Saudi youths’ conscription is must, says expert

JEDDAH: A Saudi military analyst and retired brigadier, Ibrahim Al-Marie, has called for the compulsory drafting of young Saudis into the military.
This is, he said, not only because the Kingdom is facing regional threats, but because of its benefits to the state and society in the long-term.
In a statement to Al-Watan daily, Al-Marie noted Saudi Arabia will have to fully and comprehensively review the current Saudi Armed Forces as a professional unit, and must consider mandatory military service as an inevitable requirement.
“As we follow-up on the threats surrounding Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States, the Arab world and the geographic area of the Kingdom, we will see that military conscription will become a must,” said the analyst.
He expressed hope that the Kingdom would soon implement this once the government has evaluated the matter.
He also emphasised that military conscription would allow for the rehabilitation of young Saudi men, making them able to face all potential risks, especially given the changes in the attitudes of the great powers such as the United States, which used to be a strategic ally of Saudi Arabia. He said that he believed the Kingdom could no longer depend on the United States or any of the regional powers to overcome its future crises.
“We enjoy excellent relations with the Gulf, Arab and Islamic countries and well-established military Islamic alliances, but that should not eliminate the importance of the military rehabilitation of our young Saudi men to summon them when the need arises, and to deploy them to military zones approved by the armed forces,” he added.
For his part, former president of intelligence in Qasim, retired Col. Khalid bin Bjad Al-Maymouni, emphasised the importance of increased volunteerism, saying that it was more prominent in the past, and should be revived. He also suggested the allocation of incentives for those who join volunteering training sessions. “Students in universities must be taught about the ongoing war in addition to a military curricula on the basics of war to encourage them to see the importance of defending their country,” he added.
Sheikh Ali Hakami, member of the Council of Senior Scholars, said that military conscription and enlistment for the preparation of a force to protect our religion and country is a requirement of Sharia Law, and the authorities must be diligent in preparing such necessary forces to safeguard the public against any aggressions.