Assassination Attempted on Saudi Prince

(AP)  A suicide bomber lightly wounded a senior prince largely credited for Saudi Arabia's anti-terrorism campaign when he blew himself up just before going into a gathering of well-wishers for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the state news agency said Friday.

It was the first known assassination attempt against a member of the royal family since Saudi Arabia began its crackdown on al Qaeda affiliated militants eight years ago following the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States.

The militant who attacked the assistant interior minister, Prince Muhammad bin Nayef, late Thursday at the Ramadan gathering in Jiddah had previously expressed his intention to give himself up to the official, the Saudi Press Agency quoted the royal court as saying.

It is customary for senior members of the royal family to hold regular open gatherings where citizens can air grievances, seek settlement of financial or other disputes or offer congratulations.

Upon hearing news of the attack, King Abdullah swiftly headed to hospital, according to the agency. It said the prince, who is the son of Interior Minister Prince Nayef, was discharged from the hospital and nobody else was seriously injured.

The Interior Ministry has spearheaded the kingdom's aggressive campaign against terrorism, one that has intensified since militants first struck in the kingdom in May 2003. The country is the birthplace of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and was home to 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers.

On Aug. 19, authorities announced the arrest of 44 suspected militants with al Qaeda links in a yearlong sweep that also uncovered dozens of machine guns and electronic circuits for bombs.

Last month, Saudi officials said a Saudi criminal court had convicted and sentenced 330 al Qaeda militants to jail terms, fines and travel bans in the country's first known trials for suspected members of the terror group.

The 330 are believed to be among the 991 suspected militants that the interior minister has said have been charged with participating in terrorist attacks over the past five years.

[docpeter1953]

Guess the suicide bomber decided not to be prosecuted and be sent to prison, save the country $$, for his assassination attempt.

[fuzzyi]

This has nothing to with freedoms, liberties etc. The Saudi monarchy is living the high life with blue eyed blondes and are becoming corrupt like there western allies. They are protecting there very existance and should the mujahideen succeed in overthrowing this corrupt monarchy, America will have to close all there military bases and will be kicked out of the Arabian peninsula. What will then happen to the flow of oil etc... I leave the rest to everyones imagination. Who's interest's are being protected here? Good will eventually triumph over evil.

[Raedwold]

Hmm..who exactly is going to kick America out of Saudi Arabia. No good looking to God for help because his light shines on the West! The Almighty has given the West riches and lush lands and Islam scrub and deserts and a yearning that will be unforfilled. Live long the sprit of "Richard the Lionheart"

[ToolMangler1]

There is a 'comic strip' called "Get fuzzy". As I read your comment, you remind me of the Cat.

[mav547166]

Its good to know that the Saudi Rehab program is working.

[woeisme1]

Ironic that Saudi Arabia homespun so many terrorists only to have them attack Saudi Arabia, their home. What was Saudi Arabia doing as this terrorist network grew within its borders?

Extremism cannot be allowed to flourish. America can learn from Saudi Arabia that if you do not nip these groups in the bud, like cancers, they fester until one day their deadly aims come to fruition and their evil intent is made manifest.

America needs to take a close look at its own extremists groups lurking in our midst. In recent times enlistment in extremist groups in this country has grown significantly. That is a scary prospect and threatens to send this nation spiraling into a dark era of rampant senseless violence.

The terrorists we have today are the birthers, Operation Rescue, the far right wing of the republican party and just a slew of others. But unlike the madness of a Hinckley, these are not lone loose cannons. The groups of extremists today can organize and access tremendous resources to aid them in their causes.

This country does not need the hate and the violence. Americans are quickly growing tired of the extremists in our society. The other day, I listed several murders in recent times which were all committed by extremists from the neo-conservative element of the republican party. And when they can get on national television as they did today and post the name of their next target, an abortion doctor, they have become reckless and are to be considered a very real danger.

With freedoms comes responsilbilities. Since these extremists abuse their freedoms and want to destroy ours, I say that we get responsible and intervene before we become like Saudi Arabia.

[woeisme1]

VM - I don't know what source offered you such a myth and it does'nt matter. That's exactly what I'm talking about though. The First Amendment allows freedom of speech. But if I showed up at your door and began to insult your wife you would be alright with that? 1st Amendment I would claim.

Or how about I use my rights to go on the internet and lure your young beautiful daughter or sister with salacious sexual language - 1st Amendment covers me right? Wrong.

The extremists barked and barked recently when a proposed law banning texting while driving was brought up. Of course, they claimed government interference too. But think about it, texting while driving is dangerous and people are too stupid to not do it and since it endangers the many, the government feels the need to do its job, step in and protect its citizens.

No matter what the issue, responsibilities run concurrent with freedom.
My 1st Amendment rights do not give me the right to accoust your wife, your daughter. That would be an abuse of that right. I am sure you would not let me get away with that. Or are you're saying that it would be okay with you due to my right to free speech? I don't think so.

America does'nt need hate groups in it under any pretense. But their existence is being brought to national attention due their lack of reasonable use of their rights. Under you're logic, the anti-gang legislation is wrong. But of course you would be the first one to kill a gang member for violating your family or yourself.

Can't you see your contradiction? Most of America does. We already have many laws which regulate free speech such as slander and libel and others. The hate campaign of the republican extremists, the threats against our elected officials, the threats of assassination and insurrection all have laws that make them violations of free speech and for good reason.

We don't live in the wild west anymore. You guys want anarchy. America is about through with the hate campaign all extremists groups are espousing. Let me give you one more example from recent actions of your party.

If a militia extremist decides (using common sense) that a meeting where the President of the United States is speaking on a heated subject is probably not the best place to bring a gun, by not bringing the gun, is he denying that he has the right to bring it? No. He/she has decided to temper his right with common sense.

The problem with extremism is that it cares only for its OWN extremist views and cares not about those of the public at large. It is a selfish, self-centered movement. And its design is to create mayhem in America. No matter how you slice it, extremism sucks and you guys are WRONG! This thinking is not a violation of the Constitution, this thinking is born FROM the Constitution that all men are created equal and have the right to live in peace, unmolested by their government OR groups like you represent.

If you guys don't want the attention from law enforcement, stop abusing your rights and drawing attention to yourselves. When we have a citizen, who on national television satnds and proclaims boldly that he is proud to be a republican terrorist and a congressman responds by praising him by referring to him as a "great american", free speech has become as deluded as you and the groups you represent are.

[speakinup23]

"Curiously, I was just reading a story about the high-handedness of Homeland Security (confiscating private property) and how the Senate may give the President the authority to force private networks off the Internet. What's so curious about it is how I came away from both of those stories thinking about how it's just about time to get rid of this government and install one that will obey its own constitution.
by Void_Master August 28, 2009 5:00 AM EDT



"VM - I don't know what source offered you such a myth and it does'nt matter. - by woeisme1 August 28, 2009 9:36 AM EDT


Uh woe - Would you believe CBS did ?

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/08/28/
taking_liberties/entry5270834.shtml?tag=cbsnewsLeadStoriesAreaMain;
cbsnewsLeadStoriesHeadlines

Sheese - talk about leap before you look. The kid's kinda nice, but has more nerve than a bumb tooth.