Joseph Farrell comments on the San Bernardino shooting, and a recent German BND-intelligence estimate fingering Saudi Arabia as an epicenter for terrorism and rash interventionist policies.
San Bernardino shooting suspect Syed Rizwan Farook traveled to Saudi Arabia, was married, appeared to be living ‘American Dream,’ co-workers say
Los Angeles Times – As the holiday gathering got underway Wednesday morning, Syed Rizwan Farook joined dozens of his colleagues from San Bernardino County’s public health department. Farook, an inspector, seemed quiet during the early hours of the event, then vanished just as a group photo was about to be taken.
Shortly afterward, gunfire erupted at the Inland Regional Center where the employees filled a conference room. By the end of the day, police had identified Farook, 28, as a suspect in the massacre and said he was one of two people shot to death in a gun battle with officers. The other was 27-year-old Tashfeen Malik, who a family member said was Farook’s wife.
Police officials said Farook had worked for the county for five years. San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said that there were reports of a dispute before Farook left the party.
Co-workers told The Times they were shocked to hear Farook’s name linked to the shooting. Two who were in the restroom when the bullets began to fly said he was quiet and polite, with no obvious grudges. Continue reading . . .
German Spies Say Saudis Shifting to More ‘Impulsive’ Interventionist Action
Sputnik News – In a memo published Wednesday, the agency said Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is second in line to the throne, and his father, King Salman, are trying to establish themselves as leaders of the Arab world, the Associated Press reported.
“The thus far cautious diplomatic stance of the elder leaders in the royal family is being replaced by an impulsive interventionist policy,” the BND said.
Since King Salman succeeded to power in January, Saudi Arabia has intervened in Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, Iraq and Yemen. The moves, according to the BND, are meant to prove that “Saudi Arabia is prepared to take unprecedented military, financial and political risks to avoid falling behind in regional politics.”
Saudi Arabia has long viewed Iran as aggressive and expansionary, and has considered Tehran’s use of non-state proxies such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iraqi Shi’ite militias as destabilizing the region, Reuters reported. But under Salman, it has moved more assertively to counter its regional foe.
Prince Mohammad has been granted more authority since his father came into power. The BND said there is a risk that the prince could get carried away while trying to secure his spot in the royal family succession, which saw him placed ahead of dozens of cousins.
Mohammad could irritate other royal family members and the Saudi people with reforms, while undermining relations with friendly, allied states in the region, the BND said, according to Reuters.
SF Source Joseph P Farrell Dec 2015
[widget id=”text-44″]