[Brian S]

Debka hinted as much earlier, NYT publishes it, Scarbrough says its breaking on AP, so...here it is.

[Numbers Guy]

As someone said in January, when "The Kingdom" said we couldn't use Saudi Arabia as a base for invading Iraq, "but Iraq will make an excellent base for invading Saudi Arabia".

[TSgt]

I KNEW IT!

W should make Saudi Arabia flat, black and glowing tonight!

Just like the Pentagon report said, "Saudi Arabia is the kernel of terrorism."

[Brian S]

AP seems to be confirming...:

AP News Alert

The Associated Press
Friday, August 1, 2003; 10:50 PM

WASHINGTON –– Classified sections of congressional terrorism report raise possibility some acquaintances of hijackers tied to Saudi government or intelligence, officials say.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said, "Keeping this material classified only strengthens the theory that some in the U.S. government are hellbent on covering up for the Saudis."

This is a good way to run to the right of Bush on national security. Americans don't view the Saudis in a very positive light; it's smart to pander to that. They can say that if Bush were serious about avenging 9/11, he'd make sure that every person involved in 9/11 in any country in the world would be brought to justice-- even those in Saudi Arabia. It's a great argument because it's hard for Bush to explain the intracies of his policy to the average American.

They could run on that and unfair trade and our trade deficit and visa abuse with China, India, etc., and cut a pretty broad stripe into the Joe Sixpack voter.

[eddie willers]

I take it Pat Leahy been making phone calls.

[BenR2]

I'm sorry, but I have all but lost confidence in GWB's willingness to oppose his Saudi business buddies.

GWB's current "coziness" with 1972 Olympic Terrorist-backer Abu Mazen is LARGELY at the behest of his Saudi buddies, who UNDERWRITE the Palies to the tune of some $4BILLION per annum.

Action; not words is what matters.

I would LOVE to be proven wrong about GWB on this matter, by the way, . . .

But so far I have not been.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Saudi Arabia should be getting the same anal exam that Iraq is undergoing now. But the cowardly and inept State Department will not go along. Time for this cesspool to be drained and flamed.

[FairOpinion]

Also a more honest article points out that there are contradictory information and no solid evidence. The report merely "raises the possibility", does NOT prove any connection.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/6440242.htm

"The report raises the possibility that one or more Saudi men who were connected to some of the hijackers or their acquaintances were tied to Saudi intelligence. It also suggests a Muslim imam in the United States may have been a facilitator for some hijackers, the sources said, speaking only on condition of anonymity.

The congressional investigators, however, warn the leads they have dug up for the FBI and CIA to pursue are at times contradictory or circumstantial. U.S. intelligence and FBI investigators view the evidence of ties to Saudi intelligence as unclear, the officials said."

[Husker24]

As much as this disturbes me to say this and as disgusting as it is, if this is true and Bush gives the Saudies a pass on it, then I hope the Democrats make a hell of a big deal about it. Because someone sure as hell should.

[okie01]

Is there anything in here that we didn't already know?

The connections with al-Bayoumi and Basnan, plus the Muslim cleric in San Diego, have been generally known for...how long? Twelve, maybe eighteen, months?

The only news here is that al-Bayoumi and Basnan may have had some connection with Saudi intelligence. But this seems based more on speculation than any firm evidence.

On that basis, I can clearly see why this part of the report has been classified. It's a circumstantial construction, full of guesswork and speculation. As such, it's not fit to serve as the basis for any official accusations. Or media manipulation...

[wideminded]

The report also says that "despite the fact that he was a student, al-Bayoumi had access to seemingly unlimited funding from Saudi Arabia."

I don't know if this is true anymore, but in the early 80's many Saudi Arabian students in the US had access to "seemingly unlimited funding". For instance the Saudi government would not only pay their tuition, but buy them a house to live in.

[technomage]

Why do we classify ANYTHING in this country? There are always un-American, self absorbed, power hungry congressmen, aides, lawyers, etc. who will leak the damn stuff.

[tet68]

One wonders just how many thousands of people have read
this "classified" report?

Just once, once, I like to see heads roll.

[JesseHousman]

I said that on 9/12/2000 we should have weaned ourselves from the evil Saudi princes and bombed their oil fields into powder!

[monkeywrench]

"Republicans, including Senator Richard C. Shelby of Alabama, a former Intelligence Committee chairman, have also called for its release."

Shouldn't that also read 'former democrat'? Turned in 1994? Isn't he the one who has gotten into it with Porter Goss (former cia) in a seeming fbi-cia feud? I remember during clintonian times, thinking the fbi and the clinton left tried to blame anything that went bad on cia, so, I assumed they were lies. I assume these same lefties are spinning tales, knowing the documents won't be unclassified and they won't be called on it. Or, the docs will be released and Shelby is probably just preemptively covering for his FIBs, somehow.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Orion78]

Saudi Arabia funds `behind Taleban' (9/3/98)

[Orion78]

PING!