U.S. has quietly expelled dozens of Saudi diplomats

World Tribune ^ | January 29, 2004

[John Jorsett]

The United States has ordered the expulsion of dozens of Saudi diplomats suspected of helping promulgate Al Qaida ideology, diplomatic sources said. The State Dept. has refused to either confirm or deny the action..

The State Department revoked the diplomatic credentials of the Saudi diplomats in Washington over the last month in an effort to crack down on Saudi efforts to promote Al Qaida interests in the United States.

The diplomatic sources said about 70 diplomats and embassy staffers were expelled in late 2003 and dozens of others were ordered to leave the United States by mid-February. Many of those expelled were said to have worked in the office of the Saudi defense attache.

In all, about 70 Saudi diplomats have left the United States since January, the sources said. They did not include Saudi ambassador to Washington, Prince Bandar Bin Sultan, the longest serving diplomat in the United States.

The State Department has refused to confirm the expulsion of the Saudi diplomats. "I can't confirm it at this point," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said on Wednesday. "I'll see if there's anything I can say for you." The Saudi diplomats, in a determination made by the FBI and Homeland Security Department, were said to have abused their diplomatic privileges in the United States. The sources said most of the diplomats were responsible for operations of the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in America [IIASA] located in Fairfax, Va.

IIASA, established in 1988, has provided free training for hundreds of Muslims in the United States in Wahabi ideology, the basis for Al Qaida. The institute is one of six overseas branches of the main religious university in Saudi Arabia.

The Washington-based Saudi Information Agency, operated by the Saudi opposition, identified the Saudi diplomats who work at the institute as Fuad Gunaim, Ibrahim Al Kulaib, Abdallah Al Saif, Saleh Al Sunae, Fahd Al Amer, Saab Al Saab, and Yousef Al Shubaily.

The U.S. decision to expel the diplomats was said to have stemmed from a Houston, Texas conference in December 2003. The Saudi opposition agency said Saudi diplomats had planned to attend the conference with what it termed "known supporters of Al Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden. The Saudi embassy canceled its participation in the conference after the Washington Post reported the involvement of the diplomats.

The conference was to have been addressed by a senior Saudi cleric Sheik Abdullah Bin Jebreen, who has publicly supported Bin Laden and his war against the United States, the agency said. Jebreen addressed the conference via video link from Riyad.

[On Thursday, a statement purportedly issued by Bin Laden said Al Qaida's strategy was to launch a major attack on the United States. The statement, which appeared on the Voice of Jihad website, said Al Qaida wants to provoke the United States to retaliate against Saudi Arabia.] The agency said Saudi ambassador Prince Bandar Bin Sultan has refused to take responsibility for the Saudi embassy in Washington. The agency cited a source as saying he hasn't entered the embassy in years.

"Many diplomats have not seen the ambassador for years," the source said. "Bandar spends most of his time at his mansions around the U.S. and the world, instead of carrying on his ambassadorial duties."

[BartMan1]

Know thine enemies ping....

[NetValue]

"The United States has ordered the expulsion of dozens of Saudi diplomats suspected of helping promulgate Al Qaida ideology, diplomatic sources said. The State Dept. has refused to either confirm or deny the action..."

State probably feels ashamed that they have done something for America, something they should have been doing all along, at least since 9-11, something that shows some backbone and principle. 'Bout time.

[brownsfan]

Although I have concerns about the offshore outsourcing, and our government's role in it, this is one place I'm 100% behind our President!
I watched some of that video of the bus bombing in Israel yesterday. As much as I could take until I was overwhelmed by revulsion, and anger. These people, Muslim extremists, and terrorists, (same thing?), are animals. Absolute, uncaring, gutless, remorseless animals!
The liberals want to "reason" and be nice. Here's my analogy: When a child is young, say, 10 months old, and does things that will harm him, you can't reason with him. The liberal, bleeding heart mentality says to talk to him, say, "Johnny, don't run into the street, you could be killed". Doesn't work. Johnny doesn't understand, he just knows he wants to go in the street. If you warm his backside when he gets near the street, he figures it out! And you save his life.
It seems to me that the Muslim extremists don't understand reason. They only know what they are told by their Imam. And that is: Everyone should be Muslim, anyone who isn't, isn't fit to live. If you have to kill yourself to kill them, that's a GOOD thing. How do you reason with that?! So, you "warm their backside".
You keep them out of your country. You contain them to their own countries. You attempt to reach the young Muslims and educate them. But you don't reason with them. The time for reason has long past.
The liberals think that since nothing has happened since 9/11, nothing will happen. False security. To our President's credit, he's done such a good job that the liberals have forgotten the threat. And make no mistake, this is no accident, we haven't had more attacks BECAUSE of the fine job of the Bush administration!
Make no mistake, we are at war. The "war on terror" is not a slick phrase. It's not something made up for political gain. If we let our guard down, the price we pay may be higher than we imagine.
I post much about my dissatisfaction with Mr. Bush's domestic policy, but the war on terror will compel me to vote for him. Whether I have a job or not won't matter if I'm dead at the hands of a terrorist.

