Saudis Prepping for Annual Hajj
Preparations are underway for the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, which draws extremely large numbers of people every year.
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/video/2019/08/06/saudi-special-forces-go-all-out-for-hajj-display/
The video at the link is a demo of their military’s preparations for their visitors. Their biggest concern is the very real possibility that hotheads will try to disrupt things and engage in attempts to disrupt the pilgrimage itself, but to also cause as much destruction as possible.
N.B.: I don’t think I’d snicker at those guys high-stepping it in the video. They’re doing that for the entire pass in review, carrying weapons at the ready.
Category: Foreign Policy, Terror War
All adult Muslims are to make the pilgrimage to Mecca once in their lives, if physically and finically able. Non-Muslims are forbidden from entering the city.
Bombings, riots and stampedes have all occurred in Mecca during the Hajj, so these guys will have to be at the top of their game.
All the unrest is probably Trump’s fault because. . . you know, racism or something.
Oh, of course, it is! And something’s going on with incursions into Syria, since we’re moving out, so that’s his fault, too!
No goat is safe in the area.
ROTFLMAO!
#Goat Asses Matter Too!
One of my favorite dial tones!
I remember the Irainians starting a WHOLE lot of trouble in the late 70’s early 80’s. So, if these guys are getting ready, go on them. That is a WHOLE lot of people flooding into one area in a short time.
Yeah, I remember when Saudi troops had to root out Iranians. Used TOWs, as I recall, but I could be wrong. Anyhow, stampedes seem to be the biggest problem during the haj. Thing is, you get that many people from a lot of different cultures camping out in tents and cooking over open fires there are going to be incidents. Here’s a list of some past incidents for you reading pleasure.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_during_the_Hajj
Man. Them some HIGH SPEED troops
Looks like the Haji could become a target rich environment. And, if IIRC as ‘Ed commented, they have had problems in the past, and yeah, that was Trump’s fault cause he didn’t build enough hotels in the area. /s/
Anybody believe that any mooslem is our friend/ally, I still have that bridge and beach front property for sale. Wonder how much of their equipment and training we paid for?
I’ve seen better assault response tactics from Mayberry when Andy and Goober were on patrol. Also, the red camo grease in the middle of their mugs makes for a target easy environment. If the Iranians or some other left-handed version of Islam want to cause trouble, they will. And nothing will stop them. It’s an easy task when the threat is front and center in military garb, but blending in with the other circle walkers as they like to do, not so much. I don’t wish them any problems but their own hatred of who prays when and how is their own downfall.
During the hajj would be a great time to participate in a little biological or nuclear warfare. Nothing drastic or explosive. Just some radioactive dust wafted over the entirety of Mecca from a high altitude drone, just waiting to be kicked up and inhaled. Ditto for a long term heat tolerant virus.
One word…MOABS.
And plenty of them.
Communicable dis3eases are always a threat given the various cultures the hajis are coming from. There was a meningitis or hepatitis scare (can’t remember which)that never materialized one year while I worked over there.
The Grand Mosque was seized by a militant Sunni group during the Haj in September 1979. This is right at 40 years since then, so they are probably a bit nervous.
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112051155
Other events that have happened during the Hajj:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_during_the_Hajj
Cute Dog and Pony show but I’m sure that the Saudis would expect us to come wipe their asses for them if the shit really hit the fan like DS/DS.
Yes, but DS/DS was to stop Iraq from seizing Kuwait’s ports, wasn’t it? There’s a real difference there: this is the annual pilgrimage and the Saudis have had many incidents, including stampedes, in which people got hurt. If they’ve bumped up what they’re doing, they’re expecting trouble.