al Qaeda's Claims

First, they're claiming credit for the Saudi refinery attack that caused some damage to the Abqaiq processing facility. This facility handles nearly 2/3 of the Saudi oil output, so had both teams of terrorists been successful, they could have crippled the oil production of Saudi Arabia for a significant period of time. As it is, the terrorist attack managed to cause some damage, and roiled the oil markets by boosting the price of oil by more than $2 per barrel.

At least two militants were killed in the explosions, and Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television reported two security guards also died. Interior Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki could not confirm the deaths of the security guards but said two were critically wounded with potentially lethal injuries.

The assault began when two cars tried to drive through the gates of the outermost of three fences surrounding the processing facility, al-Turki told The Associated Press. Al-Arabiya reported that the attackers' cars bore the logo of Aramco, the state oil company that owns the facility.

Guards shot at the cars, and both vehicles exploded, al-Turki said. The explosions caused a fire that was quickly controlled, the oil minister said.

Guards then battled for two hours with two other militants outside the facility, said a Saudi journalist who arrived at the scene soon after the explosion. He said he saw workers repairing a pipeline.

This isn't the first time that al Qaeda has gone after Saudi oil facilities. In 2004, al Qaeda attacked the offices of a Houston-based oil company in the western Saudi oil hub of Yanbu in fighting that killed six Westerners, and a Saudi. The terrorists were killed in the fighting. Shortly thereafter, al-Qaida terrorists attacked an oil company housing complex in Khobar, took hostages, and 22 were murdered - 19 of them foreigners.

Now, we're learning that al Qaeda claims that it had inflitrated some key positions within the UAE government more than three years ago. That's quite disturbing and it does affect the role of the Dubai Ports World deal. Our intel capabilities throughout the Middle East has never been sufficient, and if one of our key allies in the region has been penetrated, it is possible that our intel feed has been compromised as well. We simply don't know.

The warning was contained in a June 2002 message to UAE rulers, in which the terror network demanded the release of an unknown number of "mujahedeen detainees," who it said had been arrested during a government crackdown in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

The explosive document is certain to become ammunition for critics of the controversial UAE port deal, who fear the Dubai-based firm could be used by terrorists to sneak money and personnel into the United States.

Little is known about the origins or authorship of the message.

"You are well aware that we have infiltrated your security, censorship and monetary agencies, along with other agencies that should not be mentioned," the message said.

"Therefore, we warn of the continuation of practicing . . . policies which do not serve your interest and will only cost you many problems that will place you in an embarrassing state before your citizens.

"Your homeland is exposed to us. There are many vital interests that will hurt you if we decided to harm them."

Of course, al Qaeda could claim lots of things, but that doesn't make them true. We could simply be chasing ghosts and wasting resources tracking down every single claim. It's a serious situation that warrants further investigation.

UPDATE:
Zarqawi's al Qaeda terrorists in Iraq blew up a pipeline near Baiji. This is part of a concerted effort to go after pipelines.

UPDATE:
Al Qaeda is threatening further attacks in Saudi Arabia. That's nothing new - they've been threatening attacks ever since US troops first set foot in the country to protect it against Saddam in 1990. The fact that infidels were in Saudi Arabia was one of the major grievances Osama listed in his many manifestos. The US no longer has a presence in Saudi Arabia and has transferred many of its operations to Qatar. But that hasn't stopped al Qaeda from threatening Saudi Arabia from further attacks.

[also added NY Post link to UAE infiltration story]