Ironically, it is testimony to Prince Muhammad bin Naif’s success in finding and arresting terrorists and foiling their plots that they should want to kill him. There has been no major terrorist incident in the Kingdom since the February 2006 attack on the Abqaiq oil plant in Eastern Province — and that was thwarted. A considerable part of the credit must go to Prince Muhammad who, as deputy interior minister in charge of security affairs, has spearheaded the country’s anti-terrorist campaign. But it was only by the Grace of God that he was not killed on Thursday evening at his majlis. That raises a number of urgent questions.
The most obvious is: How is it that a wanted terrorist, carrying a bomb, could get so close to the head of the country’s security services? It should not have been allowed to happen. It is reported that the would-be killer wanted to give himself up in person to Prince Muhammad. Warning bells should have been ringing loud in security officials’ ears the second he said who he was and what he wanted.
It is said that the man blew himself up during a security inspection, although other reports state he tripped, triggering the explosion. This incident, however, must not be used to curtail people or restrict access. Majlis is a traditional and important part of the Saudi Arabian political system. It is vital that ordinary people continue to have direct access to the country’s leaders to air grievances, seek settlement of disputes, present greetings and the like. Any curtailment or restriction on who can turn up would seriously damage the direct link that members of the royal family, ministers and officials have with ordinary people. But there has to be effective security at such events.
There have been boasts during the past couple of years that the war against terrorism had been won. That is clearly not so; there are still fanatics out there plotting to kill. Just 10 days ago it was announced that between July 20, 2008 and Aug. 2, 2009, 44 had been caught and enough weaponry seized to kill thousands of people. That announcement makes the important point that while the war goes on, the battles are being won. Good intelligence has resulted in plots foiled and terrorists taken in custody. That, though, is not enough.
Once caught, the policy has been to try and make the fanatics see the error of their ways and reintegrate them into society. But that does not stop a new wave of deviants replacing them. Force has to be met with force; the authorities have to get a lot tougher — and there may have to be a much harder crackdown on those responsible for corrupting these people. That inevitably involves greater surveillance on what is actually being said by some preachers and teachers. That is where the poison starts. It has to be cut off.
