Saudis training large force to protect oil facilities

Guardian:

Anxieties about al-Qaida attacks and a US-led war against Iran have prompted Saudi Arabia to establish a special force - being trained by an American defence contractor - to protect its oilfields. Saudi authorities have already recruited 5,000 members of the Facilities Security Force and plan to raise the number to 8,000-10,000 over the next two years, in a project being run by the Lockheed Martin Corporation, officials confirmed.

Nervousness has been growing recently about the impact of attacks by al-Qaida-related groups and possible retaliation by Iran in the event of US or Israeli strikes on its nuclear installations.

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The plan to set up a force that will eventually number 35,000 to guard oil and other installations was announced in July by the country's interior minister, Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz. The Middle East Economic Survey (Mees) reported: "The scale of the latest security initiative is immense and several years are likely to elapse until the new force is fully capable." The total cost was likely to reach $5bn (£2.48bn), it said.

According to Mees, recruits are being trained in the use of laser security and satellite imaging surveillance equipment, countermeasures and crisis management under a programme managed by Lockheed Martin. Members of the force are being heavily vetted and largely recruited from outside the Saudi security forces. The protection of oil facilities is currently the responsibility of a 15,000-strong force run by Aramco, the state oil corporation.

Saudi Arabia has seen several attacks on its infrastructure, but none has so far disrupted the flow of oil. In February 2006, al-Qaida attacked the Abqaiq oil facilities in Eastern Province, which supplies almost 10% of the world's oil. The attack did not stop exports, but pushed up oil prices by $2 a barrel.

Saudi officials say the kingdom, the birthplace of Osama bin Laden, has foiled 180 operations by al-Qaida since 2003. In April, the interior ministry said 172 terrorist suspects had been arrested, and weapons and cash seized....

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Osama bin Laden considers the Saudi oil facilities a strategic twofer. He believes he could cripple the world economy and at the same time cripple the Saudi royal family who he would like to replace. Until al Qaeda is defeated Saudi Arabia and its oil facilities will be as much of a target as the US. The Saudis could do more by going after the preachers of hate in the country that are supplying the human ordinance for bin Laden.