REBELS IN THE KINGDOM

FACING INTERNAL DISSENT ON TWO FRONTS, THE SAUDIS WANT THE U.S. TO PUNISH IRAN

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia often solves its problems by bringing them to a place unofficially called "chop-chop square." Crowds gather at the site next to a mosque in the center of the capital of Riyadh, and they watch as an executioner swings his sword and cuts off the heads of public enemies. That was the punishment meted out to four young men earlier this year after they confessed to the November 1995 bombing of an American-run training center in downtown Riyadh, an attack that killed seven people including five U.S. advisers. Chop-chop square is also likely to be the destination...

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