[LS]

Well, I guess it's not so "quiet" any more, is it?

[LS]

I don't think there is any true conservative who supports CFR, the prescrip. drug bill, or the bloated budgets, and certainly not the "amnesty" program.

That said, not nearly enough has been made (and the admin. is at fault) of Bush's PHENOMENAL pro-life record. He has issued four separate executive orders that have, for the first time ever, actually reduced the numbers of abortions that could be "impacted" by the federal government, not to mention the PBA signature. This is totally ignored.

Overall, though, I'm with you, that national security is such a high priority above these other mis-steps that it's a "no call." Think of George Washington, and how Thomas Jefferson--Mr. Small Government himself---supported him and "compromised" to create a government-sponsored bank, all because of Washington's other exceptional attibutes and character.

[brownsfan]

Overall, though, I'm with you, that national security is such a high priority above these other mis-steps that it's a "no call." Think of George Washington, and how Thomas Jefferson--Mr. Small Government himself---supported him and "compromised" to create a government-sponsored bank, all because of Washington's other exceptional attibutes and character.

In short, the government's #1 job is national defense. If it does nothing else, that is the one function it should perform.

[LS]

Yep. I can't help but think that based on comments such as the general's that we'll "find" Osama by year's end that they know something we don't.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Based on my and others' investigations, these dark, questionable dudes [Fuad Gunaim, Ibrahim Al Kulaib, Abdallah Al Saif, Saleh Al Sunae, Fahd Al Amer, Saab Al Saab, and Yousef Al Shubaily] most work (or worked, rather), in the "Islamic Affairs Department (IAD)" of the Royal Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C. Most of them lived in D.C. or Northern Virginia. They could be spotted with their "KV" auto tags (State dept). and hanging around various mosques in the area....fifth column at best. There is probably a money flow to terrorism, and certainly an attack could be facilitated or encouraged through such individuals here in our very own country. Specifically, Sheikh Yousef Al-Shubaily [Islamic and Arabic Sciences in America (IIASA)]

and Ibrahim Al-Kulaib have definite al-Qaeda supporter credentials.

[TalBlack]

The State Department revoked the diplomatic credentials of the Saudi diplomats in Washington over the last month in an effort to crack down on Saudi efforts to promote Al Qaida interests in the United States.

"Efforts". Saudi "'efforts' to promote Al Qaidia 'interests'"

I do truly hope, that at a proper time, America pays the Saud's ten fold for these 'efforts'

Yeah, keep dreaming.

[DoctorMichael]

"...The State Department has refused to confirm the expulsion of the Saudi diplomats....."

The State Dept. is so maddening!

We oughta EXPEL a few of them!

[Guillermo]

Saudi is the primary source of terrorism, and Saudi gets a pass...

Their people don't have to be fingerprinted, but Brazilians do...

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

It's worth noting that according to the Saudi's complaint about this, many of these "diplomats" were in fact clerics and academics here on diplomatic passports.

They were practicing any form of diplomatic work, rather engaged in teaching Arabic language for non-Arabic speaking people as well s for preaching the Islamic religion in America.

It took the State Dept nearly 3 years post 9/11 to simply enforce our passport regulations, as it pertains to Saudis, of course.

Statement from Saudi Embassy in Washington on Expulsion of Diplomats

[AmericanInTokyo]

An actual photo of Washington, D.C. Saudi Embassy-related terrorist symp/supporting organization (fundraising, propagation, recruiting, Wahabbi propaganda), actually still in existence, that anyone can easily visit and walk into, only 30 minutes from the Front Porch of the White House, and even less distance to several sites of terror on September 11th in the Capital Region:

[hchutch]

FYI.

