A new bomb exploded in al-Khobar (near Dhahran) - Saudi Arabia at a US Air Force facility housing Americans and European forces whose job is to protect Saudi Arabia from Saddam Hussein.

This latest terrorist incident marks a new beginning for Saudi Arabia on a road of turmoil and an uncertain future. When the first stone thrown by an Intifida young Palestinian injured an Israeli soldier, it marked a new beginning for Israel as well. The shield of invincibility was shattered by a single stone. The shield of invincibility of US presence in the region has been shattered back in November of 1995 and today it marked the sixth year presence of American troops by another attack in the aftermath of four ruthless public beheadings that have proven not to be a deterrent.

This new era of fundamentalist terrorism in the heartland of Islam can trace part of its roots to the Mujaheddin fighting communism in Afghanistan, another part at the long standing dispute between the US and Iran over philosophy and vision, and the third part at the decay and corruption of al-Saud family.

Like every society analyzing its problems by looking to blame the outside, we have been ignoring the problems brewing on the inside. These problems do not relate, as analysts have quickly jumped to, to the coziness of the Saud family to US interests (after all, the close relationship dates back when the oil concessions were won back from the British in the early thirties) but rather to the corruption and decay of that regime. If one analyses the history of Saudi Arabia, one would find that King Saud acted exactly like King Fahd : he almost destroyed the economic viability of the country by overspending on palaces. He carried his duties as King without having a notion what the responsibilities amounted to. And most important of all, he treated the national budget as his own personal budget. The results was a palace coup led by King Faisal. History is repeating itself today with one exception. The same forces that are trying to correct the problems have been unable to remove Fahd from power and steer Saudi Arabia out of trouble because Bandar bin Sultan has been able to drown this administration with noises that spell : Boeing and AT&T. The photo op on the White House lawn is like morphine to election sensitive Clinton. Big US industry's SEC filing happen once every 3 months which in fact totally blocks any long term vision and even if it does not, their self interest will always focus on the short term satisfaction of stockholders. Between big business and the US administration, every one is asleep at the helm and so late in the game accusations have centered on the first two reasons and never the third reason.

If you analyze the last few years of Saudi history, one will find that Saudi Arabia has started a war in Yemen, is continuously struggling with Iran for power, has had grave differences with Qatar, has fought a war against Iraq, has ignored King Hussein of Jordan which created diplomatic problems for Saudi Arabia and most recently has been fighting with Kuwait because the Kuwaitis have a parliament and a minimum form of democracy. If you add these regional troubles to the troubles facing Saudi Arabia on the inside such as not paying contractors for billions worth of work completed, for allowing US troops to be stationed in Saudi Arabia after resisting for so many years, for allowing corruption to continue as if the country is on the right course. All of these problems have magnified to create dissent. Our committee is made up of Saudi businessmen who want to see their country set on the right course. Although, we are peaceful in our methods, we are discovering that others are not.

Fundamentalism is the most important threat the Middle East will face for years to come. Keeping a despotic regime like the one concocted by the Sudeiri Seven will perpetuate trouble in the region. Helping respected leaders in Saudi Arabia strike a balance is the only solution. Fundamentalism does not exist in Morocco nor does it exist in Jordan. The reason is that King Hassan and King Hussein are widely respected and have created the economic balance to keep extremism from entering homes preying onto young naive people. The US needs to fight fundamentalism with two armies : The FBI and a strategy for constructive change in Saudi Arabia. The rot created by King Fahd has started to consume US interests.