U.S. Sent Envoy to Warn Saudis of Imminent Attack

Reuters ^ | Steve Holland

[dead]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A presidential envoy personally warned Saudi Arabia last week of U.S. fears of an imminent attack, days before suicide bombings killed 34 people, including seven Americans, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

The disclosure was made after the United States, in a rare criticism, said Saudi Arabia "must deal with the fact that it has terrorists inside its own country" in the aftermath of the bombings.

U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Bush's deputy national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, went to Riyadh last week to deliver the warning. White House officials would not confirm Hadley's trip, first reported by ABC News.

His Riyadh visit came after the State Department issued a May 1 warning for Americans to put off nonessential travel to Saudi Arabia because "information indicates that terrorist groups may be in the final phases of planning attacks against U.S. interests in Saudi Arabia."

The U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Robert Jordan, complained on Wednesday that the Saudi kingdom did not respond quickly enough to U.S. requests for more security at a compound attacked this week by the bombers.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer essentially backed up Jordan's criticism.

"As with many countries around the world, the fact is that Saudi Arabia must deal with the fact that it has terrorists inside its own country, and their presence is as much a threat to Saudi Arabia as it is to Americans and others who live and work in Saudi Arabia," Fleischer said.

The United States has strong suspicions that al Qaeda was behind the bombings. An FBI team was on its way to Saudi Arabia to help investigate the triple suicide bombings. Bush spoke to Saudi leader Crown Prince Abdullah on Tuesday.

PRAISE FOR COOPERATION

While saying the United States would push Saudi Arabia to "do more" against terrorism, Fleischer went out of his way to praise Saudi Arabia's cooperation. U.S.-Saudi ties were strained after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks because 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis.

Fleischer said the United States was not reassessing its relationship with Saudi Arabia, suggesting this would be what the attackers want.

"The one thing the terrorists want more than anything else is to be able to attack the United States, to attack others in the region and force us into changes in our policies. That will not happen," Fleischer said.

The Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar, made the same point in a toughly worded statement.

"The target of the al Qaeda terrorists is Saudi Arabia and the United States and the 70-year relationship that has benefited both our peoples," he said.

He added: "We say to the people of the United States, as your friend and ally, you can rely on us to do our part as we have done in critical times in the past. We will continue to hunt down the criminals, we will continue to cut off their finances and we will bring them to justice."

National security adviser Condoleezza Rice told reporters cooperation was good between the United States and Saudi Arabia and she anticipated the two countries would work even more closely now.

[Southack]

We can safely conclude that our intelligence gathering has improved somewhat since 9/11/01.

[MatthewViti]

Why didn't this "presidential envoy" warn the Americans in the Kingdom?

[Lady In Blue]

Thanks! I heard part of this on CNN this evening. Bumping for a later read.

[Southack]

"Why didn't this "presidential envoy" warn the Americans in the Kingdom?"

He did. The State Department even broadcast the May 1st warning.

[OldFriend]

Warnings were given to ALL Americans in the middle east. Particulary Saudi Arabia.......

It is my understanding these were civilians, not military personnel, who were attacked. Many under personal contract to Princes and other Saudi companies.

[Lady In Blue]

I may be wrong but I think they were warned-"in the Kingdom."

[Southack]

"His Riyadh visit came after the State Department issued a May 1 warning for Americans to put off nonessential travel to Saudi Arabia because "information indicates that terrorist groups may be in the final phases of planning attacks against U.S. interests in Saudi Arabia."

It was in the begining of the article, fyi.

[Betty Jo]

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/14/1052885292950.html

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/dod/opm-sang.htm

Two articles to tell us how and why Binny hates us.

How George Bush , the father,through Carlyle Group owned most of VINNELL until 1997.

If Vinnell was training the Saudi National Guard,why couldnt it protect itself?

[blam]

America Accuses Saudis

[Betty Jo]

The fourth building attacked was VINNELL, an American company owned until 1997 by George Bush and the Carlyle Group.

These people were under contract to Vinnell, which had a contract with the Saudi Kingdom to train the Saudi National Guard.

Many are/were ex American military.

[MatthewViti]

Are Americans in the Kingdom personally warned? If so, then by whom, SA media, US embassy? Did the US have info. on where an attack might occur?

[Southack]

All Americans were warned by the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia, by the State Department, and by the media (because they published the May 1st warning).

It appears that you were the only one to miss it.

[OldFriend]

The Saudi's refused to strengthen security at the compound that was attacked even tho they had specific information that an attack was imminent.

[Cicero]

For some reason the Admin Moderator just pulled the following post by sdk7x7 on the grounds that it duplicated this thread. But it seems to include further facts:

WABC radio | WABC radio Just heard on WABC Radio [770AM NY METRO AREA, WABCRADIO.COM]... US had specific intel of al-Queda attack on Westerners in Saudi Arabia... Specifically warned Saudis of possible attack on THAT compound that terrorists attacked several days ago... Saudi Air Force, which controls security for the compound, ignored U.S. intel and diplomatic officials' requests for "two vehicles with mounted machine guns" at front gate of compound as well as "reaction team" within compound... Saudi Arabia. A true ally. -sdk

If this is accurately reported, it's even more damning.

[bart99]

I'm in the DC area and have heard that report on several radio programs today.

I've also heard that we are intending to pull ALL of our military out of the country, AND have 'suggested' that all American Citizens leave Saudi Arabia - now!

This could become VERY interesting. There's more behind this.... or more coming...... that we don't know about.

[kIllforUS]

Why didn't this "presidential envoy" warn the Americans in the Kingdom?

The truth is any American has alwyas been warned, their is a permanent travel advisory to practically the entire region. ALso, the only way to really WARN people is if they visit the embassy, which doesnt happen too often. I am pretty upset that with the specific threat warnings that the Saudi's did not elevat their security status or alert level, no beefed up patrols, nothing. Why? Also why is it that terrorists keep conviently knowing when to run?..dam saudi rats

[bart99]

Another thread talks about Al_Queda having infiltrated the Saudi armed forces units....... so it sounds like there was some complicity in this. This was so well planed and orchestrated, moreso than the embassy bombings a few years back..... that they had to have intelligence, material, access, and the knowleedge that there wouldn't be "resistance" to the action.

[prairiebreeze]

Too many of the terrorists got away, this week and last week when the Saudi's found all those weapons but no terrorsits. There has to be a mole, or source in the Saudi police or govt. somewhere. Maybe more than one.

Prairie

[Betty Jo]

Vinnell is a company of ex US servicemen.They were/are there to train the Saudi National Guard.
Why didnt it protect itself? How can you get mega bucks for training the Saudi National Guard when you cant guard yourself?