With friends like these, who needs enemies?

[Gromit]

WikiLeaks reported in the Guardian:

// Saudis 'chief funders of al-Qaeda'

"Donors in Saudi Arabia constitute the most significant source of funding to al-Qaeda, the Taliban and other terrorist groups," added the document.

The tiny kingdom of Qatar, which was last week granted the right to stage the 2022 World Cup, was singled out as the "worst in the region" in terms of its co-operation with the US. Qatar's approach on militant financing is "largely passive," and its security services "have been hesitant to act against known terrorists" because they fear being seen too close to the United States, the memo said.

Kuwait, which was saved from Saddam Hussein's invasion by US-led forces in 1991, was a "key transit point" for funds that were threatening stability in Pakistan and Afghanistan and targeting coalition soldiers. It dismissed US requests for help in limiting the activities of a charity as "draconian" and based on weak evidence. //

They have us over a barrel, but should we express our displeasure more forcefully? Our silence is part of the problem, is it not?

http://www.telegraph....ders-of-al-Qaeda.html

[birdie1971]

What with Wahhabism being the dominant form of Islam in Saudi Arabia, it should hardly come as a shock to discover that this nation funds international terrorism.

Is anyone really surprised by this revelation?


Gromit - “They have us over a barrel...” - Very droll but very succinct. Should we express our displeasure more forcefully? Yes we should, but we won't because Saudi Arabia's geographical location is of great military importance in the Middle East; not to mention their vast oil reserves.

[jno]

Given that the leaders of al-Qaeda seem to be Saudi dissidents trying to get back at their sheiks, this is rather surprising. The Saudi government would be delighted to see the back of them, so I'm surprised they're not putting in more effort. The problem may be, as they say, the necessity to allow the Hajj and the problems of policing such vast numbers of pilgrims coming from all over. But as the story says, it's private individuals, not the country itself, that's funding terror.

[anotheoldgit]

As I have said before, sheer gossip

A little knowledge.in the wrong hands can cause a multitude of harm.

[Zeuhl]

<<Gossip: idle talk or rumor, esp. about the personal or private affairs of others>>

I'm not sure the americans would like their official reports, memos and cables between departments described as gossip.

If that's all it is, perhaps the americans will stop their sinister and disturbing 'leverage' on other countries, financial institutions and authorities to squeeze wikileaks and distract assange.

I'm sure it's uncomfortable for Goliath when David tweaks his nose, but seeing his bullying response is a pretty unedifying and disgusting spectacle.
.

[Gromit]

Agreed Zeuhl,

Strange AOG was calling for WikiLeaks to be banned a few days ago, but now he thinks it is harmless tittle tattle.