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Looks like a deal is in the Magic Kingdom
Read between the lines on this one - it looks to me like al-Awaji and the other clerics who were the first ones calling for "dialogue" in the wake of the initial Riyadh bombings have won the day, hence the amnesty offer.
The recently announced appointment of a "relatively mild" figure to lead Al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia and the repeated Saudi crackdown on the group will lead to a breakthrough in the crisis that has destabilized the kingdom, according to an Islamist engaged in efforts to end the violence.
| "Relatively mild"? What's he do? Sedate his victims before cutting their heads off? |
Mohsen al-Awaji, who has been meeting with extremists in efforts to restore security and stability in the kingdom, said he expected an easing in tensions in Saudi Arabia due to Saleh al-Oufiâs "calm" personality.
| "Calm for a wahhabi, of course..." |
Osama bin Ladenâs Al-Qaeda network has announced on its websites that Oufi, a former police officer, would succeed Abdel-Aziz al-Muqrin, who went toes-up was killed with three of his aides by security forces in Riyadh almost two weeks ago, as the new leader Al-Qaeda cells in Saudi Arabia. "I know Oufi in person and I have met him three times long before Muqrin was killed," Awaji told The Daily Star. "His personality is not like that of Muqrin." Muqrin was a hardened militant, who fought in Bosnia against the Serbs and Croats from 1992 to 1995, frequently traveled to Afghanistan between 1990 and 1994 and took part in the fight against the Americans during the US-led war on Afghanistan in November 2001. He was imprisoned in Ethiopia in 1995 after allegedly belonging to a hit squad that tried to assassinate visiting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. "He was harshly tortured ... and developed a desire to satisfy a thirst for revenge," said Awaji, who made it clear he was not representing the Saudi government in his talks with extremists despite its "blessings" for efforts to reach a solution. "Oufi fought abroad but has no such vengeful personality, and was never imprisoned," said Awaji about the 38-year-old man, who is ranked No. 5 on a Saudi list of 26 most-wanted militants. "I think there will be a breakthrough in the crisis."
But Oufiâs perceived milder personality did not convince others that he would make a significant change in the way Al-Qaeda operates in Saudi Arabia. "Whether in Afghanistan, Iraq or Saudi Arabia, Al-Qaeda has one method: terrorizing Westerners and Americans," said Khaled Mutrafi, the director of the Dubai-based Al-Arabiyya channel in Saudi Arabia. "I donât think the method will really differ now," said Mutrafi, who has been covering Al-Qaeda for Saudi newspapers since it was established in Afghanistan in 1988. Abdel-Aziz al-Qassem, a lawyer close to Islamist circles, argued that Oufi, Muqrin and the previous two figures who headed the group in Saudi Arabia before they were killed by security forces were merely "field commanders" and lacked the qualities of leaders.
| That's why he was replaced as soon as he was bumped off. The real commanders aren't named. They live in mosques. |
Muqrin took charge of Al-Qaeda in the kingdom after his predecessor, Khaled Haj, was killed in March this year. Haj succeeded Youssef al-Ayeeri, who was killed in a raid on the Qaseem Province near Riyadh in June 2003.
| Not a real good life expectancy in that job, is there? |
"They (Al-Qaeda leaders) failed to come up with clear objectives, which was why they were carrying out vengeful attacks rather than ones that would lead to political gains," said Qassem. "Thatâs why they do not constitute a political threat as much as a security threat."
| Rumor had it — and it was discussed on these pages — that Binny or his successors disagreed with the tactics of an offensive in Arabia at this moment... |
The blow to Al-Qaeda with the killing of Muqrin and his aides on June 18 has not destroyed the group, according to Mutrafi. "There is no way that the last strike against them has resulted in finishing the group. We shouldnât rule out that they will come back again," Mutrafi said. But Awaji said the killing of Muqrin and his deputy Faisal al-Dokheil, have deprived the group of significant experience in fighting and planning. In addition, continued Saudi efforts to clamp down on militants have resulted in the seizure of huge caches of weapons, such as rifles, pistols, hand grenades, mortars, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and tons of explosives.
| Plenty more where those came from, though. Weaponry never seems to be a problem, does it? |
Saudi authorities say weapons are mainly smuggled across the kingdomâs porous southern mountain border with Yemen. "Oufi is now a leader of the remnants of this damaged ship and those in it need help to survive. Thatâs why the Saudi amnesty offer came at the right time," said Awaji.
Posted by: Dan Darling 2004-06-30 |
