Riyadh's 'blind eye' to al-Qaeda (SAUDIS NOT OUR FRIENDS ALERT)

The Times ^ | October 18, 2002 | Tim Reid

[MadIvan]

SAUDI Arabia is the al-Qaeda terror network’s main financier but the kingdom’s rulers have deliberately turned a blind eye to the problem, a report released yesterday said.

The report, from the influential New York-based Council on Foreign Relations, also criticises the US for failing to confront Riyadh over its terror links. It says that the House of Saud has tolerated millions of dollars a year being raised for al-Qaeda inside the kingdom.

“It is worth stating clearly and unambiguously what official US government spokespersons have not,” the report states. “For years, individuals and charities based in Saudi Arabia have been the most important source of funds for al-Qaeda, and for years the Saudi officials have turned a blind eye to the problem.”

The council’s study is particularly damning about US claims that Saudi Arabia is co-operating in the worldwide fight to stop terrorist financing, “when they (the US Government) know very well all the ways in which it is not”.

Criticism of Saudi Arabia, one of America’s main suppliers of crude oil, has been particularly muted from the Bush Administration since September 11, despite intelligence evidence that al-Qaeda still derives enormous wealth and support from the kingdom. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi, and Osama bin Laden was born there.

Good relations between Washington and Riyadh are mutually vital and President Bush, as he prepares for war with Iraq, has been extremely careful not to alienate one of America’s most crucial allies. The report follows another analysis, delivered by a defence consultant to a Pentagon foreign policy committee earlier this year, which denounced the Saudi regime as the “kernel of evil”.

The report was prepared by a bipartisan panel of financial and terrorism experts. Maurice R Greenberg, the panel chairman, is an influential Republican fundraiser.

It drew an angry response from Bush officials. Robert Nichols, the Treasury Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary, said that the report was “seriously flawed” and a “Clinton-era snapshot of what al-Qaeda looked like in 1999 or 2000”. Saudi officials refused to comment.

[MadIvan]

The Saudis are not our friends. I certainly hope the President (and the Prime Minister) has them on his list.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Travis McGee]

Kick their a$$ and take the gas!

[MadIvan]

Kick their a$$ and take the gas!

Quite.

Regards, Ivan

[JoeMomma]

Kick their a$$ and take the gas!

Wouldn't that make a great sign at a Freeper event? :)

I know I'll offend the Bush-bots here, but I have very little confidence in our President. Bush is a absolute fool if he can't admit that Saudi Arabia is our enemy.

[Dante3]

Saudi "Royal Family" is the head of the coiled viper ready to strike at us. Cut off this head and we have dealt the Muslim Jihad vermin a serious blow.

[MadIvan]

Saudi "Royal Family" is the head of the coiled viper ready to strike at us. Cut off this head and we have dealt the Muslim Jihad vermin a serious blow.

Agreed.

Regards, Ivan

[Logic_3]

Kick their a$$ and take the gas!

Kick their gas and take their a$$!

Just kidding :)

[metesky]

Great! That'll be one of our signs when we freep the peaceidiots in Augusta, ME on the 26th.

[metesky]

After we have Iraq the Saudis time will be numbered in days...

[STD]

I agree, but first put the Iraqi Wretch Out of His Misery. Establish a democracy and watch how fast the Royal's Fold Their Tents. Should take about as long as President Bush's second term to accomplish.

Playoffs who's talking about the playoffs!

[Travis McGee]

You're welcome to it, just make sure it says "the gas" not "their gas".

[metesky]

Will do.