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IPS: Why Iran Protects Al-Qa’eda
By Nawaf Obaid
EFL and Fair Use
BEIRUT (IPS) As the Saudi officials have stated that Iran has failed to hand over any of the al-Qa’eda terrorists it is supposed to hold, a senior Saudi oil and security analyst said, "Since the demise of the Taleban, Iran has become a sanctuary for al-Qa’eda, making it the only place in the world where both Shi’ite and Sunni terrorists have found haven".
Echoes of Michael Ledeen’s article.
On Monday 24 August, press reports citing Iran’s ambassador in Riyadh, Ali Asqar Haji, suggested that Iran had handed over to Saudi Arabia a number of al-Qa’eda members. However, the individuals, like the 16 Saudis Iran turned over last year, are merely foot soldiers.
Hoping they can get by with a little cannon fodder...
But on Sunday, Saudi Arabian Interior Minister Amir Nayef Ben Abdel’aziz, in an interview with the pan Arabic daily Al Hayat, denied the report, saying that so far Iran has refused to cooperate with Saudi Arabia over the al-Qa’eda.
And the Saudis, now that terrorism has come home to the Magic Kingdom, won’t accept the "we’re all Brother Muslims" crap, anymore...
Iran’s refusal to grant access to over a dozen of senior Saudi-born al-Qa’eda suspects is disturbing, says Mr. Nawaf Obaid, a senior Saudi oil and political analyst.
Some who’s obviously been given the go ahead to stir this pot on behalf of Abdullah...
"What the Saudis want are the ringleaders of one of the last functioning al-Qa’eda cells with regional command and control powers. Intelligence officials also believe that members of this group know the identities of dozens of al-Qa’eda operatives dispersed in Saudi Arabia, Europe and the United States", according to Mr. Obaid.
"Hey, Dude! This just won’t cut it, ya’know? We want the biggies! Gotta stop this shit - in the Kingdom, anyway. We might pass along the little fish to the Fibbies."
That is why Saudi officials are keen to interrogate the suspects. In the last few months, however, Iran has hindered this effort.
Doh!
"To be more precise, radical Iranian clerics have hindered these efforts. Iran’s moderate President, Mohammad Khatami, has promised to hand over the Saudi al-Qa’eda suspects. However, Saudi security officials were twice rebuffed when arriving to pick them up", Mr. Nawaf Oaid wrote in the Beirut based The Daily Star.
"Are they ready to go?"
"Who?"
"The bad guys, you dimwit!"
"Sure, here ya go..."
"Why, these aren’t the right guys - they’re all Noor Tantrays! Y’know, little fish!"
"Sorry, that’s all we have for you today. Coming back tomorrow?"
"NO! This means the gloves are off, man! We’re going to the press!
In the most recent attempt, Prince Mohammad bin Nayef, the assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs (the highest civilian administrator of the Saudi Arabian General Security Service), was told he would not be allowed to see the prisoners. A senior general in the Saudi General Intelligence Presidency who oversees coordination with Iran’s Intelligence Ministry was furious. According to him people close to Ayatollah Ali Khameneh’i, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran are holding up the extradition because they fear they’ll be implicated.
No shit, Sherlock.
"This episode highlights the strength of Khameneh’i and the radical clerics who follow him. Khameneh’i controls several powerful state security organs, including Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and the newly created Foreign Intelligence Service. Both report directly to Khameneh’i’s Office of the Supreme Leader, entirely bypassing Khatami’s government", Mr. Obaid added.
So much for Khatami, as if this is a surprise.
In the past few years, American, Saudi and other regional intelligence services have compiled a detailed dossier on the extremists within these institutions and their connections to international terrorism.
More...

One question for Rantburgers:
What is the difference between the Taliban and the Black Hats, now, other than the fact that the Black Hats are rapidly becoming a nuclear threat to the region and, in particular, Israel?
How about, after answering that question, Rantburgers open up the debate on what you think would be required to topple the Black Hats and bring to power something far far less dangerous. I’ve suggested it would not require a bunch of boots on the ground - but some remote-controlled decapitation strikes, instead. Let’s hear it, folks. What do you think the US can and should do?
Posted by: .com 2003-09-03
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=18271