seven
• Abdullah has popular support but
slipping since 9/11 support to US
& GWOT
• Main contention between Abd
Allah & Sultan
• Sultan attempting to increase
popular support
• Islamic Threat
– Greater Threat over the Long-Term
– Complex Problem Complicated by
Demographics & Economics
 Population
Explosion
• Population 24 Million (2002)
– 17.6 Million Saudis
– 6.4 Million Foreigners
• Total Workforce 10 Million
– 4.7 Million Saudis
• 2% Total Female Population is Employed
• 21-22% Saudi W orkforce Employed
– 5.3 Million Foreigners
• Official Unemployment is 8%
– Does not include homemakers, welfare, subsidies
– Actual Unemployment estimated at 30%
 Saudi Public
Spending

Defense
Human Resource
Health & Welfare
Domestic Subsidies
Other

• State employment no longer viable option

• More jobs than people
• Female workforce squandered
• Foreign workforce will continue
 Middle East
Population

Egypt
Iran
Iraq
KSA
Many young Saudis have plenty of free time to congregate at the mosques.
 The Stone and the
Tree
• Saudi 9th grade text on
Hadiths
– "The hour [Judgment Day]
will not come until the
Muslims fight the Jews and
kill them. A Jew will [then]
hide behind a rock or a
tree, and the rock or tree
will call upon the Muslim:
'O Muslim, O slave of
Allah! There is a Jew
behind me, come and kill
him!' – except for the gharqad
tree, for it is one of the trees of the
Jews."
 Saudi Education

• “The purpose of educating a girl is to bring her up in a

proper Islamic way so as to perform her duty in life, be an
ideal and successful housewife and a good mother, ready
to do things which suit her nature such as teaching,
nursing and medical treatment.“ – Saudi Government
Statement
• Gender Segregation
• Study Abroad Discouraged & Women Require Male
Chaperone
• Expansion of Religious Studies is Aggravating
Unemployment
• Favored Jobs in Religious Affairs and Judiciary Not
Available
 Economy

• King Oil
– 90% of Saudi Exports
– 40% GDP
– 75% Government Revenue
• Combined Debt = 100% 2003 GDP of $190 Billion
– Gulf W ar
– Financing Debt w/ State Pension Fund
• Per Capita Income has fallen
– $23,820 (1980) vs. $8,700 (2003)
• The Good News
– Considerable amounts of Copper, Uranium, and Iron Ore
– W orld’s 4th Largest Natural Gas Reserves
– Established Petrochemical industry
• The Bad News
– Oil will last only about 100 years
 Summary

• Demographic & Economic Vicious Circle

• Threat to United States will continue
• Losing the War of ideas for Muslims
Questions ?