[OXENinFLA]

SAUDI ACCOUNTABILITY ACT -- (Senate - January 28, 2004)


[Page: S317] GPO's PDF
---
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I rise to comment on S. 1888, the Saudi Arabia Accountability Act of 2003, introduced by Senator SPECTER. I commend my colleague for his leadership on this issue. Combating terrorism is our highest national security priority at this time, and I have long had concerns regarding Saudi support for terrorist groups. While the administration has stated that the Government of Saudi Arabia has recently increased its cooperation with the United States, and while I do believe that last week's joint U.S.-Saudi announcement regarding Al-Haramain branches in Pakistan, Indonesia, Kenya and Tanzania is a positive step, it remains evident that the Saudi Government has often turned a blind eye to many activities that foster terrorism and, in some cases, Saudi leadership appears to have supported terrorism directly. This bill serves to exert pressure on Saudi Arabia to increase its counterterrorism efforts or to face limited sanctions. Cutting the links between terrorist organizations and their sponsoring governments is one of the most crucial tasks in the fight against terrorism, and I support the goals of this legislation.

However, the legislation raises other concerns that must be carefully considered by Congress. I am concerned that the legislation demonstrates the degree to which we, as policymakers, wear blinders in our relationship with Saudi Arabia. The legislation expresses dissatisfaction with the Government of Saudi Arabia solely for their lack of cooperation on the global war on terrorism. But Congress must not fail to mention the government's repression of women, grand-scale corruption, widescale detentions, and restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. I fear that these omissions risk sending the wrong message about U.S. foreign policy priorities to the Middle East and other areas of the world. U.S. foreign policy objectives of promoting human rights and democracy must not be neglected while combating terrorism. These do not have to be contradictory goals. Even as we urge the Saudi Government to act more decisively and consistently against terrorism, we must ensure that the U.S. does not inadvertently encourage repression of desperately needed reforms in Saudi Arabia. Only by addressing both sets of issues can we achieve a future in which the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia stands on a firm footing.

The national security implications of failing to speak out bluntly about Saudi support for terrorism prompted me to cosponsor S. 1888. However, I hope that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will take the opportunity to address some of these issues I have raised.

[OXENinFLA]

1st Session

S. 1888
To halt Saudi support for institutions that fund, train, incite, encourage, or in any other way aid and abet terrorism, and to secure full Saudi cooperation in the investigation of terrorist incidents.


IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 18, 2003
Mr. SPECTER (for himself, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. GRAHAM of South Carolina, Mr. WYDEN, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. GRAHAM of Florida, and Mr. BAYH) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

---

A BILL
To halt Saudi support for institutions that fund, train, incite, encourage, or in any other way aid and abet terrorism, and to secure full Saudi cooperation in the investigation of terrorist incidents.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Saudi Arabia Accountability Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) mandates that all states `refrain from providing any form of support, active or passive, to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts', take `the necessary steps to prevent the commission of terrorist acts', and `deny safe haven to those who finance, plan, support, or commit terrorist acts'.

(2) The Council on Foreign Relations concluded in an October 2002 report on terrorist financing that `[f]or years, individuals and charities based in Saudi Arabia have been the most important source of funds for al-Qaeda, and for years, Saudi officials have turned a blind eye to this problem'.

(3) The Middle East Media Research Institute concluded in a July 3, 2003, report on Saudi support for Palestinian terrorists that `for decades, the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been the main financial supporter of Palestinian groups fighting Israel'. The report notes specifically that Saudi-sponsored organizations have funneled over $4,000,000,000 to finance the Palestinian intifada that began in September 2000.

(4) Much of this Saudi money has been directed to Hamas and to the families of suicide bombers, directly funding and rewarding suicide bombers. In December 2000, former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas wrote to the Saudis to complain about their support for Hamas.

(5) The New York Times, citing United States and Israeli sources, reported on September 17, 2003, that at least 50 percent of the current operating budget of Hamas comes from `people in Saudi Arabia'.

(6) Many Saudi-funded religious institutions and the literature they distribute teach a message of hate and intolerance that provides an ideological basis for anti-Western terrorism. The effects of these teachings are evidenced by the fact that Osama bin Laden himself and 15 of the 19 September 11th hijackers were Saudi citizens.

