Kingdom under attack

The alarming tendency in the Western media to denigrate the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia sets a dangerous precedent. What is especially damaging is that US politicians are taking their cue from the media. The West should not underestimate the political influence of Saudi Arabia, which wields tremendous clout in the Islamic world.

The West should not question the oil-rich kingdom's determination to fight terrorism. By accusing members of the Saudi Arabian royal family of supporting the spread of Islamist militancy and funding terrorism the media and allied anti-Saudi politicians do untold damage. The Saudi authorities have also been accused of not giving unqualified support to the US authorities in investigating Al-Qa'eda's activities. Criticisms of Saudi Arabia are tantamount to criticisms of mainstream, moderate Islam. The uproar in the US Congress and media over a classified 28-page chapter, 900-page report issued last month by a joint Senate and House of Representatives commission on intelligence shortcomings exacerbates matters.

Some of the terrorists who carried out the 11 September attacks were Saudi nationals. The 1996 bombing of the Khobar towers in which 19 US servicemen were killed was the first clear signal that there were terrorists in the kingdom bent on attacking American interests in the region. It is no secret that Osama Bin Laden is of Saudi origin, but that is no excuse to single out the kingdom for retribution.

Saudi Arabia has allowed US investigators to interrogate suspects involved in the attacks. The 12 May Riyadh bombings, in which both Saudi and American civilians were killed, shows once again that Saudi Arabia itself is under fire from terrorists.

The 50-year US-Saudi friendship must be nurtured, not deliberately ruined.