Forming the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition [IMCTC], 32-year old Saudi Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman diverted attention away from his Nov. 4 crackdown on Saudi corruption, arresting 11 members of the Royal Family and 200 others, including Cabinet ministers. Bin Salman’s crackdown looked like a power grab, eliminating any competition for the Saudi Crown. Today’s announcement of a coordinated anti-terrorism force answers the State Department’s nagging questions about Bin Salman’s motives. While it’s true he cleared the path to take over from his 81-year-old father King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, it’s also true he established himself as the most responsible heir apparent to the Kingdom. Bin Salman rocked a lot of boats cracking down on Royal Family and political corruption plaguing the Kingdom from advancing its agenda.
Bin Salman wants Saudi Arabia to diversify its economy, not simply an oil spigot to the industrialized and developing world. Bin Salman wants more than a petro-dollar-based economy for Saudi Arabia: He wants to follow the U.S. and Israeli model of a diversified economy built on technology, encouraging a wide range of industries. “In the past years, terrorism has been functioning in all our countries . . . . with no coordination” from nations seeking to stop its destructive influence, said Bin Salman. Motivated by the horrific Nov. 24 Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS] suicide bombing of a Sufi mosque in the Sinai Peninsula killing 305, injuring hundreds more, Bin Salman took a stand. “This ends today with this alliance,” said Bin Salman, asking 40 Muslim countries to make a concerted effort to eradicate “violent extremism.” Defense ministers and others met in Riyadh plot strategy.
Bin Salman’s efforts won plaudits from President Donald Trump who called for tighter border security and more extreme vetting from refuges from Muslim countries. Egyptian military bombed ISIS targets today in the Sinai Peninsula, a hotbed or terrorism since Israel returned the Sinai to Egypt after former President Jimmy Carter negotiated the 1979 Camp David accords. It didn’t take long for terrorists to enter the Sinai after Israel vacated the territory. Egypt’s military doesn’t have the military or counter-terrorism resources to deal with terrorist infiltration into the Sinai. Bombing terrorist targets Nov. 25, Egypt’s 63-year-old President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has no real counter-terrorism strategy, knowing the costs needed to purge the Sinai of Islamic militants. Joining Bin Salman’s IMCTC won’t rid the Sinai of terrorist until Egypt’s military commits to the mission.
Complicating the struggle against Islamic extremists is the June 8, 2014 coup that ousted duly elected Islamic Brotherhood leader Mohammed Morsi. Jailing and charging Morsi with treason against Egypt, el-Sisi has the Muslim Brotherhood waging guerrilla war against Cairo. While it’s not known for sure that ISIS committed the Sufi mosque atrocity, it could very well be the Muslim Brotherhood. Muslim Brotherhood leaders have sworn to continue the battle against Cairo until el-Sisi steps down or is vaporized. Bin Salman’s anti-terrorism coalition can’t defeat terrorism without an ironclad military commitment to evicting terrorists groups from Egypt and its territories. El-Sisi has nothing to say to the Muslim Brotherhood other than prepare to die. El-Sisi’s been relentless arresting, jailing and executing Muslim Brotherhood figures sworn to his destruction.
Bin Salman’s anti-terrorism coalition sends a powerful message across the Islamic world that outlaw terrorist gangs won’t be tolerated. “The pillar of this coalition is inclusion,” said Saudi Gen. Abdullah al-Saleh, the acting Secretary-general. “Our common enemy is terrorism, not any religion, sect or race,” referring to the Arab world’s old nemesis, Israel. Without mentioning Israel, Saudi Arabia has been cooperating behind-the-scenes with Tel Aviv to deal with a wide variety of security issues. Echoing al-Saleh’s statements, retired Pakistani Gen. Raheed Sharif, appointed commander-in-chief, said the coalition was not against any religion or state. Palestinian officials won’t like the fact the Saudi Arabia and Egypt regularly consult with Israel on counter-terrorism matters, including dealing with Hamas and Lebanon’s Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. Bin Salman’s coalition sets its sights on Iran.
Bin Salman’s anti-terrorism military coalition sends a strong message to outlaw terrorist groups that sectarian warfare between Shiites and Sunnis won’t detract from the mission to eradicate outlaw terror groups. Hidden behind Bin Salman’s message is a warning to Iran that currently funds-and-arms Houthi rebels in Yemen to battle Saudi Arabia. Bin Salman sees Iran’s role as a state sponsor of terrorism clearly, opposing the Islamic Republic’s backing of Hezbollah. Lebanon’s recent crisis with Prime Minister Saad Hariri quitting to highlight Hezbollah and Iran’s meddling in Lebanon shows how Iran interferes in sovereign states. “Beyond the killing of innocent people and the spread of hatred, terrorism and extremism distort the image of our religion,” said Bin Salman. Calling ISIS’s slaughter of Sufis in Sinai a “painful event,” Bin Salman showed he’s ready to lead Saudi Arabia.
