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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[ImpBill]

Screw the Saudis and their oil. I am ready to drive a Yugo if necessary to let those arrogant nomads pretending to be royality exacltly where they can stick their oil and their brand of Islamic garbage.

[Canadian Outrage]

This is why they should send them home in Pine boxes MINUS their asses!! Also FREEZE their assets. A big pullout would be disasterous to the stock market for sure! Lynn

[Shermy]

are the Saudis "concerned" about our classification of detainees? Or do even the Geneva Convention rules concern them....

Your Name! Ahmed. Your Rank! Prince of Riyadh...Your Name! Amir. Your Rank! Prince of Hejaz...

Haven't heard it said, but their could be some royalty at Guantanamo.

[oldtimer]

You got it Bob - tell them to go pound sand...exactly my words.

I fear that we will have to fight all of the arabs before this is all over.

The US, the Brits, probably Germany, and of course, the "french" and others will say we are bad guys.

And then there is China.

A history of warfare since the dawn of civilization.

[Canadian Outrage]

They could buy an awful lot of products from both China and Europe tho.

[Defender2]

Saudis Demand that the US Release Most of the Terrorists Held in Cuba. Defender2's message to the Saudis-FAT CHANCE OF THAT EVER HAPPENING!!!! YOU SHOULD AS WELL GIVE UP ON THIS ONE, SAUDIS!!!!

[kimosabe31]

"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.

Yep...and muslims around the world are laughing their asses off at us. These psychopaths are being treated better than their native countries treat their own citizens. Talk about "schitzo" policy. Meantime we threaten Macedonian Christains with "repercussions" unless they knuckle under to islamic "canniblization" of their country.

[monkeyshine]

Atta boy. This new leader of Saudi Arabia is a dolt. Don't be suprised if within a year he will be confined to his home in Riyadh, just like ole Yassir is confined right now.

[JAWs]

The house of Sa`ud (AKA Wahabbi knuckle draggers) can kiss my assets!

[JAWs]

From the poll today at the Howie Carr show...

Should the U.S. return any Saudi terrorists being held in Cuba to Saudi Arabia for prosecution and punishment?
The count of votes for Yes, we can trust the Saudis to do the right thing is: 3.57%
The count of votes for No bleeping way is: 96.43%

[jdogbearhunter]

they should send them home in Pine boxes MINUS their asses
Then incinerate their combined asses and scatter their ashes over the Saudi desert sands.

[Orion78]

Saudi Arabia funds `behind Taleban' (9/3/98)
Saudi Arabia, Iran to sign security pact (2/2/01)
Saudi Arabia Was The Center Of Hijack Planning (10/17/01)
US to confront Saudi Arabia on financing terrorism (12/2/01)

[No Truce With Kings]

They could buy an awful lot of products from both China and Europe tho.

And what will China and Europe do with that money? Invest it in the U.S. of A. Further, a lot of European companies are American companies, also. Buy from Dalmier, help Chrysler. Buy Opal, help Ford.

Money is like water. It finds its own level. All the Saudis will do if they ditch their American assets (note, they threatened to remove their "Western assets," which includes Europe), is pay higher prices for goods, receive lower interest for cash, with the balance being retained by middlemen dealing with the U.S.

[Canadian Outrage]

I'll tell you what, I don't trust ANY of the Arab nations, not even the "allies?"

[Bulldog1967]

Hey king Fahd......why don't you play hide and go F*** yourself?

Signed,

Families of the 3,000 who died on 9/11

[Bonaparte]

The House of Saud is in a panic. As these "detainees" continue talking, the Sauds may be implicated deeper and deeper in their financing, shielding and encouragement -- perhaps more. Wouldn't it be grand if Bush had no choice but to add Saudi Arabia to the list of terrorist states?

[lilylangtree]

They've got nerve. 15 of the 19 911 terrorists were Saudis. What's the problem here? Perhaps, the US military will gain info from the detainees that the Saudis don't want exposed. Tell the Saudis to "get lost creeps."

[Redleg Duke]

Okay, fine...send them their God Damned Heads on pikes!

[TigersEye]

Post #4 is too cool! That ought to be made into posters and t-shirts and spread throughout the land. As for the Saudis, take their oil and bomb their houses with pork tripe.