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Saudis pay suicide bombers families
Foxnews ^ | 4/27/02 | John McCoy

Posted on 04/26/2002 4:24:46 PM PDT by jmccoy1252

WEST BANK — The Saudi Arabian government paid more than $5,000 each to families of suicide bombers and other Palestinians killed in the terror campaign against Israel, according to documents obtained by Fox News.

The documents, discovered by Israeli intelligence officers, contain a list of 102 deceased Palestinians whose families have each been paid 20,000 Saudi riyals — the equivalent of $5,340 — by the Saudi Interior Ministry.

The names on the list were of suicide bombers and Palestinian commanders who had been killed in attacks against Israeli targets. It included the names of some of the highest-profile bombers who have been killed in recent attacks, among them children and women.

The documents, if genuine, contradict the Saudi government’s consistent claim that it does not directly pay suicide bombers’ families. The Saudis have repeatedly insisted the money they send the Palestinians goes to rebuilding areas damaged or destroyed by Israeli forces operating in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Israeli troops found the Saudi Interior Ministry documents when they raided Palestinian offices as part of their ongoing operations in the West Bank.

A spokesman for the Saudi Embassy, who was traveling with Crown Prince Abdullah in Texas following his meeting Thursday with President Bush, said he could not comment on the documents because he had not seen them.

But he repeated claims the Saudis "don’t pay suicide bombers." He criticized what he said was Israel’s attempt to link fundraising for Palestinians to suicide bombers, calling it "a disgrace."

The spokesman also said the story about the documents was Israel's way of trying to undermine the Bush-Abdullah talks.

Bush administration officials did not dispute the report, but noted the Saudis had said repeatedly they did not give money to the bombers’ families.

"The Saudis have assured us that they don’t want the money going to support violence," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said on Friday. He added that the Saudis had promised the funds would only go to "legitimate charities" in the Palestinian areas.

Earlier in the week, U.S. officials seemed more skeptical. Secretary of State Colin Powell told a Senate panel on Wednesday there were indications some of the $100 million collected in a Saudi telethon may have gone to elements of the Islamic military Hamas organization.

"There are troubling aspects as to how that telethon money would be distributed," Powell said. He said he would raise the telethon issue with Saudi officials.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel
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To: jmccoy1252
Imus, this morning on his show, suggested Bush rip that rag off of 'ol Fahad's head............blow his nose in it, and hand it back to him.

I almost ran off the road with laughter during my drive-in.

21 posted on 04/26/2002 6:09:09 PM PDT by DoctorMichael
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To: right_to_defend
Don't worry Abdullah - I understand everything. I know you have to pay off the families. I know it looks bad. But we've got to convince everyone we care about them. That way they won't start asking questions about the personal fortunes we're accumulating.

RE#6 -- You really believe this BS?

22 posted on 04/26/2002 7:06:46 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham
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Comment #23 Removed by Moderator

To: DoctorMichael
Imus, this morning on his show, suggested Bush rip that rag off of 'ol Fahad's head............blow his nose in it, and hand it back to him.

I almost ran off the road with laughter during my drive-in.

Heard it. Too funny!

Another idea for Bush: Tie Fahad to the front of his F250 and drive through the cactus' -- what the heck is the plural of cactus? Cacti? Oh well, you get the point. It's an exersize in visualization.

24 posted on 04/26/2002 7:15:56 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham
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To: jmccoy1252
I say we tell the Saudi's to take their oil and stick it where the sun don't shine.

Nah!

We should pay suicide (homicide) bombers to take out the Saudi Royal (but not very) Family.

25 posted on 04/26/2002 7:21:10 PM PDT by leadhead
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To: right_to_defend
Bush has to forget about his family's personal relationships with the House of Saud and do his duty to this country. Do you disagree?

I expect President Bush to adhere to his oath of office. He is now operating at a level of responsibility above that required in the typical business dealings between multi-millionaires and global corporate interests.

That is not to say that at times the interests of nations and corporations may not rightfully comingle. However, in a conflict of outcomes between the two, national interests must trump corporate interests. Especially concering issues of morality.

