Saudis Offer Limited Amnesty to Rebels
The Saudi government announced a one-month amnesty on Wednesday, starting at once, for anyone involved in extremist activities. The offer suggested that the countryâs rulers, while shaken by two months of terrorist violence, believe their grip on power to be firm.
riiiight
It's their grip on reality that worries me... | In a speech broadcast across Saudi Arabia and the Arab world, Crown Prince Abdullah vowed that those who turned themselves in over the next month would face no state prosecution, although he left open the possibility for relatives of the victims to demand justice under Islamic law.
Does that include Nayef?
"We offer a chance for whoever belongs to the misguided group and is still at large following involvement in terrorism operations to repent,
the day of judgment must be near
plead guilty and voluntarily surrender," said the crown prince, who is the countryâs effective ruler, according to the translation provided by the Saudi Press Agency. "We, government and people, want to open the door of penance and security for whoever is wise enough to take it; and whoever takes the chance will be safe," he added. "But should he be obstinate, he will face a resolute force."
Not very competent, but resolute... | The kingdom has made similar offers in the past, although few have responded. But it has never made such a gesture with quite the same emphasis.
Wonder how much that sentence cost the Saudis? Do they have to pay the journalists by the sentence, the story, or are they just on salary.
Saudi PR flacks experts saw the move as a quick follow-up to the success the security forces had last week in failing to surround killing or capturing major members of the most violent cell linked to Al Qaeda in the country within hours of its announcement that it had beheaded Paul M. Johnson Jr., its American hostage.
Yeah. That's a quick followup: "We won't do nuttin' to yez if yez just stop!" | snip. I couldnât stand any more. Sounds like dire consequences if you donât turn yourself in.
Posted by: Mr. Davis 2004-06-24 |