RIYADH, 23 October — Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, has cast doubts on whether Osama Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network could have single-handedly carried out last month’s terror attacks in US cities.
In a wide-ranging interview with Kuwait’s As-Seyassah newspaper, Prince Sultan hinted that some other power might have been involved, because the United States was not an “easy or feasible target” for the Al-Qaeda network.
“Therefore, the big question arises: Who stands behind this terrorism and who carried out this complicated and carefully planned terrorist operation?” he asked.
Prince Sultan added: “Osama Bin Laden and those with him have said what indicates that they stand behind this carefully planned act. We, in turn, wonder are Bin Laden and his supporters the only ones behind what happened or is there another power with advanced technical expertise that acted with them?”
If another party had helped Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda network in carrying out the attacks, the question arises “what is the objective of that party?” Prince Sultan asked. Bin Laden has denied responsibility for the Sept. 11 attacks, but praised those responsible in videotaped remarks broadcast by Al-Jazeera channel shortly after the United States and Britain began bombing Afghanistan on Oct. 7.
In the same videotaped remarks, Bin Laden vowed that America would not live in peace until Palestinians could do the same. Prince Sultan said a solution for Jerusalem would deny terrorists a chance to exploit this problem, which concerns all Muslims, as a pretext for terrorism.
“A solution to the Jerusalem issue, which is of concern to all Muslims and not just Arabs, would put an end to terrorism” by third parties “trading” with this issue to serve their own agenda, he said.
Prince Sultan reiterated that the Palestinian issue had been a source of tension in the Middle East for more than 50 years. “This issue should be resolved” in order to prevent it being used as a pretext to cover up “sins” such as that committed by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein when he invaded Kuwait in 1990. “Saddam Hussein claimed that by the occupation of Kuwait he was aiming at the liberation of Palestine,” he pointed out.
Stressing the importance of Al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims around the world, Prince Sultan said the Mitchell Report, which the Palestinians had agreed to implement, could serve as a prelude to “extinguishing the fire of the war that has been raging for over 50 years” between the Arabs and Israel.
Prince Sultan said the US administration had “a deep understanding of the historic relationship” between Riyadh and Washington. However, he pointed out that US institutions of public opinion, which had their own agenda, were criticizing the Kingdom. “Those who attack us are agents” of parties seeking to block a just solution to the Palestinian problem and the Jerusalem issue, he said.
Prince Sultan stressed the need to strengthen the Peninsula Shield, a joint force of GCC countries. He said the GCC states were seeking a unified force under a single command that will be able to protect any GCC member state when in danger. “We want to see the Peninsula Shield having unified weapons systems distributed in member states, with the capability of moving at any time when an order is given from the joint command,” the Saudi defense minister said.
Prince Sultan played down the latest Alkhobar blast as an isolated incident, and said it had nothing to do with international events. “Saudi internal security in good shape. The Kingdom enjoys a distinguished history of security and stability.”
