Article

2004-12-06 Arabia

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Destro 2004-12-06 4:14:01 AM|| || Front Page|| [7 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Looks like the attack is still underway as we speak ...

Soddy reaction should tell us whether or not the deal between al-Hawali and the princes fell through again or whether this is just another case of it being okay to kill Westerners but not any of the Master Race in the Magic Kingdom.

I'm hearing car bomb right now.

Posted by Dan Darling 2004-12-06 4:31:36 AM|| [http://www.regnumcrucis.blogspot.com] 2004-12-06 4:31:36 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Who is al-Hawali?

Posted by Goher 2004-12-06 5:12:13 AM|| 2004-12-06 5:12:13 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 damn--there goes my christmas stroll on the corniche

Posted by SON OF TOLUI 2004-12-06 5:16:47 AM|| 2004-12-06 5:16:47 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 I await the cornered 'militant' routine with bated breath.

Posted by Howard UK 2004-12-06 5:48:15 AM|| 2004-12-06 5:48:15 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 I just hope they haven't been surrounded;)

Posted by Spot 2004-12-06 6:44:32 AM|| 2004-12-06 6:44:32 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 Spot, surrounding is a process, not an action--in the book of Saudi security elements. I am sure that Soddies would execute masterfully that kind of surrounding they are so famous for.

Posted by Sobiesky 2004-12-06 6:54:27 AM|| 2004-12-06 6:54:27 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 I'm hearing car bomb right now.

Dan, I am stretching my ears as much as I can, but hear no damn thing. Are you in the Satanic Araby proper at this moment? That would be the only logical explanation I can muster, bare some kind of extrasensory, long-distance perception.

Posted by Sobiesky 2004-12-06 6:58:23 AM|| 2004-12-06 6:58:23 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 MSNBC - no American hostages, attackers: 3 killed, 2 captured. Wonder what Naif will have to say about it? Asshat

Posted by Frank G 2004-12-06 7:03:17 AM|| 2004-12-06 7:03:17 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 Seems to be some confusion about wether there was a car bomb, or just grenade tossing:
Islamic militants threw explosives at the gate of the heavily guarded U.S. consulate in Jiddah, then forced their way into the building, prompting a gunbattle in a bold assault that left seven people dead and several injured before the three-hour long crisis was brought under control.
Several Americans were slightly injured, according to a State Department official in Washington. Three attackers were among those killed, while two others were injured and arrested, the Saudi Interior Ministry announced. Saudi security officials also said four of their forces were killed. The ministry statement didn't mention hostages, though Saudi security officials said some had been taken.
In Riyadh, U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Carol Kalin said two local staff members were injured, but all American staff were safe. "We have accounted for all Americans on the compound in Jiddah and none of them are being held hostage," Kalin said. "We have a local work force that was on duty and we are still in the process of accounting for (them)." Kalin said it was unclear if any of the U.S. Marine guards inside the consulate were involved in the gunbattle. As a precaution, she said, the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and consulate in Dhahran were closed to the public.

Posted by Steve 2004-12-06 9:16:46 AM|| 2004-12-06 9:16:46 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 From AP story:
The statement by a Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, said a "stray bunch" â a reference to Islamic militants â threw explosives at the gate of the consulate, then entered.
No wonder so many get away after being surrounded - they're strays!

Posted by Spot 2004-12-06 9:18:58 AM|| 2004-12-06 9:18:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#11 stray bunch = Jooooos

Posted by Frank G 2004-12-06 9:48:46 AM|| 2004-12-06 9:48:46 AM|| Front Page Top

#12 Goher-Who is Al-Hawali

Try Google, you even have a link to Rantburg!!

Posted by SwissTex 2004-12-06 10:47:41 AM|| 2004-12-06 10:47:41 AM|| Front Page Top

#13 Other witnesses said that gunfire was heard shortly before the blast. "I heard a heavy exchange of fire," one bystander told reporters.

Sounds like the Marines opened up on the charging car bombers, setting them off outside the gates.

Good work, boys.

Posted by mojo 2004-12-06 11:12:10 AM|| 2004-12-06 11:12:10 AM|| Front Page Top

#14 I really like Charles Johnson's take on the incident:

Islamic activists tried to air their grievances by murdering Americans in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia today, but were thwarted when their oppressors hid in a fortified room. The activists were then disenfranchised by Saudi security forces.

LOL.

Posted by Seafarious 2004-12-06 11:26:06 AM|| 2004-12-06 11:26:06 AM|| Front Page Top

#15 P.S. Witnesses said the militants had hauled down the U.S. flag and burned it after bursting into the mission.

Sigh.

Posted by Seafarious 2004-12-06 11:28:03 AM|| 2004-12-06 11:28:03 AM|| Front Page Top

#16 UPDATE: JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Twelve people died when Muslim militants stormed the U.S. consulate in the Saudi city of Jeddah Monday, officials said. Saudi security officials said four of their men were killed by the assailants. Security forces killed three attackers and wounded two, who were then captured. A U.S. embassy spokeswoman said five non-American consulate staff, including a contract guard, had also been killed. Earlier there was confusion about whether the five non-U.S. dead listed by the embassy had included the four dead guards.

Posted by Steve 2004-12-06 12:59:40 PM|| 2004-12-06 12:59:40 PM|| Front Page Top

14:45 Anonymous
00:20 Sock Puppet of Doom
00:03 lex
23:57 CrazyFool
23:57 lex
23:47 Mike Sylwester
23:38 mojo
23:36 Aris Katsaris
23:33 Pappy
23:32 Stephen
23:20 ex-lib
23:16 ex-lib
23:13 Asedwich
23:12 Asedwich
23:12 Sock Puppet of Doom
23:11 mojo
23:06 ex-lib
23:03 Frank G
23:02 Sock Puppet of Doom
23:01 Asedwich
23:00 Frank G
22:59 Pappy
22:58 Frank G
22:58 Asedwich