"Prince Khaled bin Talal, brother of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, told the kingdom's al-Daleel TV station by telephone Saturday that he was raising a previous offer made by Sheik Awadh al-Qarani, a prominent Saudi cleric who promised $100,000 for capturing an Israeli soldier.
"I tell Sheik al-Qarani that I support you and I will pay $900,000 to make it one million dollars to capture an Israeli soldier to release other prisoners," said a voice identified as Prince Khaled, who holds no official position in the government."
The religion of peace and tolerance once again displays its fine attributes. Let us not forget that it is the constant flow of our petrodollars that make this offer possible.
My take? The Saudis are always aware that their dynasty would not have ruled the country without crucial support from radical Wahabbist Islamists in the early part of the 20th century. In consequence they have grown ever more concerned that those who put them in place can remove them as well. Throwing a financial windfall in the direction of terrorists for trading in the commodity of Israeli soldier's lives for Palestinian prisoners may make the Saudis feel that they have credibility as supporters of the cause. With one regime after another falling to or threatened by rebels strongly supported by Islamists, it is very possible that the dynasty feels that they had to do something to avoid be next.
Will the American president again bow to the Saudi King after this?
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