بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

بحث

بعنوان

HM King Abdulaziz; Strategist and Tactician

In The Building of Alliances and the Fighting of Campaigns

(الملك عبدالعزيز، إستراتيجي في بناء التحالفات، وتكتيكي في قتال المعارك)

المعهد الملكي للأفرع الرئيسية المشتركة

لندن، المملكة المتحدة

1999

 

          I am delighted to participate in this symposium about the first King of modern Saudi Arabia -- the nation-builder and leader who was also my beloved grandfather.

          True to my task, I will address the strategies and tactics that guided Abdul Aziz, or Ibn Saud as he was widely known, in his long campaign and many battles to create the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

          Ibn Saud was born in Riyadh on 2 December 1880; he died on 9 November 1953, in Taif. And what a life he lived in those 73 years.

          From his recapture of Riyadh in January of 1902, Ibn Saud fought a series of military and diplomatic battles lasting 50 years.

          He commanded his forces in at least 30 major engagements and campaigns, plus countless skirmishes, and he negotiated bi-lateral treaties with England, Turkey, Italy, Germany and other countries aimed at strengthening the Kingdom's international standing -- or to buy time in war.

          Each of these events would make a fascinating history in itself.

          But I must acknowledge that the story of fifty years -- told in less than half an hour -- would indeed be a challenge even for a retired general. And so, in the interest of time, we will look at key events which offer insights into a great leader, his battles and his diplomacy.

          The central lesson in the long march of Ibn Saud is that he had a clear vision. He knew where he wanted to go and how to get there. He had what we today would call a grand strategy.

          Ibn Saud of course never had the benefit of the Sandhurst education this grandson of his enjoyed. But he had an intuitive sense for both state-craft and battlefield command.

          He also had what we today would call charisma the personality, intellect and bearing of command. He was a leader his soldiers would die for -- and many did.

          Before I proceed, I would like to explain that in my opinion, strategy means a process of planning that is comprehensive in scope, and which looks far into the future to realize supreme goals.

          Ibn Saud's strategy at the turn of the century was rooted in his realization of life in the Arabian Peninsula. Before 1902, it was a land of feeble political structures, bloody pointless tribal battles, loyalties that switched readily among power brokers, and external forces that controlled much of our land.

          Leaders with neither vision nor value lived on the margins of life, separated from the interests of their Arab and Islamic nation.

          Disease and ignorance were widespread. There was virtually no security and even less stability.

And the historic rulers of Arabia, the Al Sauds, were exiled in Kuwait.

          That was the stage, before 1902. But what did it look like in 1953 at the time Ibn Saud passed from this earth? The comparison is remarkable.

          Most of the Arabian Peninsula was united in one young nation called the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with an area of some two million square kilometers.

          We had become one nation, spanning the width of the Arabian Peninsula, all the way from the Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf.

          Fighting among tribes had ended, and Arab Islamic identity was restored.

          The Kingdom's foreign policy was respected worldwide for intellect, fairness and balance.

          Petroleum was discovered, and of equal importance, it was turned into a modern industry which no one was allowed to monopolize.

          Education was wide spread and mandatory. Medical care came to all corners of the Kingdom and some of the world's finest hospitals were being built.

          Airports and highways were connecting our huge country internally, and with the outside world.

          Modern cities were spreading throughout the land, and ports and harbors were being built.

          Ibn Saud's external policy strove not to involve the Kingdom, or the Arab region, in international conflicts. He remained neutral throughout World War One, despite great pressures from Turkey and Britain, and was neutral for most of the Second World War.

THE UNITED KINGDOM AND TURKEY

          As he built his country, Ibn Saud feared Britain just as he feared the Ottoman Empire, since both had strategic interests in the Arab region.

          Britain had controlling influence in the Arab Gulf region. It was not about to allow any other power, either European or local, to threaten this.

          Ibn Saud wanted to draw British support to his side in the face of the ambitious designs of the Ottoman Empire.

