Thought you guys might find this interesting. It's a report from an
eyewitness
to the Riyadh bombings from a retired USMC Lt. Col. working for the
'shadowy' Vinnell Corp. that was targeted in the bombings.......
RICH @XXXX
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2003 11:35 AM
Subject: SANDSCRIPT-Terror in Arabia
This is a summary of the past few days concerning the terrorist attack on
the Vinnell-Arabia Compound in Riyadh, Saudi, Arabia. In reading this, it
should be noted that I was conducting 24 hour operations for night fire
and
maneuver training in the desert 70 kilometers east of Riyadh when this
attack on my company compound occurred.
At approximately 2300,12 May I was preparing to give a warning order over
the Exercise Control Group (ECG) Control radio Net, when I heard a single
loud explosion. Remember, I am 70 Ks east of Riyadh at this time. This
explosion was then followed by several more over the next few minutes. We
in the ECG, tent noted the explosions and remarked that artillery training
was being conducted.
>
At exactly 2345, I monitored the senior U. S. Army Advisor make a radio
call
for accountability of his subordinate unit advisors. It was at that time
when we began to suspect trouble was in the wind. We continued to work the
deliberate night attack exercise through the night with an occasional
update
of the terrorist attack from the personnel who were connected to Vinnell
Camp by cell phones. As daylight came, we were then give the unvarnished
picture of the utter devastation we were to see when we returned to camp.
No building within our six square block compound escaped damage. The roof
to
my living quarters was completely collapsed, my windows were blown in and
my
front door was on top of my bed. Immediately after arriving, I was told
that
I would be part of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) all other camp
personnel (approx. 300 +) were to be transported to a larger more secure
compound. As I walked down to "Ground Zero" to see for myself, the damage
only increased in magnitude. Most roofs in the six square block of the
compound were peeled back and most rooms looked like rubbish bins filled
with roofing tiles, insulation, overturned furniture, and structural
timbers. My office, which stood one block from the epicenter of the
explosion, was completely gutted and caved-in. Ground zero was directly
at
the front entrance to the major American billeting area, High Rise No. 1.
This obviously was the focus of main effort for the terrorists.
Debrief of the eyewitnesses, clearly shows how well trained and informed
the
terrorists were. A sedan (similar in color and make to one of our high
level
manager's) with five terrorist occupants inconspicuously negotiated the
cement turning obstacles, dismounted at the left gate and immediately
killed
the Saudi soldier manning the Cal. 50 machinegun and wounded two others.
The vehicle and windshield of that vehicle clearly took 50 or more AK47
rounds. Once the 50 Cal machinegun was neutralized, one terrorist entered
the gate control booth, turned the gate key to open the heavy roll-back
security gate and pushed the button to drop the retractable barrier. A
pickup truck loaded with the bomb soon arrived at the now opened right
gate.
Two of the initial five terrorists then mounted the truck which quickly
drove to High Rise No. 1 and immediately without hesitation detonated
themselves and the bomb. The remaining three terrorists then fired,
maneuvered and threw grenades through the camp to the opposite side of the
compound and escaped over the compound wall.
After the attack, the one terrorist vehicle left at the front gate was
examined and was found to contain many more grenades and many double
tapped
AK47 magazines. In my opinion, their intent was to kill as many personnel
as
possible in the streets after the explosion. That part of the plan
obviously
came apart when the sedan (support vehicle) couldn't get through the left
security gate.
There can be no doubt that this terrorist group was well trained, well
informed and had rehearsed their plan to near perfection. There is also
much
evidence to indicate that there was inside information and assistance. The
terrorists knew which key to turn and what button to push in order to open
the front right security gate and lower the barrier. They knew which
building to hit in order to inflict the maximum number of casualties on
Americans. Finally, the terrorist's exit point from the camp was
inconspicuously prepared with a 55-gallon drum and brick to facilitate
their
escape over the wall. The resulting casualties were 7 Americans killed,
two
Filipinos killed and 100 or more wounded, 11 of which remain in hospital.
As
if this horrific destruction wasn't enough, the shamal (wind and sand
storms) have been miserable. It was at its worst during SecState Colin
Powell's visit. Honestly, you could hardly see your hand in front of your
face while he was here.
Post script, Our Saudi counterparts are extremely embarrassed and ashamed
by
this attack. Many Islamic personnel are among the wounded. Many of which
are
my friends and close training associates. Two in particular are former
Egyptian Generals and are very professional trainers. It has been a tribal
belief that in the Islamic world, you are safe if you are under a Muslim's
tent, even if you are considered the enemy. This attack represents an
attack
on the Saudi Royal Family as well. Time will tell if they are willing to
get
serious about finding, fixing and destroying such terrorist groups.
Thomas "Tom" W. Williams
Lieutenant Colonel
United States Marine Corps (Ret)
Vinnell Corp
P.O. Box 53XX (Box 15XX)
Riyadh 114XX
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Phone: 966-1-246-XXXX
Quarters: ext 22XX
Office: 2398 or 2471