Will Saudi Arabia be Next to Fall?

After the Tunisian protesters sent Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, dictator for almost a quarter century, packing, the Central Intelligence Agency famously predicted the Arab revolt would not spread. Almost two years later, dictators have fallen in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and a fifth appears on the ropes in Syria. Despite what regional experts and Arab autocrats hoped, the desire for freedom and liberty is contagious. So when Bashar al-Assad’s tenure ends with a bullet in his head or a broomstick in his bottom, what will be the next domino to fall?
There is no shortage of dissatisfaction across the Arab world. Just ask the Bahrainis. Tension is also high in Kuwait. Most Jordanians are seething at King Abdullah II and especially at the high-spending Queen Rania. But the next dynasty to fall may very well be the Saudi monarchy.
Saudi Arabia is an artificial state, cobbled together in the 1920s and 1930s by military force. Oil wealth has both helped paper over differences and promote a radical and intolerant reinterpretation of Islam. Still, regional identities remain, sectarianism is increasing, and the gap between rich and poor has bred resentment toward the ruling family whose grip on power will slip as octogenarians succeed octogenarians and factional rivalries percolate.


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Saudi girls demand carrying weapons for self-defense

For teacher Yusuf al-Baheesh, there is no problem if girls learn how to use guns in order to defend themselves. (Courtesy to al-Sharq newspaper )

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By Al Arabiya

The increasing crime rate especially with the remarkable rise in the number of illegal manpower and the consequent frequency of armed burglaries drove Saudi girls to demand the right to carry weapons and get the necessary training to use them for self-defense.

“I call upon officials to establish training centers that teach girls shooting in summer vacations and over weekends,” said university student Nora al-Asmari.

For teacher Yusuf al-Baheesh, there is no problem if girls learn how to use guns in order to defend themselves.

“Women at the time of the Prophet used to take part in wars both as fighters and nurses,” he said.

Retired army officer Mohammed Zafer argues that shooting training centers should not be confined to women since men too need to learn the art of self-defense.

“Men from young generations do not know anything about the art of shooting and this is a skill that is recommended in Islam,” Zafer said.


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Saudi Arabia to surpass oil output record: report

Increased local energy consumption and sanctions on Iran put Saudi oil output on track to reach record levels. (Reuters)

Analysts predict that Saudi Arabia will surpass its record oil output this year, despite pressure from other oil exporting countries to cut back and help increase world oil prices, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

The Saudi high output comes to offset a decline from Iran which is under international sanctions.

“Our data shows that Saudi Arabia is actively going out there trying to take up Iran's market share,” an analyst said.

Saudi Arabia’s average production level was 9.94 million barrels a day in the first half of 2012. Analysts told the paper that the output averaged 9.9 million to 10 million barrels a day in July due to increased exports and more consumption of crude to meet the high domestic demand for electricity used for air conditioning in summer months.


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Saudi Arabia’s telethon for support of Syrian people exceeds SR121 million

 

A Saudi girl (R) donates money to the people of Syria, in Riyadh. (Reuters)

 

The donation campaign launched by Saudi Arabia for the support of the Syrian people continued on Tuesday to reach 121,771,811 Saudi riyals ($32.5 million).

Held under the title ‘Saudi National Campaign for the Support of Brothers in Syria,’ the campaign was kicked off on Monday night by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz with a donation of 20 million Saudi riyals.

Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz followed the Saudi monarch by a donation of 10 million Saudi riyals.

King Abdullah had earlier said that donations will be from all the Kingdom’s regions and that all Saudis should participate in the campaign.

Saudi boys wearing outfits made in the design of the Syrian opposition flag, wait to donate money to the people of Syria, in Riyadh. (Reuters)

In view of the massive response, the national campaign has been extended for five days, announced Prince Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior and Supervisor of the campaign, according to the Saudi Gazette. It will close on Friday.

An accredited account has been opened at National Commercial Bank (Al-Ahli, NCB) for this purpose. Donations from within the Kingdom can be sent to account number 20188888000100 and donations from outside the Kingdom should be sent to account number SA2310000020188888000100.

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RSAF contracts Goodrich for DB-110 reconnaissance systems

Goodrich has been awarded a contract for the delivery ten DB-110 airborne reconnaissance systems for integration on the Royal Saudi Air Force's (RSAF) F-15S Eagle fighter aircraft fleet.
Awarded by the US Air Force (USAF) as part of the RSAF's F-15S modernisation programme, the contract includes the supply of ten dual-band reconnaissance pods and five fixed, transportable and mobile ground exploitation stations, along with training and logistics support services.
Andrew Chrostowski, Goodrich ISR Systems business vice president, said: "This is an important selection by the Royal Saudi Air Force for our DB-110 reconnaissance system for their F-15 aircraft. It is the first F-15 programme for the DB-110 and will certify our system for operation on that platform."
The pods will be supplied from Goodrich's Westford, Massachusetts facility in the US, while its Malvern, UK facility will be responsible for the manufacture and delivery of ground exploitation stations.

