Saudi Arabia Has Previously Tolerated Islamic Extremists Too Much

A senior Saudi official stated that the country has previously tolerated Islamic extremists too much and, following last week's suicide bombings, will take further actions to combat terrorism. Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's foreign policy advisor, told Fox News in the U.S. that the Saudi government must disrupt and eliminate the environment that attracts youth to terrorist groups. He mentioned that the government will consider all cultural and social aspects of Saudi Arabia in its efforts to suppress terrorism. Mr. al-Jubeir believes that the terrorist network al-Qaeda was behind the bombings last Monday that killed 34 people, including 8 Americans. Meanwhile, a published report indicates that U.S. officials believe one of al-Qaeda's senior leaders helped organize the bombings in Riyadh. The Washington Post reported today that according to a U.S. official, the suspect is an Egyptian named Saif al-Adel, who is the highest military commander of al-Qaeda and is hiding in Iran. The newspaper noted that a Saudi citizen named Khalid al-Jahani, whom U.S. and Saudi officials believe is responsible for the bombings in Riyadh, received his orders from Saif al-Adel. It is believed that Saif al-Adel ranks third in the al-Qaeda terrorist network after Osama bin Laden and his longtime deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri. According to the Washington Post, it is thought that Saif al-Adel, along with three other senior al-Qaeda members who are part of one of the two al-Qaeda command groups, are in Iran. The other group is believed to be located along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Today, Saudi Arabia announced that it has arrested four individuals suspected of being linked to last week's suicide bombings and al-Qaeda.