(7) After the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers housing complex at Dahran, Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 United States Air Force personnel and wounded approximately 400 people, the Government of Saudi Arabia refused to allow United States officials to question individuals held in detention by the Saudis in connection with the attack.

(8) During an October 2002 hearing on financing of terrorism before the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the Undersecretary for Enforcement of the Department of the Treasury testified that the Government of Saudi Arabia had taken only `baby steps' toward stemming the financing of terrorist activities.

(9) During a July 2003 hearing on terrorism before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security of the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, David Aufhauser, General Counsel of the Treasury Department, stated that Saudi Arabia is, in many cases, the `epicenter' of financing for terrorism.

(10) A joint committee of the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives issued a report on July 24, 2003, that quotes various United States Government personnel who complained that the Saudis refused to cooperate in the investigation of Osama bin Laden and his network both before and after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

(11) There are indications that, since the May 12, 2003, suicide bombings in Riyadh, the Government of Saudi Arabia is making a more serious effort to combat terrorism.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--

(1) it is imperative that the Government of Saudi Arabia immediately and unconditionally--

(A) provide complete, unrestricted, and unobstructed cooperation to the United States, including the unsolicited sharing of relevant intelligence in a consistent and timely fashion, in the investigation of groups and individuals that are suspected of financing, supporting, plotting, or committing an act of terror against United States citizens anywhere in the world, including within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;

(B) permanently close all charities, schools, or other organizations or institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that fund, train, incite, encourage, or in any other way aid and abet terrorism anywhere in the world (hereafter in this Act referred to as `Saudi-based terror organizations'), including by means of providing support for the families of individuals who have committed acts of terrorism;

(C) end funding or other support by the Government of Saudi Arabia for charities, schools, and any other organizations or institutions outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that train, incite, encourage, or in any other way aid and abet terrorism anywhere in the world (hereafter in this Act referred to as `offshore terror organizations'), including by means of providing support for the families of individuals who have committed acts of terrorism; and

(D) block all funding from private Saudi citizens and entities to any Saudi-based terror organization or offshore terrorism organization; and

(2) the President, in deciding whether to make the certification under section 4, should judge whether the Government of Saudi Arabia has continued and sufficiently expanded the efforts to combat terrorism that it redoubled after the May 12, 2003, bombing in Riyadh.

SEC. 4. SANCTIONS.

(a) RESTRICTIONS ON EXPORTS AND DIPLOMATIC TRAVEL- Unless the President makes the certification described in subsection (c), the President shall take the following actions:

(1) Prohibit the export to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and prohibit the issuance of a license for the export to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, of--

(A) any defense articles or defense services on the United States Munitions List under section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778) for which special export controls are warranted under such Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.); and

(B) any item identified on the Commerce Control List maintained under part 774 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations.

(2) Restrict travel of Saudi diplomats assigned to Washington, District of Columbia, New York, New York, the Saudi Consulate General in Houston, or the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles to a 25-mile radius of Washington, District of Columbia, New York, New York, the Saudi Consulate General in Houston, or the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles, respectively.

(b) WAIVER- The President may waive the application of subsection (a) if the President--

(1) determines that it is in the national security interest of the United States to do so; and

(2) submits to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the reasons for such determination.

(c) CERTIFICATION- The President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a certification of any determination made by the President after the date of the enactment of this Act that the Government of Saudi Arabia--

(1) is fully cooperating with the United States in investigating and preventing terrorist attacks;

(2) has permanently closed all Saudi-based terror organizations;

(3) has ended any funding or other support by the Government of Saudi Arabia for any offshore terror organization; and

(4) has exercised maximum efforts to block all funding from private Saudi citizens and entities to offshore terrorist organizations.

SEC. 5. REPORT.

(a) REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT- Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 12 months thereafter until the President makes the certification described in section 4(c), the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the progress made by the Government of Saudi Arabia toward meeting the conditions described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 4(c).

(b) FORM- The report submitted under subsection (a) shall be in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

SEC. 6. DEFINITION OF APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.

In this Act, the term `appropriate congressional committees' means the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives.

[veronica]

Thanks!

[q_an_a]

someone should find out if the Saudi government and its church is sending money to mosques in America. If they are then that is a violation of our constitution. They must stop the support of religion in America by a foreign government.

[JimRed]

It's a good start, though long overdue. After 9/11, all non-citizen Muslims should have been deported by 9/30.