Saudi Sheik Al-'Abikan: Those Who Called on Iraqis to Fight Caused Them Death and Destruction

The following are excerpts from an interview with Sheik 'Abd Al-Muhsen Al-'Abikan, Saudi Justice Ministry Advisor:

Interviewer: Sheik 'Abd Al-Muhsen Al-'Abikan, should the Iraqi people sit, wait, and hand out flowers to the Americans?

Sheik 'Abikan: When they didn't sit [doing nothing], did they do anything worthwhile? I advised them. The truth is that anyone who advises the Iraqis and commiserates with them… I commiserate with the Iraqis and consider myself to be one of their most sincere advisors, because my advice was beneficial to them.

Those who advised them to fight are the ones who caused their deaths and brought them to the destruction we witness today.

All they got from this resistance was death and destruction. Did they drive out the occupier through their actions? We have seen what happened in Najaf. In Najaf they were told: "Become a political party and hand over your weapons," but they refused. Only after the destruction, the killings, and so on did they accept the demands. Why didn't this happen before the destruction, killings, and death? This is true for the residents of Falluja as well.