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An ominous message

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA May 20. In carefully choosing its targets in Casablanca, the Al-Qaeda appears to have sent strong signals of hostility to Israel, Spain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. By targeting a Synagogue, and the Safir hotel that was frequented by Israelis, the extremists have sent a message of deep antipathy towards the Jewish State.

It now transpires that this hotel is owned by a national from Kuwait, the key ally of the United States in the war against Iraq. Despite a spate of denials, authorities involved in the investigation have so far been unable to disprove that the terrorists deliberately chose to target a cultural centre run by Spain, because Madrid was another key Washington ally in the war in Iraq. But the attacks in Casablanca appear to have alarmed the Saudi Arabians most.

This is because close business and interpersonal ties reportedly exist between the princely elites of Saudi Arabia and Morocco. For many Saudis, Morocco is also a favoured tourist destination. According to one view, after facing terrorist destruction in Riyadh, many in Saudi Arabia are arriving at the conclusion that the Al-Qaeda has only reinforced its message through its attacks in Morocco. By conducting well-coordinated terror strikes in Casablanca, the Al-Qaeda appears to have conveyed to the Saudi elite that it neither cannot, any longer, take for granted, its security inside or outside its home turf.

Not surprisingly, there is considerable speculation in diplomatic circles that the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, rushed to Rabat to personally witness the interrogation of the lone suicide bomber who was captured alive by the Moroccan authorities after last Friday's blasts. There are other reasons for Riyadh to feel concerned.

Saudi Arabia's Asir province that borders Yemen is frequently cited as a hotbed of Al-Qaeda activity in the Kingdom. Five individuals involved in the hijacks, which led to the September 11 attacks in the United States reportedly, belonged to this mountainous province. The Ghamedi tribe residing in this area appears to be especially prone to extremist activity.

Aware of the large reservoir of extremists present on its soil, especially in the South, the Saudi authorities know the grave threat that they pose to their security.

0While facing the terror onslaught from within, international pressure on the Saudis to confront the Al-Qaeda on its territory has also been mounting.

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