# The Latest Terrorism In The Middle East. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 10, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-latest-terrorism-in-the-middle-east/212418 "2003-11-10T16:27:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chicago\_Faucet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chicago_faucet/32/13910_2.png) [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-latest-terrorism-in-the-middle-east/212418/1 "2003-11-10T16:27:43Z")
I can’t believe there is not already a thread on this subject. This thread was inspired (?) by the latest wave of terrorist activities in Saudi Arabia over this past weekend. It’s one thing if they shoot down our troop transports. That’s a tragedy in itself - which was followed by a swift retaliation by our military. When I turned on the TV this weekend and saw “Breaking News” and the picture was of sirens and smoke and fire, I thought, “Oh no, another downed troop transport.” Nothing of the sort. I was shocked (and awed?) to find out that this was a suicide car bombing in _Saudi Arabia_ against other _Arabs_?! Inconceivable. One of the talking heads, some retired so-and-so, mentioned that this is a sign of the dislike of the Saudi ruling family, who could have been a target, and could be a harbinger of an upcoming revolt against them. I was glad that for once it wasn’t in Iraq, and didn’t involve our troops, although reportedly some Americans did die in this explosion. Anyone have any input into this? Theories? Updates? Suppositions? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-latest-terrorism-in-the-middle-east/212418/2 "2003-11-10T16:57:14Z")
Latest from the Washington Post: [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19889-2003Nov9.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19889-2003Nov9.html) Apparantly some Americans were injured, but none killed. It seems like the majority of casualties were non-Saudi Arabs. ---
**Author:** ![2Thick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/a88e57/32.png) [@2Thick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Thick)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-latest-terrorism-in-the-middle-east/212418/3 "2003-11-10T17:37:20Z")
This is the problem with the West’s view of the Middle East. I have lived in N. AMerica, Europe and West Asia so I have some perspective and understand why the bombing in Saudi is to be expected. Saudi leaders support the US and Israel and therefore are targets (no matter if they Arab or not). That is the situation in a nutshell. If you cannot strike a US building easily then move on to a “softer” target. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-latest-terrorism-in-the-middle-east/212418/4 "2003-11-10T20:57:10Z")
2Thick: > [@](#): > > Saudi leaders support the US and Israel Saudi leaders support Israel? Considering that they don’t even have diplomatic relations with Israel, I’d love to hear how you think they support it. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-latest-terrorism-in-the-middle-east/212418/5 "2003-11-10T21:09:24Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by Chicago Faucet_ > **I can’t believe there is not already a thread on this subject** There is an [extensive thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=222281) on this topic in the Pit. Dan Abarbanel ---
**Author:** ![2Thick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/a88e57/32.png) [@2Thick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Thick)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-latest-terrorism-in-the-middle-east/212418/6 "2003-11-11T03:02:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cmkeller \* > \*\*2Thick: > Saudi leaders support Israel? Considering that they don’t even have diplomatic relations with Israel, I’d love to hear how you think they support it. \*\* Support does not have to be direct nor obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-latest-terrorism-in-the-middle-east/212418/7 "2003-11-11T03:39:10Z")
The terrorists want US forces out of Saudi Arabia. US forces get out of Saudi Arabia. The terrorists escalate. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-latest-terrorism-in-the-middle-east/212418/8 "2003-11-11T05:00:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 2Thick \* > \*\*Support does not have to be direct nor obvious. \*\* Or supportive.