from the June 01, 2004 edition
Al Qaeda targets US oil supplies
Analysts say the Saudi attack could be a new tactic aimed at slowing the US
economy.
By Faiza Saleh Ambah | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – In two deadly attacks here in the past month, analysts
see Al Qaeda-linked groups adopting new tactics and targets - encouraging
self-organizing cells to hit soft targets in an effort to drive away Western
oil workers, damage the Saudi petroleum industry, and slow the US economy.
Despite the weekend attack in Saudi Arabia's oil-rich eastern province in which
22 people were killed, oil operations continued uninterrupted Monday amid
heightened security.
Oil prices hit 20-year highs of $41.85 per barrel in May but eased last week
after Saudi Arabia pledged to increase production and urged OPEC to do the
same. Oil markets, closed Monday, are expected to experience a slight spike
because of the Khobar attacks. Saudi Arabia is the world's No. 1 oil producer
and provides for more than 10 percent of worldwide consumption.
"Hurting the US economy is a longtime Al Qaeda goal and is one of the reasons
the World Trade Center in New York was targeted. They're now striking these
oil- related sites in Saudi Arabia in an attempt to keep oil prices high and
hurt the US economy," says Saud al-Sarhan, a Saudi writer and researcher who
follows Al Qaeda closely.
A statement posted on the Internet and signed by the Saudi Al Qaeda leader,
Abdul-Aziz al-Miqrin, claimed responsibility for the Khobar attack.
"Our heroic fighters were able, by the grace of God, to raid the locations of
the occupying American oil companies ... which are plundering the Muslims'
resources," it said. Mr. Miqrin also criticized the Saudi government for
"supplying the United States with oil for the cheapest prices, according to
their master's wish, so that their economy does not collapse." A Westerner
killed during the operation was dragged though the streets, the statement said.
In a 25-hour standoff with police Saturday in Khobar, a group of armed men
attacked an office building housing major oil companies, an Arab Petroleum
Investment Corporation compound, and a compound housing oil company executives
and employees. The militants killed four Saudis, an American, and workers from
Asia, Africa, and Europe before three of them escaped and one was captured.
The attack in Khobar was an attempt to create another exodus of foreign
workers, like the one following the Yanbu attack May 1. A group of armed young
men entered the offices of ABB Lummus killing six Westerners and a Saudi. All
90 employees working on a refinery project jointly-owned by Saudi petrochemical
firm Sabic and Exxon-Mobil chose to leave the country with their families.
But oil industry analysts say the Khobar attack would not have the same effect.
National Saudi oil company Saudi Aramco has been through 70 years of wars and
demonstrations and unrest, says Hassan al-Husseini, an oil analyst and former
senior planning consultant at Aramco. "Very few people, if any will quit. A few
wild-eyed fundamentalists are not going to push this war-hardened workforce
away." The company has not shut down its operations for even one day since the
1950s, Mr. Husseini says.
Saudi Aramco employs some 54,000 people including 2,300 US and Canadian
citizens and about 1,100 Europeans, the Saudi Aramco's chief executive,
Abdullah Jumah, told Arab News. The expatriates are in top management and in
the medical and highly specialized engineering and technical fields, says
Husseini. But if they all left, oil production would not be affected he says.
"It's a highly automated industry, there's a highly skilled Saudi labor force,
Western expatriates are a small minority, and they would be replaced within a
short period," he says.
The crackdown by Saudi security forces since an attack on Western housing
compounds in Riyadh last year has also resulted in the terrorist group
prompting go-it-alone operations and providing how-to tips on the Internet, Al
Qaeda expert Mr. Sarhan says.
Since last May, hundreds of militants have been arrested and dozens killed in
suicide attacks and in shootouts with police. Increased security and
checkpoints in all major cities and the relentless pursuit by police of some 30
trained Al Qaeda- linked fighters has netted huge weapons caches and hampered
their movements. Police have found more than 10 booby-trapped cars set to
explode, tens of thousands of dollars, and dozens of fake identification
papers.