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Saudi Arabia's policy shift toward India helps nab terror suspects

NEW DELHI — For years, India watched helplessly as many of its most-wanted terrorism suspects traveled freely to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan with new identities and passports and without fear of arrest.
But things appear to have changed. Last week, Saudi Arabia deported an Indian accused of involvement in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008 that killed 166 people, including six Americans. At the same time, news came that Riyadh is likely to deport another accused terrorist to India in the next few weeks.
The shift in Saudi policy toward India is part of the kingdom’s broader foreign policy makeover since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, analysts say.
“This deportation is really a first, and it signals Saudi Arabia’s changing attitude toward India as much as it also signals the internal changes in Saudi society,” said K.C. Singh, a former Indian diplomat. “It coincides with India aligning itself with American interests and India’s cautious distancing from Iran.”
Saudi Arabia also gives India a gateway to the entire Arab region, where it has little influence, compared with Pakistan. Saudi Arabia can assist India in its quest for energy in the region, improve its access to trading partners and help it address radicalism among Indian Muslims who migrate to the Middle East for lucrative work.
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Boeing to upgrade RSAF's F-15C/D fighter jets

Boeing has been awarded a $3.7bn contract for the upgrade of the Royal Saudi Air Force's (RSAF) fleet of 70 Boeing-built F-15C/D Eagle aircraft to the latest Saudi Advanced (SA) configuration.

Awarded by the Georgia Air Force Base, the contract forms part of a potential $29.4bn foreign military sales (FMS) programme deal approved by the US Congress in December 2011, involving the sale of 84 new F-15 fighter jets, along with support services to the RSAF.

Boeing will develop and supply conversion kits to upgrade 70 jets, perform testing and evaluation of converted aircraft and provide familiarisation training for RSAF aircrew.

Boeing will also supply spare parts and equipment to support the 154 new or converted aircraft at four Saudi bases.

F-15 FMS branch deputy security assistant programme manager Lieutenant Colonel Jay Schatz said: "The team has overcome obstacles on a short timeline, doing enormous resource planning with industry and the RSAF. It is a programme with international scope and national importance.''

The F-15SA variant will feature an APG-63(v)3 active electronically scanned array radar, BAE Systems' digital electronic warfare system, and a Lockheed Martin-built AAS-42 infrared search-and-track system, also called as TigerEye.

The aircraft is expected to provide RSAF personnel with an all-weather, multi-role fighter with the ability to conduct long-range, high-speed interdiction missions, without relying on escort or electronic warfare aircraft.

Powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100 engines, the F-15 Eagle is an all-weather tactical fighter aircraft designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat missions.

In addition to the RSAF, the aircraft is also used by the US, Japan and Israeli air forces.

Source :http://www.airforce-technology.com

Saudis to pay to Free Syrian Army fighters

© Collage "The Voice of Russia"

Saudi Arabia will pay to the fighters of the so-called Free Syrian Army to incite government troops to defect and bring pressure to bear on Damascus.

This comes in a report on the website of the British daily The Guardian. According to the daily, Riyadh has agreed the move with Washington and a number of Arab countries.

The New York Times reported earlier this week that a small group of CIA agents is currently in the south of Turkey to coordinate arms supplies to the Syrian opposition.

According to the periodical, assault rifles, grenade launchers, ammunition and antitank weapons are being supplied to Syria via mediators, including the local Muslim Brothers.

The supplies are paid for by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Source: Moscow Time

Saudi Arabia seeks to boost arsenal with 600-800 German tanks

Deal sparks controversy in Germany FRANKFURT - Saudi Arabia wants to buy 600-800 Leopard battle tanks from Germany, more than twice as many as originally envisaged, the Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported, quoting government sources. Thus far, reports had said the Saudis wanted to purchase around 300 Leopard-2 tanks, Germany's main battle tank which is also produced under licence in Spain. With up to 800 tanks, the deal would be worth 10 billion euros ($12.6 billion), and one of the biggest-ever for the German defence industry, Bild am Sonntag reported. While there is opposition to the deal in the Chancellery and the Foreign and Defence ministries, there was support for it within the Economy Ministry, it said. A deal for a first tranche of 300 tanks is ready for signing and the Saudis want to the whole deal wrapped up by July 20, when the festival of Ramadan begins, the newspaper said. Spanish firm General Dynamic/Santa Barbara would produce the tanks under licence by the German firms, the newspaper said. Arms exports are a sensitive issue in Germany given its Nazi past as well as the role arms makers like Krupp played in feeding 19th and 20th century wars with exports to both sides of conflicts. Germany has refrained from exporting heavy weapons to Gulf states in the past, given its close relationship with Israel and more recently because of the so-called Arab Spring. Source : Middle East Online