Saudis Demand that the US Release Most of the Terrorists Held in Cuba.

CBS News - Saudis Want Detainees Turned Over ^ | Mon, 28 Jan 2002 20:25:04 EST -- BREAKING! | Editorial Staff

[vannrox]

Saudis Want Detainees Turned Over

Saudi Minister: Over 100 Saudis Being Held At Guantanamo Bay

Jan. 28, 2002

Shackled Taliban and al-Qaida prisoners in orange jumpsuits, sit in holding area.

(CBS) So far, U.S. officials have steadfastly refused to identity by name or nationality the 158 men locked up at the American Naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But Monday, Saudi Arabia claimed that nearly two-thirds of them were Saudi citizens – and the Saudis want them back, reports CBS News Correspondent Jim Stewart.

Although acknowledging that the men were captured during fighting inside Afghanistan, Interior Minister Prince Nayef told reporters, "The issue of prisoners is important to us and we ask that they be handed over to us so we can interrogate them."

But they're important to us, too, responded President Bush, who met at the White House with the new leader of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai.

"We'll make a decision on a case-by-case basis as to whether they go back to Saudi Arabia or not. I appreciate his suggestion," said Mr. Bush.

And Pentagon officials made it clear they're in no hurry to return the Saudis.

"We have no desire to hold on to large numbers of detainees of any kind for any great length of time. But we want to make sure these people are not back out on the streets," said Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke.

She said the nationalities of all the prisoners' had not yet been determined. U.S. officials have said they are considering sending some of the prisoners to their homelands on condition their governments punish them. Some may be tried by the United States for alleged involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks and other terrorism.

Asked about handing over Saudi citizens, Clarke said prisoners would be repatriated to "those countries that we feel will handle them appropriately."

Saudi Arabia, a close U.S. ally in the Middle East, has come under criticism in the United States from some who say the Saudi government has done too little to crack down on terrorists and extremists within its borders.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers of the passenger jets that crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11 were Saudis, according to U.S. officials. Saudi officials insist no Saudi involvement has been proven. Osama bin Laden, whose al-Qaida terror network is accused in the Sept. 11 attacks, was a Saudi national until his citizenship was revoked in the 1990s.

Saudi Arabia's southern neighbor, Yemen, has said it was also seeking information from the United States on 17 of its nationals it says are being held at the Guantanamo base.

At the White House, meanwhile, Mr. Bush said he is weighing legal questions on whether the Geneva Convention applies to the 158 suspected terrorists being held in Cuba. He pledged to treat them humanely, but said: "These are killers."

Mr. Bush and his national security advisers failed to resolve the issue at a Monday morning meeting, but said they agree that the detainees will not be considered prisoners of war, which could confer on them an array of rights.

"We are not going to call them prisoners of war," said Mr. Bush, who three times called them "prisoners" and then corrected himself to refer to them as "detainees."

"And the reason why is al-Qaida is not a known military," Mr. Bush said. "These are killers, these are terrorists, they know no countries. The only thing they know about country is when they find a country that's been weakened and they want to occupy it like a parasite."

Mr. Bush said he will listen to "all the legalisms, and announce my decision when I make it."

Some in the administration argue that the convention should apply. Others, including Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, believe that whether it applies is irrelevant because the al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners are "unlawful combatants" and therefore not deserving of prisoner-of-war status.

Regardless of the outcome of the debate over the Geneva Convention, the president and his national security aides are agreed that the prisoners are not POWs.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Mr. Bush's team agrees that the "core principles" of the convention should be observed, including providing food and medicine to the detainees. However, the national security team is split on whether the detainees are covered under the full weight of the Geneva Conventions, Fleischer said.

He said the conventions must be "interpreted in a modern light," now that the country is at war with terrorists. He added that the detainees were "lucky to be in the custody of our military because they're receiving three square meals a day."

"They're receiving health care that they've never received before, their sleeping conditions are probably better than anything they've had in Afghanistan, and they're being treated well because they're in the hands of the men and women of our military, and they're being treated well because that's what Americans do," Fleischer said.

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[vannrox]

I believe that this is the most detailed version on the wires at this time.

[No Truce With Kings]

What they gonna do? Demand we leave Saudi Arabia?

[weikel]

They must mistake Bush for one of the poor bastards they enslaved.

[FresnoDA]

Maybe this is what they have in mind???

Or...from Independance Day....

I'M BACKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!

[No Truce With Kings]

Let's not stoop to their level. Or are you suggesting that they might act out that scene in Blazing Saddles? The one where the sheriff holds the gun to his head, and says "Don't nobody move or I shoot. . ."

[Dog Gone]

Yes, it's quite different than the others which said that Saudi Arabia was seeking to interrogate the prisoners, something which could be considered if the conditions were right, i.e., under our supervision.

If this report is accurate, it's a stupid demand which will be rejected. They know that, because it's completely unreasonable. This wouldn't be how they would be going about trying to secure custody of some of the terrorists.

That means, either this report is wrong, or the Saudis are trying to provoke a showdown between the countries as a pretext for having American troops leave the country.

As much as I hate CBS, I can't imagine that they made up this quote (although it could have easily been lifted out of context). If this isn't clarified, I think it means a definite chill in US/Saudi relations is coming, and at the Saudi's insistence.

[FresnoDA]

I would rather stoop, thank you!! LOL!

[Dan from Michigan]

Saudis Demand that the US Release Most of the Terrorists Held in Cuba.

What? F*** you.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Hey, Prince Nayef - go pound sand...

[Have Ruck - Will Travel]

Newsflash!!!

Americans Demand That Saudis Bend Over and Kiss Our Royal AMERICAN A**es!!!

Take care,

Ruck

[TroutStalker]

I think we should invite a Saudi team to Cuba to administer their brand of justice. They can bring their own swords.

[Recovering_Democrat]

I'm sure G.W. is shaking in his boots.

BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

[Dog]

Saudi's can go pound sand!

[TLBSHOW]

I say the Saudis are the terrorists and we should kick their butts and take their oil.

[knighthawk]

So they can release them Arafat-style?

[FresnoDA]

Here is a second source!!!!

DEBKAfile
Wednesday, January 30, 2002

HEADLINES

DEBKAfile Special Analysis:

Saudi Arabia Demands US Hand over 100 Nationals
Captured in Afghan War in al Qaeda and Taliban Ranks
President Bush Promises Case-to-Case Consideration

[alaskanfan]

They must need more suicide bombers to blow up Israel.

[The Cuban]

I demand that they go *#$% themselves!

[Dale 1]

"The issue of prisoners is important to us and we ask that they be handed over to us so we can interrogate them."

This is actually good news. I think it means that one or more of the detainees is/are "in fact" important to them. I hope the interrogaters can find him or them and find out why they're important.

[humblegunner]

Interior Minister Prince Nayef told reporters, "The
issue of prisoners is important to us and we ask that
they be handed over to us so we can interrogate them."

The word "demand" I do not see.. which is a damned good
thing. Interior Minister Prince Nayef is in no position
to demand anything.