Manfred-Mann's Blog

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Saudis' role in Iraq insurgency outlined Sunni extremists from Saudi Arabia make up half the foreign fighters in Iraq, many suicide bombers, a U.S. official says.

By Ned Parker
Times Staff Writer

July 15, 2007

BAGHDAD — Although Bush administration officials have frequently lashed out at Syria and Iran, accusing it of helping insurgents and militias here, the largest number of foreign fighters and suicide bombers in Iraq come from a third neighbor, Saudi Arabia, according to a senior U.S. military officer and Iraqi lawmakers.

About 45% of all foreign militants targeting U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians and security forces are from Saudi Arabia; 15% are from Syria and Lebanon; and 10% are from North Africa, according to official U.S. military figures made available to The Times by the senior officer. Nearly half of the 135 foreigners in U.S. detention facilities in Iraq are Saudis, he said.

Fighters from Saudi Arabia are thought to have carried out more suicide bombings than those of any other nationality, said the senior U.S. officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the subject's sensitivity. It is apparently the first time a U.S. official has given such a breakdown on the role played by Saudi nationals in Iraq's Sunni Arab insurgency.

He said 50% of all Saudi fighters in Iraq come here as suicide bombers. In the last six months, such bombings have killed or injured 4,000 Iraqis.

The situation has left the U.S. military in the awkward position of battling an enemy whose top source of foreign fighters is a key ally that at best has not been able to prevent its citizens from undertaking bloody attacks in Iraq, and at worst shares complicity in sending extremists to commit attacks against U.S. forces, Iraqi civilians and the Shiite-led government in Baghdad.

The problem casts a spotlight on the tangled web of alliances and enmities that underlie the political relations between Muslim nations and the U.S.

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Geeze, I guess this kind of undercuts the rational for expanding the war into Iran. Joe Lieberman (I-Israel) is likely to blow his stack when this hits the wire, and doesn't this also recall thoughts, of post-9/11 shock...our good friends in Saudi Arabia...home to Osama and 19 of the hijackers...what? How? Why?

oops, not supposed to question that link, must focus on Iran...they are evil, they hate freedom, they hate women...

But isn't Saudi Arabia the land where women are essentially treated as pets, forbidden to drive, teach, etc, and aren't there women in the Iranian government? Aren't there women who work as teachers? As doctors?

Geeze...take away that freak, (the Iranian president) and you don't have that evil looking of a nation...except for the fact they overthrew the shah, who we all know was the most generous, loving, wonderful ruler in the world...