          By April of 1914, he had despaired of obtaining this support so he began what to him were negotiations for tactical gain with the Ottomans. He acknowledged the total hegemony of the Turks over Najd and Al Ahsaa, in return for being named governor of Najd.

          This action was read by the British exactly as Ibn Saud hoped it would be: a signal that he was capable of doing without the British and that it was in their interest to support him. And also that he had the courage to absorb a short term setback if it paved the way for long term gain.

          With the recapture of Al Ahsaa in 1913, his influence had increased in the Gulf region, for he had thrown the Ottomans out of a key area adjacent to British territory. Britain had little choice but to recognize and cooperate with him, especially during World War I.

          In December, 1915, an agreement was signed in which Ibn Saud pledged not to enter into treaties with any other country, sell or rent the regions under him or give concessions without the approval of Britain. He pledged to permit free passage in his areas and to protect pilgrims. And also not to attack or interfere with Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar or Oman, all of which were under British protection.

          In return, Britain recognized Najd, Al Ahsaa, Qatif, Jubail, their environs and the ports on the Gulf as the lands of Ibn Saud and his forefathers. They acknowledged him as the ruler, and agreed to provide him with protection and support should he be attacked by any foreign state.

          As a result of this treaty, he received the first shipment from British authorities, consisting of 1000 rifles and 20,000 Pounds Sterling. He was also allowed to supply himself with arms directly from the Bahrain market. That was something he needed badly at the time.

          In 1916, he met with the British High Commissioner in Iraq, Sir Percy Cox, to continue talks that had taken place the previous year, after his great friend Captain Shakespear was killed in the battle of Jarrab.

          In 1917, Britain sent a special mission. Its goals were to encourage the King to carry out military actions against Ibn Al Rashid in order to pressure the Ottoman Empire; reinforce British campaigns in the region; and improve relations between the King and Sharif Hussein.

          In mid 1919, what could have become a bad international issue involving the Hijaz and the holy cities was defused by Ibn Saud's diplomacy. Ibn Saud's forces had a clear road into the western provinces ruled by the Sharif of Mecca but the British protested. Ibn Saud accepted the warning but won valuable concessions from the British that helped ensure his eventual control of the Hijaz in 1924.

          On 20 May 1927, the Jeddah agreement was signed. Britain thus recognized the complete independence of the kingdoms of Hijaz and Najd.

          And, in 1945, he met with the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and his Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Anthony Eden in Cairo.

          Ladies and Gentlemen, King Abdul Aziz wanted strong relations with Britain since he realized it was the dominant power in the region at that time. He would be impeded from realizing his strategy if the British opposed him, as he would not benefit from their protection, funds and weapons. He appreciated the importance of mutual intas long as they did not harm his own.

THE UNITED STATES

          After World War One, Ibn Saud was keenly aware of the great and growing importance of the United States. The Gulf area was, however, far from US interests and Britain had been given a free hand in the region. Ibn Saud hoped to draw the US into Arabia as an element of stability. Within this strategic vision, he was careful to get recognition of his government by the US. Recognition came in May of 1931, and an agreement of diplomatic representation was signed the following year.

          In 1933, he gave Standard Oil of California the right to search for oil. He was eager to have this source of finance and the US had enormous technical expertise and know-how. As another plus, it was a country with no history or colonial aspirations in the region. His strategic vision saw the United States as a balancing element in the future.

          He also developed personal relations with President Franklin Roosevelt, and tried to convince him of the Arabs just cause, especially with regard to the alliance of the British with the Jews in Palestine. Ibn Saud and FDR had a celebrated meeting on board the US Cruiser Quincy on 14 February 1945 in the Suez Canal.

RELATIONS WITH GERMANY

          The King had an open door policy on the world, in an attempt to maintain a strategic balance in the Gulf region. This open door included an overture to Germany to secure arms. He signed a friendship treaty with Germany in April of 1929, and Prince Faisal made an official visit to the country in 1932.

          World War Two, however, convinced Ibn Saud that the treaty, as well as the German state that created it, had ended. And so he ended his neutrality in March of 1945 and declared war on Germany and Japan. He did this, of course, to benefit from post-war arrangements he saw unfolding.

