Relocation of Islamic fundamentalists from the Caucasus to the Middle East

Is Saudi Arabia (KSA) trying to get more influence in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict by relocating Wahhabi fundamentalists from the Caucasus to the Middle East? Besides trying to get more influence in the countries of the Caucasus it seems that according to some Russian reports that wherever the oil flows or wherever the Saudi Intelligence service (SOR) directs them to, Wahhabi fundamentalists are settling into their terrorist activities. And this time apparently the Middle Eastern conflict is the focus of their attention.

According to the reports, the Wahhabis from the Caucasus are concentrated in two different Wahhabi groups in the Lebanon; the Asbat al Ansar and the Takfir Wa Al-Hijra, this would permit the KSA to increase its influence in the conflict to the level of Tehran, with its control over Hezbollah. It would also give it the possibility to escalate tension on Israel’s Northern border at any time, thus provoking, in the long term, possible armed clashes between Syria and Israel.

The Saudi Intelligence service deeply involved

The relocation campaign started apparently two years ago but was stepped up significantly in the spring of this year. The main co-ordinator and initiator of this evacuation was apparently Saudi Arabia’s General Intelligence Service (SOR KSA – Al Istakhbarat al-‘Amiyyah) and the International leadership (AL-QIYADAH AL-'ALIMIYYAH) of the International association of Muslim (Brotherhood) brothers (HARAKAT AL-IKHAWAN AL-MUSLIMUN). In order to accomplish its missions the indicated organizations above are working with numerous NGO’s and commercial companies as well with Islamic organizations and individual Muslim activists connected with Saudi Arabia and operating in Russia, the Caucasus, the Ukraine, Central Asia, Turkey, and European countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Sweden.

According to the same sources there are also links with the SOR KSA and the Pakistani ISI. Apparently small groups of "Chechen Arabs" were relocated/redeployed to Northeast Georgia, North Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, Tajikistan and Kazachstan, furthermore some of these clandestine groups were relocated to Turkey and Gaza. But apparently in the last year the lion share of the redeployed Chechens went to Lebanon and Jordan. Besides being relocated into two different groups Asbat Al Ansar and Takfir Wa Al Hijra, the Mujahideen maintained contacts with the SOR KSA. Accordingly the Russian Security Service(FSB) are trying to neutralize their communications with those still remaining in the Caucasus.  Jordan also got a piece of the cake, according to several sources some 20 Chechen Arabs had been relocated to refugee camps in the country. It seems that these Chechen's have some links with the Jordanian Military Intelligence service and civil police through Chechen officers.

Reasons behind the relocation

The largest reason would be the Russian crackdown on the Islamic Fundamentalists in the Caucasus but also that Wahhabism isn’t getting the backing of the local population as it had expected. According to seized documents the largest reason for the Saudi Arabian aid would be a financial one, namely the necessity for preserving tension in the Near East to artificially support prices in the world petroleum market on a background of a general decline in economic activity, thus leading to a reduction in oil prices which would undermine also the Saudi economy and which could lead in the long run to social-political crisis in the country. The latter is something that Saudi Arabia is deperate to avoid, although it has already been plagued over the last year with a number of riots organized by groups opposing the Al Saud regime. This would also threaten to undermine Saudi Arabia's influence with the West and risk a geo-strategically disaster for Saudi Arabia and its partners.

Another reason could also be that Saudi Arabia is trying to get a hand in the Middle East peace process area by redirecting Chechen Arabs to these locations. These groups would then be under their direct control and not under the influence of Palestinian public opinion or directly controlled by the PNA. Saudi Arabia is still an exporter and promoter of Wahhabism, a traditional and fundamentalist form of Islam. The Saudi role in the peace process would increase to the level of importance that Iran is playing for at the moment. By inciting attacks on Israel these groups would most surely create retaliatory reactions from Israel on the countries that are harbouring them and causing possible future violence between these states and Israel. Additionally they could be used as pressure groups against the established governments, especially in Jordan.

Whether entirely directed or not by the KSA, the relocation of Chechen Arabs to the Middle East is a significant issue, something that will play a giant role in the future of this war torn region. The region could happily do without another fundamentalist group trying to establish an Islamic state. Their presence may indeed create havoc and exacerbate problems already existing both between Islamic groups in the region and with the newly arrived militants. Tensions may also rise between the manipulators and backers of these various groups. Intelligence sources in the Middle East are already questioning whether the region is going to be plunged into another round of power games.

NJV - nnjv_risk@btopenworld.com     http://www.nnjv.btinternet.co.uk/OWLOSINTmain.htm
 
 

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