Last month four senior American government officials traveled to Saudi Arabia to revisit the troubled topic of the desert kingdom’s antiterrorism efforts. Unsure of what to expect, the American delegation was pleasantly surprised when a pro forma appointment with Crown Prince Abdullah went on for more than two hours. During the trip the Saudis also committed themselves to carrying out a series of measures to combat terrorism, United States law enforcement and intelligence officials said. Among the actions, Saudi officials said, were a ban on cash contributions in local mosques and the removal of donation boxes for charities from shopping malls. American officials believe that Saudi mosques and charitable organizations are crucial pipelines for terrorist financing. The agreement signified unusual progress in the often tense and frustrating relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia since 9/11. The Saudi government did not allow American law enforcement officials to interview the families of the 9/11 hijackers in Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of the attacks, and were so forceful in their refusals that American officials said this week that they simply gave up trying. Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.