Saudi newspaper: Saudis 'should reconsider US ties'

BBC News ^ | Augustus 16 2002

[knighthawk]

A Saudi newspaper close to the government has called for a review of the kingdom's long-standing and close relationship with the United States.

A front-page editorial in Al-Riyadh newspaper says there is a need to revise Saudi Arabia's international strategic relations.

The article comes only a day after relatives of victims of the 11 September attacks launched a big lawsuit against people they accuse of helping finance the al-Qaeda network, including members of the Saudi royal family.

Although the paper does not refer to this, it does mention a recent Pentagon briefing during which oil-rich Saudi Arabia was accused of being a supporter of terrorism and an enemy of the US.

The Pentagon subsequently tried to distance itself from the briefing given to one of its advisory groups, and Saudi Arabia dismissed reports of tension in its relations with the US.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal played down the incident, blaming elements within the Bush administration who "unfortunately" sought to shake the traditional strong ties between the two countries.

'Blackmail

"We must question those who think that America is our strategic option that cannot be substituted. Those will put us in a narrow space, and their [belief] is not supported by objective justification," the Al-Riyadh editorial said on Friday.

According to French news agency AFP, only two out of nearly a dozen Saudi dailies carried details of the lawsuit filed in Washington on Thursday.

Neither mentioned the naming in the suit of three Saudi royals: former intelligence chief Turki al-Faisal al-Saud, Defence Minister Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, and businessman Mohammed al Faisal al-Saud.

One of those which did carry the story, Okaz, branded the suit as "the largest operation of blackmail plotted by secret hands".

The lawsuit alleged that Saudi money has "for years been funnelled to encourage radical anti-Americanism as well as to fund the al-Qaeda terrorists".

Those named include Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden and several members of his family.

Fifteen of the 19 alleged hijackers on 11 September were Saudis.

Saudi Arabia has denied any involvement and repeatedly has said its relations with the US remained strong.

Leading Bush administration officials have said publicly that ties with Saudi Arabia were excellent.

The lawsuit also comes just days after Saudi Arabia ruled out handing over to the US 16 alleged al-Qaeda fighters extradited from Iran.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Okaz, branded the suit as "the largest operation of blackmail plotted by secret hands".

Yeah, sure. The Saudis know all about dirty plots, don't they? They'll be having all kinds of fun when the bombs start dropping on their heads because of their support of terrorism.

[facedown]

"We must question those who think that America is our strategic option that cannot be substituted. Those will put us in a narrow space, and their [belief] is not supported by objective justification," the Al-Riyadh editorial said on Friday.

Who do you have in mind, France?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Why, that's an insult to bastards everywhere !
Seriously, its my fond hope a judge somewhere awards every Sept 11 victim's family $25 million and Saudi assets in the US are rounded up to pay off the judge's award.

[A CA Guy]

I think the ISSUE is about: How much of a country like this is really moderate and how much of it is radical?

If they sever and reveal they are radical, at least we know where they stand and perhaps where the guns should point.

[TLBSHOW]

Islam is a false religion and saudi is the enemy too!

[Falcon4.0]

Aren't these the people who got the sh!t bombed out of them in WWII. If I were GWB I'd tell them up front, nobody stopped the Hitler untill millions died because we didn't want to make him mad. If their not behind us now don't come whinning when your sad ass gets bombed.

[adambc123]

Another tidbit about our "friends" -- if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport, they will not let you enter their country. Wow! I can't visit our "great allly" Saudi Arabia because I visited our ally Israel! See link below.

http://www.namasthenri.com/Visas/ksavisa.html

(They'd probably kick me in the head and call me a dirty Jew anyway....)

[FreedomPoster]

at least we know where they stand and perhaps where the guns should point.

There is no doubt in my mind on that point, and that they should be next after Iraq and, perhaps, Iran.

[DC native]

LOL, literally, at your reply. Let's freeze their asseTs!

[A CA Guy]

I honestly wish they would be less radical. I really wish we could do something else with them rather than reduce their population because of a national threat to us.

But how else do you deal with "We hate you and want you all dead".
That is not said on record, but in the streets it is a constant cry in those nations.

[sarasmom]

Well, the "USA street" says Saudi Arabia second, Iraq third.This, of course, assumes the "world" understands that Afghanistan was first.

The USA "street" is more flexable on #2 and #3, as long as we perceive action.

Mike, Joe and Bob know where Abdullah,Jose and Yi hang out.

It may get really ugly, really quickly.

Got Gun? Get Ammo.

[river rat]

The House of Saud is the diseased whore that gave birth to and sustains radical/militant Islam...

The treacherous two faced lying bitch has earned our hatred, and deserves to feel the wrath of a brutal American vengence.
Semper Fi

[Terridan]

ARE THEY THAT STUPID? YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD RUN NOT WALK TO PLEAD THEIR ALLIANCE WITH THE USA!!!!