June 09, 2004

Saudi poll: Wide support for bin Laden

Almost half of all Saudis said in a poll conducted last year that they have a favorable view of Osama bin Laden's sermons and rhetoric, but fewer than 5 percent thought it was a good idea for bin Laden to rule the Arabian Peninsula.

The poll involved interviews with more than 15,000 Saudis and was overseen by Nawaf Obaid, a Saudi national security consultant.

It was conducted between August and November 2003, after simultaneous suicide attacks in May 2003 when 36 people were killed in Riyadh.

Obaid said he only recently decided to reveal the poll results because he felt the public needed to know about them.

"I was surprised [at the results], especially after the bombings," Obaid told CNN. The question put to Saudi citizens was "What is your opinion of Osama bin Laden's sermons and rhetoric?"

Let's hope that 5% aren't the Soddies (Al Queda members) who have the weapons!
This poll will probably surprise noone (except the pollster) but it's horrible to see it confirmed!
Back at the Royal Family's ranch, I'm convinced that they upped OPEC oil production and thus lowered the price of gas in the wake of their recent AQ attacks and their sudden realization that they may need American goodwill someday real soon to save their skins!

Forty-one percent said they favored strong and close relations with America, while only 39 percent said they had a favorable opinion of the Saudi armed forces, both results that Obaid also termed "surprising."

"They don't trust their army," said Obaid, who noted that the security forces fared far better.

He noted that less than a third of Saudis polled had a positive opinion of militant clerics, although government-appointed religious figures did better.
[I need for someone who's a Saudi expert to tell me what the difference is between a "government-appointed" Waahab religious figure is and a "militant cleric" because it was my understanding that they're the same thing.--Jen]

The poll showed strong support for political reforms and allowing women to play a greater role in society.
[Excellent!
The Bush Doctrine of spreading "contagious" democracy in the Middle East is catching on!--Jen]

Almost two-thirds said they favored allowing women to drive, something they are currently banned from doing.

While support for political reforms, particularly elections, was high, few Saudis viewed liberal reformers with much favor.

Hmmm. Who knows what to make of these findings, except for the obvious questions about OBL?
They'd need to define "liberal" and "reforms" at least to satisfy me.
And Soddy girlfriends, if you think that being able to drive is liberation, you still have a long way to go, baby! but driving is freedom and may be a good start.

The Sauds aren't worried about AlQ and terror attacks on them, because it's only Westerners right now who are being attacked in the "Magic Kindom," innocent men like BBC journalists who were shot the other day--Simon Combers was killed and Frank Gardner was critically injured and is still in hospital-- and an American expat worker who was shot to death today just doing their thing in Riyahd.