I believe the President is acting accordingly, in an extraordinarily difficult situation. To be sure, there have been some changes in direction along the way. This is partly because it is not always clear how best to proceed on circumstances that have do be addressed with diplomacy -- it's rarely "my way or the highway" in international matters unless you are prepared to conquer a country militarily. Many participants (in this arena) are on a learning curve. Best to be pragmatic, even if being so creates a perception of vascillation. I, for one, am prepared to grant the benefit of any doubt.

26 posted on 04/26/2002 7:32:09 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham
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To: right_to_defend
Geez...what a loser...

Bush is doing the right thing with the Saudi's, playing them like a Stativarius, and you're critical???

Go back to the DFU were you belong....

NeverGore

27 posted on 04/26/2002 7:34:54 PM PDT by nevergore
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To: jmccoy1252
The House of Saud is our enemy. The battle lines are being drawn. Pan-Islamists believe that they can win this 100+ years war. If we are unwilling to win, they may.
28 posted on 04/26/2002 7:38:45 PM PDT by SevenDaysInMay
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To: jmccoy1252
Trying to ease tensions in the Middle East or not, President Bush needs to put a harder warning out to all Muslim/Arab nations that pay these families. This is the same as giving a safe place to hide to terrorists.
29 posted on 04/26/2002 7:43:58 PM PDT by Mixer
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To: anniegetyourgun
Thank the Lord for the work that the Israelis have done on getting to Arafat's documents.

It is worth noting that the Israelis probably would not have these documents if they'd done what Bush has been asking them to do ... withdraw immediately.

I certainly hope that Bush is holding his cards close and understands that appeasement will not work with the Arab leaders. They will see it as a sign of weakness. Furthermore, the fact that 15 of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi should not be ignored. If the Saudis continue to support terrorists as they clearly have done and insist on a show down over Palestine, then now may be a better time than a decade from now, when the Saudis and their allies are even better armed with weapons sold to them by us, our enemies and our other "allies", to deal with it. If this is indeed a clash of civilizations, then we better make sure we are on the winning side and make sure they don't have time to develop weapons of mass destruction.

30 posted on 04/26/2002 7:50:07 PM PDT by BeAChooser
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To: SevenDaysInMay
Bump!

g

31 posted on 04/26/2002 8:01:51 PM PDT by Geezerette
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To: BeAChooser
Did he say "withdraw immediately"? Do you remember exactly what he said when they entered Ramallah, etc?
32 posted on 04/26/2002 8:06:03 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: ALL
SQUEEZE HERE
33 posted on 04/26/2002 8:18:46 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: jmccoy1252
How about giving the saudis a heavy crude enema.
34 posted on 04/26/2002 8:45:00 PM PDT by fso301
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To: jmccoy1252
OMG - THIS JUST PISSES ME OFF EVEN MORE - THESE FREAKIN IDIOTS OVER THERE ARE JUST AS BAD AS BID LADEN HIMSELF. WHEN WILL THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WAKE UP AND DEMAND THAT THE USA STOP FLIRTING WITH THESE PEOPLE. THE SAUDIS SHOULD BE THE COUNTRY WE GO AFTER NEXT.
35 posted on 04/26/2002 9:56:09 PM PDT by Lucas1
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To: right_to_defend
What the F*** is Bush doing? I am starting to wonder about Bush and Cheney both. Their policy with the Saudis and their relationships with these people. Bush is starting to lose my support. This is nothing but BS - does he think we are all STUPID?????
36 posted on 04/26/2002 9:57:28 PM PDT by Lucas1
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To: Lucas1
You're sooo transparent!
37 posted on 04/26/2002 10:06:25 PM PDT by MHGinTN
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To: jmccoy1252
I wonder when their name will be added to the "Axis of Evil" list??? ~sarcasm off-we all know the answer to that one.
38 posted on 04/26/2002 10:06:43 PM PDT by brat
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To: brat
Exactly - they should be included in the axis of evil. They are nothing but a bunch of liars. I do not understand why Bush turns the other way when it comes to these people. I just do not get it. I seriously question his reasoning.
39 posted on 04/26/2002 10:09:45 PM PDT by Lucas1
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To: BeAChooser
I agree.
40 posted on 04/26/2002 10:13:05 PM PDT by brat
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