Given the current hysterics over the price of gas here in the US, you would think that something like the thwarting of a third large scale attack against oil installations in Saudi Arabia would garner a bit more attention. But, the only news trickling out about this week's arrests are in the Saudi and other Peninsula papers.
What's interesting is the scope of the plot. It appears to have been as ambitious as the ones from previous years. It included a maritime element to attack "offshore" facilities (ie. Ras Tanura).
Saudi Gazette (via BBC monitoring - no link), notes what Will at Jihadica discusses here, that the plotters were informed by Abu Bakr al-Naji's Management of Savagery.
[Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki] told Okaz that investigations conducted with the arrested terrorist groups revealed that they were working under a strategy mentioned in the seized books talking about "the management of barbarism" (Idarat At-Tawahhush).
Back in September 2005, I noted that this book could reflect al-Qaida's "current operational thinking:"
As for the larger attacks on petroleum infrastructure, he offers a step-by-step ideological, media, and physical plan of attack.First, the movement’s experts would gather data to support their claims of injustice. In this case, “an economic specialist among its member can conduct a study that demonstrates the real value and real price of oil…” The report would go on to show the “extent of the unfairness and plunder to which the nation was subjected for decades…”
Second, the movement would demand that all countries that import oil should pay the fair price, “while preserving the Muslim people’s right to demand payment that would cover the price discrepancy throughout all previous years.”
Third, a period of time would be given, in his words, “to assess the degree of responsiveness to this declaration.” If nothing happens, then “attack would begin on the oil installation, particularly the pipelines, the bombing of which does not involve killing people. The oil tankers that are managed and operated by infidels would be attacked. Oil installation and refineries would be attacked at such times when that are empty of workers to avoid hurting Muslims persons.” However, he adds, regarding the “sentries” at oil installations: if they are members of the local army they should be “treated as traitors to their nations” and as for private security companies, “They may be attacked only if they try to kill or capture some of the attacking mujahideen…”
Saudis thwarting a large-scale attack is getting to be a regular summer event, like July 4th or the shorebird migration. It's a sign of their CT efforts that many of the plotters appear to have been from countries other than Saudi Arabia, but next year may be a difference story, since even more Iraq and Afghan-hardened mujahideen will have returned to their homelands on the Peninsula.
Perhaps more important than countering these cells, is getting to the brains of these energy plots (which are clearly top-down affairs): Ayman al-Zawahiri.
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UPDATE: Via MEMRI Economic Blog (emphasis mine)
Saudis Reveal that Terrorists Were Targeting Oil Installations in Gulf Countries
06/27/2008High-level Saudi security officials told the Kuwaiti daily, al-Qabas, that members of a terrorist cell, some non-Saudis, arrested by the Saudi security forces, were planning to sabotage oil installations in the Gulf countries. They were also planning to use speed boats to carry on attacks against off-shore installations and ships. The Saudi authorities added that the terrorists were planning to carry out their attacks at a big distance from their base of operations. Pictures of major hotels frequented by visitors in some major Gulf cities and city maps were also confiscated.
al-Qabas, June 27, 200
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