Saudi Government Efforts to Combat Terrorism and Terrorism Financing, 2003- 2005

Although the Saudi government took actions to combat terrorists  following the September 11, 2001, attacks, Al Qaeda’s attacks against  Saudi and U.S. citizens in Saudi Arabia in 2003 and 2004 marked a turning  point in the Saudi government’s efforts to combat terrorism and terrorism  financing, as the Saudi government came to see Al Qaeda as a threat to the  Saudi regime. The U.S. Mission Has Established Targets to Measure the Effectiveness of Efforts to Combat Terrorism and Its Financing; Some Performance Targets Related to Terrorism Financing Were Removed from the MSP

The MSP for Saudi Arabia contains goals, performance indicators, and  performance targets for counterterrorism efforts in Saudi Arabia. Likewise, a target related to implementation of cash courier regulations  was part of the MSP in fiscal years 2006 and 2007, but was removed in  fiscal years 2008 and 2009. Agencies and Saudi Officials Report Progress in Combating Terrorism and Its Financing in Saudi Arabia, but Challenges Persist, Particularly in Preventing Alleged Funding for Terrorism and Violent Extremism outside of Saudi Arabia

U.S. agencies and Saudi officials report progress countering terrorism and  terrorism financing within Saudi Arabia, but noted challenges, particularly  those related to preventing the flow of alleged financial support to  extremists outside Saudi Arabia. In April 2009, the U.S. embassy assessed  progress towards its goal of building an active antiterrorist coalition with  Saudi Arabia as “on target.” With regard to counterterrorism efforts, U.S.  and Saudi officials report progress enhancing the Saudi government’s  ability to combat terrorists, and assess that these efforts have disrupted Al  Qaeda’s terrorist network within Saudi Arabia. While citing progress, U.S.  and Saudi officials noted Saudi Arabia’s neighbor, Yemen, is emerging as a  base from which Al Qaeda terrorists can launch attacks against U.S. and  Saudi interests. U.S. and Saudi Officials Report Progress in Preventing Financial Support to Extremists, but Concerns Remain about Individuals’ and Multilateral Charitable Organizations’ Ability to Support Terrorism and Violent Extremism outside of Saudi Arabia

U.S. and Saudi officials report progress in preventing financial support to  extremists, citing improved Saudi regulation and enforcement capacity. Since 2007, U.S. and Saudi officials report that the government of Saudi  Arabia has arrested and prosecuted a number of individuals suspected of  financing terrorism. At that time, we will send copies to the Departments of State,  Treasury, Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, Justice, the intelligence  community, and the National Security Council. In addition, the report will  be available at no charge on the GAO Web site at http://www.gao.gov. Appendix I: Objectives, Scope and Methodology

In this report, we were asked to report on (1) the U.S. government strategy  to collaborate with and assist the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to counter  terrorism and terrorism financing, and (2) U.S. government agencies’  assessment of and the Saudi government’s views on progress toward the  goals of the U.S. strategy to collaborate with and assist the Kingdom of  Saudi Arabia. We also interviewed  subject matter experts from a variety of academic institutions and  nongovernmental organizations to obtain their assessments of progress. United States and Saudi Arabia establish diplomatic relations. Washington, D.C.: May 23,  2003.
Why GAO Did This Study

An Arabic version of this product is available at http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-190 . The U.S. government considers the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a vital partner in combating terrorism. The strong diplomatic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, founded more than 70 years ago, was strained by the Al Qaeda attacks of September 11, 2001, that were carried out in large part by Saudi nationals and killed thousands of U.S. citizens. GAO was asked to report on (1) the U.S. government strategy to collaborate with and assist the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to counter terrorism and terrorism financing, and (2) U.S. government agencies' assessment of and the Saudi government's views on progress toward the goals of this strategy. GAO analyzed relevant U.S. and Saudi strategy, planning, and evaluation documents related to efforts since 2005, and discussed these efforts with subject matter experts and U.S. and Saudi officials in Washington, D.C., and Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. GAO submitted a copy of this report to intelligence agencies, the National Security Council, and the Departments of Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, Justice, State, and Treasury for their review and comment.

What GAO Found

The U.S. government strategy to collaborate with Saudi Arabia on counterterrorism utilizes existing diplomatic and security-related efforts to create an active antiterrorism coalition by enhancing the Saudi government's ability to combat terrorists and prevent financial support to extremists. These objectives are contained in Department of State's (State) Mission Strategic Plans (MSP) for Saudi Arabia for fiscal years 2006 through 2009, and also reflected in a January 2008 report from State to the Congress on its strategy for Saudi Arabia. The MSPs include performance targets to measure progress on efforts to combat terrorism and its financing, such as providing security training to the Saudi government, strengthening Saudi financial institutions, and implementation of relevant Saudi regulations. U.S. and Saudi officials report progress on countering terrorism and its financing within Saudi Arabia, but noted challenges, particularly in preventing alleged funding for terrorism and violent extremism outside of Saudi Arabia. In April 2009, State assessed progress related to its goal of building an active U.S.-Saudi antiterrorist coalition as "on target." U.S. and Saudi officials report progress in enhancing the Saudi government's ability to combat terrorists, and note the Saudi government's efforts have disrupted Al Qaeda's terrorist network within Saudi Arabia. However, these officials noted Saudi Arabia's neighbor, Yemen, is emerging as a base from which Al Qaeda terrorists can launch attacks against U.S. and Saudi interests. U.S. and Saudi officials also report progress on efforts to prevent financial support to extremists, citing, for example, the Saudi government's regulations on sending charitable contributions overseas, and the arrest and prosecution of individuals providing support for terrorism. However, U.S. officials remain concerned about the ability of Saudi individuals and charitable organizations to support terrorism outside of Saudi Arabia, and noted limited Saudi enforcement capacity and terrorists' use of cash couriers as challenges. Despite these concerns, some performance targets related to countering terrorism financing were removed from State's current MSP. According to State officials, these changes were made either because a specific target was no longer considered feasible or because progress was made toward the target.