RELATIONS WITH ITALY

          The Italian occupation of Ethiopia convinced Ibn Saud of the futility of depending on guarantees of security, whether British or Italian. Therefore, he did not object when Italy provided Yemen with weapons and signed bi-lateral treaties in 1927 and 1934. Again Ibn Saud tried diplomacy. The result was the presence in Jeddah of two Italian consuls.

          Italy recognized the King and his government on 10 February 1932 and consummated a friendship and trade agreement.

          In 1935, after Italy attacked Ethiopia, the League of Nations issued a resolution to boycott Italy. King Abdul Aziz , however, remained neutral. He sent two groups of Saudi students to Italy for aviation training and welcomed an Italian delegation that bought large quantities of camels in return for weapons.

          The King considered it a purely economic deal and in 1939, another treaty was signed with Italy to provide the Kingdom with weapons and ammunition.

MILITARY STRATEGIES AND TACTICS

          Before we delve further into Ibn Saud as a soldier, we must remember that he always had the courage to sacrifice short term tactical gain for eventual strategic victory. He would lose the battle but he fully intended to win the war. For every step he had strategies and tactics.

          His goals were, first of all, to repossess all lands that were under Saudi rule from the start of the first Saudi State. He fully intended to establish a large and modern nation.

          In planning campaigns, he was careful not to open more than one front at a time, something Germany might have kept in mind in World War II.

          In tactics, Ibn Saud measured a situation by time, distance and comparison of forces. Time and distance define the appropriate area for battle.

          As for the comparison of forces, how many times has a small force vanquished a larger one.

          Ibn Saud understood the need for:

-- Tactical deception and surprise,

-- Taking and maintaining the initiative, and,

-- The imperative of good communications.

          He believed so deeply that he must know his enemy that even the social habits of opposing tribes were studied.

          He studied the battlefield, the enemy's armaments and his supplies, and in many ways practiced an early form of battlefield preparation.

          He believed in psychological warfare and propaganda and his scouts spread true stories about such travesties as the killing of women and children, which occasionally happened in desert warfare. And he condemned his enemies who did such things.

          Ibn Saud had a strict code of honor. The enemy must be defeated but the honor of the enemy's family and women would not be violated.

          And, he understood the vital hardware of war. He upgraded his weapons systems and obtained machine guns and armored vehicles which were put to good use.

          Here are a few lessons in these strategics and tactics from the King's many battles.

RIYADH AND LATER BATTLES

          The retaking of Riyadh and Mismak fortress involved more than the well known story of the fort's recapture in 1902.

          The previous year, Ibn Saud and his father, operating separately, had made penetrations deep into the Najd from Kuwait. These armed reconnaissance missions gained valuable information that Ibn Saud used in planning his attack.

          In his reconnaissance, and in his raid the following year, Ibn Saud expertly employed the principles of secrecy, surprise, mass of force, flexibility, deceit and mobility of movement.

          His planning included a topographical study of the theater of operations and an analysis of the Rashid's techniques used to defend Riyadh.

          Ibn Saud personally led his forces in an attack on Mismak fortress that could be described as a small scale blitzkrieg. The governor was quickly killed and the defending forces overrun.

          In his later battles near Riyadh, he determined to make a safe haven by greatly strengthening the city. He raised the walls and stored large amounts of food and water so the city could hold out if his main forces were in the field.

          Next, he sought to conquer villages or tribes not with war but with faith. He spoke for a return to true Islam and the people of Arabia responded.

          And he used his armies effectively in shows of force that persuaded the faint of heart that a bloodless surrender was better than a pointless battle against such odds.

          Taking nothing for granted, he left in each conquered village a platoon of soldiers to defend against counterattack.

BATTLE OF BAKIRIYA AND SHANANA

          When Ibn Saud first came on the scene, the Ottomans did not rush to help Ibn Al Rashid militarily. But the rapid success of Abdul Aziz made it apparent to the Turks that he was a threat. So the Ottomans agreed to provide Ibn Al Rashid with both military and financial aid.

