Posted on 09/23/2005 10:51:20 AM PDT by America First Libertarian
President Bush decided Wednesday to waive any financial sanctions on Saudi Arabia, Washington's closest Arab ally in the war on terrorism, for failing to do enough to stop the modern-day slave trade in prostitutes, child sex workers and forced laborers.
In June, the State Department listed 14 countries as failing to adequately address trafficking problems, subjecting them all to possible sanctions if they did not crack down.
Of those 14, Bush concluded that Bolivia, Jamaica, Qatar, Sudan, Togo and the United Arab Emirates had made enough improvements to avoid any cut in U.S. aid or, in the case of countries that get no American financial assistance, the barring of their officials from cultural and educational events, said Darla Jordan, a State Department spokeswoman.
Cambodia and Venezuela were not considered to have made similar adequate improvements. But Bush cleared them nonetheless to receive limited assistance, for such things as combatting trafficking. In the case of Venezuela — which has had a tense relationship with the United States under the leadership of President Hugo Chavez, one of Latin America's most outspoken critics of U.S. foreign policy — Bush also allowed funding for strengthening the political party system and supporting electoral observation.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
ping
President Bush, "It was the Saudis all along!"
Has anyone mentioned Darfur lately? I thought not ...
Has anyone mentioned Darfur lately? I thought not ...
No. SA would be a smoldering piece of glass.
..................
I'm sure there's some logic to all this.
Funding Palestinian Terror--More American tax dollars at work.
What have we paid for with ‘Palestinian’ handouts?-Has America financed holy war (jihad)?
Saudi Official Solicits Funds on TV For Terrorists - And Nobody Cares?!
MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute) regularly provides stunning proof of the explicit, shameless intentions of terrorists and their supporters through translations of tapes and writings. Yesterday they dropped one into our laps that ought to enrage anybody who has heard the claims of Saudi government officials about their "progress" in fighting terror emanating from the Kingdom, and the support in Washington for their claims (generated by their paid lobbyists). I quote from the MEMRI dispatch:
An August 29, 2005 program on Saudi Iqra TV was devoted to supporting Jihad in Palestine. The program host began by telling all Saudis that they must donate and explained how to do so. A caption then appeared on the screen: "Saudi Committee for Support of the Al-Quds Intifada, Account No. 98, a joint account at all Saudi banks." A moderator stated that "Jihad is the pinnacle of Islam" and explained that the funds would go directly to those waging Jihad, where it would "help them carry out this mission." The program included the secretary-general of the Saudi government's Muslim World League Koran Memorization Commission, Sheikh Abdallah Basfar, who explained why it was an "obligation" for all Muslims to support Jihad. He also promised that "all of the funds sent via the known charities and organizations" would reach "your Muslim brothers." TO VIEW THIS CLIP VISIT: (link)
I have some questions about this: (1) Why does the Saudi government allow Sheikh Basfar to publicly solicit funds for "jihad," a.k.a. terrorism, on TV? (2) If Saudi authorities won't arrest this man for "material support" of terrorism, whom would they arrest for supporting terrorism, and what is the legal standard? (3) Why does the Saudi government continue to allow their banks to collect funds for terrorists? (4) Why should Americans believe any claims of "progress" against terrorism made by the Saudi government when they let a Saudi official blatently solicit funds on TV for terrorism and then allow their banks to funnel the money to terrorists?
More ...
http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2005/09/saudi_official_.html#more
Why am I not surprised?!?!?!
Nothing new. When in comes to Saudis and our other Arab "allies" American Presidents have been looking the other way for decades now.
Never thought I'd be siding with State against a Pres Bush decision.
Reminds me of US failure to protect American children from Saudi fathers.
The lesson here -- US policy is for sale to the highest oil producer.
Can we please get a president who isn't trying to be the House of Saud's whore?
It ought not be a demonrat as they give it up for free..
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