US helps Saudis train oil security force

From Khaleej times:


DUBAI - US defence giant Lockheed Martin is training thousands of recruits for a special force designed to protect Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities from attack, a specialist economic newsletter said on Friday.


Saudi authorities have recruited around 5,000 members of the Facilities Security Force and plan to raise the number to 8,000-10,000 over the next two years as an interim target, the Nicosia-based Middle East Economic Survey said.


The plan to set up a 35,000-strong force to guard oil and other vital installations was announced in July by Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz as the oil powerhouse continues to battle suspected Al Qaeda militants.


In February 2006, militants carried out an abortive attack on a massive oil processing plant in the Eastern Province.


Nayef said that Saudi Arabia had foiled 180 “terrorist” operations by Al Qaeda since 2003, when the Islamist militants launched a spate of bombings and shootings in the vast Gulf country.


In April, the interior ministry said 172 terror suspects had been rounded up, along with weapons and cash, in a series of swoops.


Some of the militants were allegedly plotting airborne attacks on oil facilities and army bases.


Although Saudi Arabia, the OPEC kingpin and the world’s top oil producer, has been reluctant to spell out the cost of the security project, the bill is expected to run into billions of dollars, MEES said.


The decision to recruit from outside the ranks of the existing armed forces and security services has necessarily slowed the process, and several years are likely to elapse until the new force is fully capable, it said.


“The force is being equipped and trained by Lockheed in the use of state-of-the art defence technology including laser security and satellite imaging to help protect installations and the kingdom’s extensive oil and gas pipeline network,” the newsletter said.


Saudi Arabia already maintains a 75,000-strong army, an air force of 18,000, a navy of 15,500 and an air defence force of 16,000, according to MEES.


These formal armed forces are on top of the 75,000-man National Guard, a tribal force loyal to the Al Saud ruling family.


MEES noted that Saudi-US cooperation in building the new force suggests that the relationship between the two allies is as strong as ever on strategic issues.


The United States recently announced it has put together an arms package worth at least 20 billion dollars over 10 years for Saudi Arabia.


Washington has said the sale is meant to defend the kingdom against Iran, which Washington believes is working to acquire nuclear weapons -- a charge denied by Teheran