          Thus strengthened, the Rashids went forth one day in 1904, from the borders of Iraq toward Al Qasim. They had with them an Ottoman force. Abdul Aziz knew this and followed, looking for an opportunity.

          His patience and planning skills paid off and in the resulting battle at Shanana, the Ottomans and the Rashids were beaten, leaving behind cannons, weapons and boxes of gold.

          In this key battle, Ibn Saud had applied the principle of massed forces in the face of his enemy, and he controlled the key terrain by superior maneuver.

          He depended on the fact that his forces were fighting in an environment that they were used to, and on land they knew well and which belonged to them.

          The Ottomans were fighting in unfamiliar circumstances, for a cause that was unimportant to them, and they had long lines of supply.

BATTLE OF RAWDAT MAHANNA

          Throughout his campaigns, Ibn Saud was an aggressive commander and he tracked the armies of the Rashids, making good use of reconnaissance and scouts.

          In April of 1906, information reached Ibn Saud that his enemy's forces were resting after a raid and were camped at the village of Rawdat Mahanna.

          Realizing he could seize the moment, Ibn Saud led his army in a forced march in a blinding sandstorm and surprised the Rashids by night.

          Taking full advantage of their tactical surprise they attacked the camp and in a climatic battle, killed Ibn Rashid, thus ending that regime's threat to the rule of the Al Sauds.

          Ibn Saud later signed a peace agreement with the son of Ibn Rashid, in which Rashid gave up claim to the Najd in return for recognition of his ruin the Hail area.

CONQUEST OF AL AHSAA

          In the conquest of Al Ahsaa in 1913, Ibn Saud faced the Ottoman forces in a contest for what no one realized would become the richest land in the world-the oil fields of the Eastern Province.

          He knew he must defeat the Turkish garrison at Hofuf without drawing a larger force of Ottoman soldiers in retaliation.

          And the British were a factor as well because Ibn Saud intended to upset the status quo in the Eastern Province.

          He devised several strategies. After camping his army outside the gate he announced to the UK's Percy Cox that he wished simply to return the Ahsaa area to its historic ownership, the Al Sauds. The Turks had taken Hofuf in 1871. The British were taken aback but did not interfere.

          To out wit his Turkish foe, Ibn Saud pretended he had come only to re-supply his army with food and that he would withdraw once that was done. Indeed, he did start the trip back to Riyadh but then returned to Hofuf and surrounded the fort. His troops quietly scaled the walls by night.

          Having achieved victory by speed and surprise, he offered the Ottomans an honorable surrender which they accepted. They were given safe passage to Bahrain. Ibn Saud had succeeded in occupying Al Hofuf without a major battle. History was made that day for the British did not interfere and the Turks did not return.

          In economic terms this was the most important battle in the Kingdom's history. The British might say that at Hofuf, Ibn Saud Ahit for six.

THE CONQUEST OF HAIL

          In the conquest of Hail in 1921, Ibn Saud used an attack plan characterized by flexibility and mobility. In his first echelon he sent out two task forces.

          The first headed to the northwest, towards Shammar, waiting for a chance for sudden attack. The second headed west to attack Hail.

          The main force under Ibn Saud's command prepared to exploit the first success achieved in battle for either Shammar or Hail. He also maintained a highly mobile reserve to carry out any special missions.

          One of the lessons from this battle is the importance of having forces in echelon and to not push the main force forward before the intent of the enemy is known.

CLOSING

          Ladies and gentlemen, this has been an overview of the strategies and tactics employed by Abdul Aziz in creating the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is a compelling story about a remarkable leader.

          I am deeply grateful to RUSI for conducting this symposium and regret that I could not have been with you to deliver these remarks.

          I am confident the speakers here today -- from my friend and fellow Commander Sir Peter de la Billiere, to participants from my own country -- will build a body of scholarship that contributes greatly to a better understanding of Saudi Arabia's first modern king, warrior and statesman.

I thank all of you for being here.