The margin for error on this issue is practically nonexistent. You can never spend enough on security for the petroleum industry in Saudi Arabia. One error will have global repercussions.

It really doesn’t matter to us. We can sell our oil anywhere.

A civil war may well be inevitable. Such a development would have the gravest implications for the entire region, especially Saudi Arabia, which shares its longest international borders with Iraq.

Unless you have a specialized force of a foreign army, such attacks are impossible to succeed.

It will send a strong message that the kingdom is not acting out of sectarian interests, but in the interests of Iraq and the region at large.

Before, there was always this thing that he had to be careful – ‘I’m crown prince, but Fahd is king’. Now, it’s basically his reign.

They have to convince people to actually take part in it and to show some sign of effort or interest in it.

They don’t trust their army.

does not pose any security threat to any government and that he has broken all ties that have linked him to his charitable groups when he was operating out of the Philippines.

There’s always been this tenet on the American side, … that the Saudis knew what they were doing and rightfully so.

Physically, the infrastructure has pretty much been destroyed, but the battle is now on the ideological front. It’s still a big problem.

If this continues, you’ll have demand outstripping supply over the next five years by a wide margin.

In most cases it’s not a question of cover-up. The other countries lack the resources and equipment to deal with the militants.

Iranian levers of influence include a broad network of informants, military and logistical support of armed groups, and social welfare campaigns.

If we just sell oil to Asia, we would be able to sell at a higher price.

The events of today are another indication of how tight and impenetrable the existing Saudi security system is at main petroleum infrastructure around the country.