More on our "Good Buddies" from Saudi Arabia

[Botany]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2708253&page=1

Saudis Reportedly Funding Iraqi Sunnis
Officials Say Private Saudi Citizens Major Provider of Financing to Iraqi Sunni Insurgents

By SALAH NASRAWI

CAIRO, Egypt Dec 8, 2006 (AP)— Private Saudi citizens are giving millions of dollars to Sunni insurgents in Iraq and
much of the money is used to buy weapons, including shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles, according to key Iraqi
officials and others familiar with the flow of cash.

snip

Two high-ranking Iraqi officials, speaking on condition of 96 because of the issue's sensitivity, told the
AP most of the Saudi money comes from private donations, called zaqat, collected for Islamic causes and charities.

snip

But the Iraq Study Group said "funding for the Sunni insurgency comes from private individuals within Saudi Arabia
and other Gulf states." Saudi officials say they cracked down on zakat abuses, under pressure from the United States,
after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.

snip

Last week, a Saudi who headed a security consulting group close to the Saudi government, Nawaf Obaid, wrote in the
Washington Post that Saudi Arabia would use money, oil and support for Sunnis to thwart Iranian efforts to dominate
Iraq if American troops pulled out. The Saudi government denied the report and fired Obaid.



* really has gotten us into bottomless pit and pushed the Mid East further towards war and radical Islamic
theocracy. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

[Captain Hilts]

1. My thread on this from last night...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3007595&mesg_id=3007595