Will Pensacola Shooting Lead to New U.S.-Saudi Relationship?

Dec. 8, 2019 (EIRNS)—The deadly shooting at the Pensacola Naval Base in Florida on Friday, Dec. 6, which led to three deaths was carried out by Saudi military trainee Mohammed Alshamrani, according to authorities. USA Today reported that

“the FBI investigates the shooter’s motivations, including allegations that he posted anti-American sentiments on social media before the rampage. The shooter ... was one of 852 Saudi nationals in the U.S. for military training provided under a security cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia.... The FBI is examining tweets that Alshamrani may have posted on Friday morning, railing against the United States for its support of Israel and for purported crimes against Muslims, including the detention of suspects in Guantanamo Bay.”

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said the incident was a “planned terrorist attack” and questioned the program that allows Saudi military students to come to the U.S. “This event demonstrates a serious failure in the vetting process and in the way in which we invite these people to our community.” He also said that he was very pleased with the President’s cooperation with him, in dealing with this event.

This has triggered discussion of the nature of the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia, especially in light of their proven role in 9/11.

Yesterday, intelligence analyst Col. Pat Lang’s “Sic Semper Tyrannis” blog published a plea for a reconsideration of United States policy toward Saudi Arabia (“Saudi Arabia—A Family Holding Company, Not a Friend.”). The author, who signed as “PL” (i.e., Pat Lang), described himself as having 40 years of experience in Mideast affairs teaching at West Point, as a diplomat, and a Pentagon intelligence officer. He challenged reports of Saudi “modernization,” claiming that the Royal family remains committed to “an extreme form of Wahhabi fanatic Islam based on the Hanbali school of Sunni Islam as reinforced by the extremist medieval scholar Ibn Taimmiya.” He concluded by warning U.S. President Donald Trump and the Israeli government against believing they can benefit from Saudi cooperation, and called for a “re-appraisal of our relationships.”