A Questionable
Alliance: Saudi Arabia 'Recruits' 34 Muslim Countries to Fight Terror, Posted 12/19/15
by Alice Greene
Saudi
Arabia surprised the world on Tuesday with the unveiling of an anti-terrorism
military alliance including 34 mainly Muslim countries, which, according to
Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will fight the Islamic State in Syria,
Iraq, Egypt, Libya, and Afghanistan. Is this coalition Saudi Arabia’s response
to worldwide demands that the country to something to fight the Islamic State –
or is it a farce?
Terrorism
is a “disease which affected the Islamic world first before the international
community as a whole,” said the Crown Prince. He vowed the new alliance will
confront “the Islamic world’s problem with terrorism and will be a partner in
the worldwide fight against this scourge.”
On
the surface, it seems like Saudi Arabia has capitulated to worldwide criticism
that it become more involved in the fight against terror. Let’s remember,
however, the accusations that claim Saudi Arabia to be a supporter of extremist
Wahhabi mosques that promote terrorist views.
The
coalition announcement caught the country of Pakistan by surprise. While it was
included in the list of 34 countries, Pakistan had apparently never signed up
nor heard about the coalition. “We have been cooperating with Saudi Arabia
on counter-terrorism efforts, but I am not sure we are going to be a part of
any military alliance,” remarked a Pakistani official. He explained that the
country has never joined a military alliance without UN support. “That was the
reason we stayed away from the Yemen conflict.”
Pakistan
wasn’t the only country caught off guard by the announcement. The Foreign
Ministry in Lebanon was also unaware of its country’s participation in the
alleged alliance. The 34-country bloc also includes “Palestine,” which has
long been accused of supporting Islamic extremism. Palestinian Authority (PA)
spokesman Nabil Abu Rudaineh refused to comment on the coalition.
“No
one here knows anything about what it is,” another PA official told Breitbart News. Many are questioning
the inclusion of Palestine in an 'anti-terror' allegiance, considering the fact
that the PA regularly encourages Palestinians to attack Israelis.
Furthermore, PA military Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades is considered a
‘terrorist organization’ by the State Department.
It
is not clear what Saudi Arabia will be expecting of alliance members. Bin
Salman explained that the coalition would be headquartered in Riyadh to better
coordinate future attacks against radical Islamic terrorism. Members of the
alliance include Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Libya, and
others. Iran, Syria, and Iraq are notably absent from the list.
An
expert on Gulf affairs, professor Christopher Davidson of Durham University
argues that the alliance is simply a strategy to boost Saudi Arabia’s
reputation in regards to international affairs.
Comments
The game
has changed. The US has developed fracking, so we have the largest oil and gas
reserves on the planet. We also have the
most coal. We are not a “peak oil” and
won’t need alternatives for decades. Saudis need to protect their
sovereignty. But they are in a tricky
spot and defeating radical terrorist Islam and developing a capable military
will be a big job.
Norb
Leahy, Dunwoody Ga Tea Party Leader
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