Some analysts say that going after "soft" targets, such as housing compounds
rather than oil production facilities, is evidence of a terror group on the
ropes. They also note that the militants are now relying on the Internet to
gain and train new recruits.
In a statement on a militant website several weeks ago, the head of Al Qaeda in
Saudi Arabia encouraged young men to join Al Qaeda's jihad, or holy war,
against "the enemies of Islam" and said they did not need to get in direct
touch with group members or get permission to carry out jihad. Those interested
in jihad need only "create a cell that prepares itself and chooses targets
approved by God and then carry out the operation," the statement by al-Miqrin
says. Training tips on attacks could be found in some of the group's literature
on the Web, he adds.
Al-Miqrin also praised the Yanbu attack. "The Yanbu cell which this month
carried out the daring and successful operation is one of the best examples.
They hit the enemy in an important economic facility which had a big effect on
world oil prices which continues to this day."
"Oil is the blood of the world economy and Al Qaeda want to strike at it
through the Saudi facilities," says Abdullah Bjad al-Otaibi, a writer at
al-Riyadh newspaper.
The attacks will likely lead to a terror and security premium on oil prices of
between $5 to $10, says Ali Dakkak, a professor of petroleum economics at King
Abdul-Aziz University.
"Though OPEC's goal is currently about $25 per barrel, oil prices of $30 to $35
dollars are more realistic given the extra costs of security and fighting
terrorism," Dr. Dakkak says.
The Qatari oil minister, Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiya, told reporters upon
arrival in Beirut for Thursday's OPEC meeting that the oil price already
reflects anxiety about production security in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. "I can say
that the equivalent of $8 of a barrel price is the result of the factor of
fear," Mr. al-Attiya said. "We at OPEC have done our best to remove this factor
through our assurance that there won't be any supply crisis."
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| User: "Tadapope" |
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| Title: Re: Al Qaeda targets US oil supplies |
01 Jun 2004 10:21:45 AM |
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OIL -> the blood of Satan will doom the world if left unchecked.
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| User: "dreamwalker" |
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| Title: Re: Al Qaeda targets US oil supplies |
01 Jun 2004 10:15:50 PM |
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"Tadapope" <tadapope@aol.com> wrote in message news:20040601112145.13646.00000208@mb-m20.aol.com...
OIL -> the blood of Satan will doom the world if left unchecked.
Hopefully he's using Mobil1 synthetic. It holds up better under extreme heat. It's also the official
oil of NASCAR.
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| User: "Leigh_Bee" |
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| Title: Re: Al Qaeda targets US oil supplies |
01 Jun 2004 05:44:21 PM |
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(Tadapope) wrote in message news:<20040601112145.13646.00000208@mb-m20.aol.com>...
OIL -> the blood of Satan will doom the world if left unchecked.
Funny way of describing it!
Now why would Satan have oil for blood, when he is after yours?
But being in the world of puny humans trying to blame deeds on the
serpent of the garden, seems well out of context.
But if dwindling resources, become a problem all pretence at
civilised, behaviour is forgotten, now how do we justify killing the
moderates?
LB
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| User: "MaxBlast36" |
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| Title: Re: Al Qaeda targets US oil supplies |
01 Jun 2004 02:32:33 PM |
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Tony Posted:
"Our heroic fighters were able, by the grace of God, to raid the locations of
the occupying American oil companies ... which are plundering the Muslims'
resources," it said. Mr. Miqrin also criticized the Saudi government for
"supplying the United States with oil for the cheapest prices, according to
their master's wish, so that their economy does not collapse." A Westerner
killed during the operation was dragged though the streets, the statement said.
Tony you are right on the mark with these posts keep the people informed...
We are not being told as much information about the escalating violence over
there in the Middle East that is becoming increasingly hostile with more
martyrs joining the fight. These are going to be very trying times if this
stuff is not stopped soon because the other Big Powers Are Becoming More
Visible and That Means That Attacks On Supply Depots and Other Interest's Are
At Greater Risk!!!
Stay Alert Everyone and Keep The Information Available!!!
Brother Jon
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