Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Saudi Arabia may well be target number 1 for Al Qaeda. Taking control of the principal religious sites of Islam would provide great control for the Jihadists.
In spite of its tremendous oil wealth, the country is extremely unstable. A look at a few statistics (from Dept. of State and CIA) provides some important insights:
Per capita income - US$12,000
Unemployment - 25%
Oil - over 90% of exports, 75% of government revenues
4.7 million non-Saudis employed in economy
Non-oil industry - 8% of GDP
The State Department states that a "shortage of skilled Saudi workers at all levels remains the principal obstacle to economic diversification and development; about 4.7 million non-Saudis are employed in the economy." Thus, with an unemployment rate of 25% Saudi Arabia has 4.7 million foreign workers.
These facts suggest bases for much discontent on the part of many Saudis. Undoubtedly, they feel capable and desire to contribute to their society, but are foreclosed from doing so as a result of the high unemployment even as many foreign workers find employment.
In spite of its tremendous oil wealth, the country is extremely unstable. A look at a few statistics (from Dept. of State and CIA) provides some important insights:
Per capita income - US$12,000
Unemployment - 25%
Oil - over 90% of exports, 75% of government revenues
4.7 million non-Saudis employed in economy
Non-oil industry - 8% of GDP
The State Department states that a "shortage of skilled Saudi workers at all levels remains the principal obstacle to economic diversification and development; about 4.7 million non-Saudis are employed in the economy." Thus, with an unemployment rate of 25% Saudi Arabia has 4.7 million foreign workers.
These facts suggest bases for much discontent on the part of many Saudis. Undoubtedly, they feel capable and desire to contribute to their society, but are foreclosed from doing so as a result of the high unemployment even as many foreign workers find employment.
# posted by Thomas A. Becket : 2:25 PM
