12 Nov 03

The view from Saudi Arabia, from a friend who works there:

"I had a visit with my superintendent yesterday, after work. He has always been a pretty good source for local opinion. He is a typical government guy . His English is thick, but understandable. Like everyone here, he has been educated from birth to harbor a vile, rabid hatred for Western Civilization and everything associated with it, and, like most here, he is convinced that Sau dis are God's chosen people and that the world would be far better off if all Christians and Jews suddenly found another planet!

However, in view of recent events, this was the first time we ever met that he didn't hit me with some issue about the US presence in Iraq. He didn't e ven dump on my president, and he didn't say (as he always has in the past), "I look at this from a religious perspective=A6."

He is scared! I've never seen him like this. Clearly, he cannot understand the reason for his beloved Al Quada striking the Arabian compound this week, killing and maiming all kinds of Arabs. What is going on here is, of course , an insurgency. It is crystal clear to all us westerners, but this Saudi and his countrymen don't want to face the possibility of such a thing. It is ju st too big for any of them to imagine.

Up until now, police and military training here has been mostly a game (like everything else here). When they conduct a raid, they typically send out twelve cops and bring back seven. Not a recipe for long term success! In f act, most government security forces in the Gulf are sweating the day when this comes to their jurisdiction!"

Comment: We may live to see the Saud family topple in Saudi Arabia! Ten years ago, they seemed impregnable. But, they danced with the devil, and no w the devil wants to lead. There is a lesson here!

/John