Saudi Arabia 'shocked' to be added to watchlist

WorldNetDaily ^ | Posted: September 20, 2002 | Paul Sperry

[tomball]

WASHINGTON – Saudi Arabia was "shocked" to learn the Justice Department has added Saudi to a list of terrorist-sponsoring countries subject to immigration restrictions, a spokesman for the royal government told WorldNetDaily yesterday.

According to a highly sensitive four-page Justice memo (page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4) – publicly revealed for the first time yesterday by WND – Attorney General John Ashcroft has authorized U.S. immigration inspectors to begin fingerprinting, photographing and tracking Saudi nationals who enter the U.S. on visas.

Certain Saudi visitors will be scrutinized to the same degree as those from Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya and Syria – known Middle Eastern terrorist-sponsoring countries.

The new Saudi screening, which targets males between 16 and 45, goes into effect Oct. 1. Fifteen of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers, all young males, were Saudi citizens.

"No one had any knowledge of this memo," said the Saudi spokesman. "The Saudi government is obviously quite shocked and surprised to be added to that list."

The Bush administration has tried to keep the new watchlist – which also includes Pakistan and Yemen, Saudi's southern neighbor – as quiet as possible. Diplomatically, it's radioactive; both Saudi and Pakistan are viewed as U.S. allies.

Justice officials have been ordered not to talk to the press on the record about the list, called "Phase 2" of the new special registration of high-risk foreign visitors mandated under The Patriot Act, the homeland security measure passed last year after the Sept. 11 attacks.

The memo, dated Sept. 5, warns Immigration and Naturalization Service officials to limit its circulation.

"This information is not to be discussed or shared with the media or the public," the memo says (emphasis in the original).

On page 3 of the document, it says Ashcroft has authorized immigration inspectors to consider for special registration any foreign visitor to the U.S. who has traveled to Saudi Arabia, among several other Muslim countries, and can't give a credible explanation for their trip.

The Saudi spokesman, who wished not to be identified until the royal family prepares a more formal reaction, said the kingdom feels betrayed in light of what he characterized as a "high level of support for America and cooperation" in its war on terrorism.

"You can imagine why the Saudi government will have a very tough time swallowing this," he said.

The Saudi government has been accused, however, of financing al-Qaida operations through Saudi-based charities, such as the Muslim World League and the International Islamic Relief Organization.

Its cooperation in the war also has come under question.

Saudi Arabia has been slow in freezing assets tied to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, who hails from Saudi, and has been reluctant to let U.S. forces use air bases there.

One Pentagon briefer recently called Saudi Arabia the "kernel" of terrorism in the world, spreading Wahhabism – or militant Islamic supremacy – through mosques it funds throughout the Middle East, as well as in the West.

 

 

[El Gato]

Gone! In the twinkling of an eye. POOF!

You exaggerate. It would take a few minutes, even with a Boomer in the Red Sea. Very few though.

[Ben Bolt]

Wait until the silly bastards find out they are on the hit list .

[Ben Bolt]

Tuff tit .

[Ben Bolt]

Shocked my ass ..

[Ben Bolt]

About damn time .

[Ben Bolt]

Speak english damn it .

[Marine Inspector]

Looks like someone let the cat out of the bag.

[alaskanfan]

We should have just let Sadam have at those pieces of twist in the early 90's. Then we could have gone in with complete justification and cleaned up the whole damned place.

[spokeshave]

Make my day punk...are you feeling lucky.....such a nice ending to the week.....

It sure would be icing on the cake if this could be laid at Colin Powell's door..

[spokeshave]

I just love this.... ."it says Ashcroft has authorized immigration inspectors to consider for special registration ANY FOREIGN VISITOR to the U.S. who has traveled to Saudi Arabia, among several other Muslim countries, and can't give a credible explanation for their trip.

Ever seen a fish jump right out of the water and into the boat cooler...?....looks like all those trips to Mecca of the islamafanatics will be curtailed somewhat....especially if a close scruting on return is enforced.

[spokeshave]

scruting = scrutiny (sorry)

[goldstategop]

"Radioactively Diplomatic" my tuchis . Its long overdue. If we had that kind of pre-screening in place before 9-11, 3,000 good Americans would be alive today. To hell with protocol and hurt feelings and diplomatic sensitivities. That's the kind of PC garbage that led to our country being attacked in the first place. What's needed now is to ensure Americans personal safety comes first as it properly should. And if the Saudis are shocked, its not like it comes as a surprise to them. The deportment of certain of their nationals has changed forever the way Americans look at and deal with the House Of Saud and they're just going to have to get used to the reality that things can never ever go back to what they once were. NEVER FORGET 9-11!!!

[Cindy]

Well of course I'm shocked, too. I'm shocked that Saudi Arabia is "shocked." Shocking, for sure.

[johnb838]

First no Visa Express, now this...

Still, it should not have to be played that it means that we are against Saudi Arabia... nor the Paks. It is for their protection as well as ours and that point needs to be hammered home again and again. These are dangerous times. A girl (U.S.) has to be careful who she lets into her home.

Security does not equal punishment.

[iopscusa]

SA=Donkey Kong

[Cautor]

Given 9/11, the Saudi's should be at the head of any list of terrorist states.

[Contra]

Clinton is no longer president, Saudi Arabia. Get use to it.

[depenzz]

So what is the difference between these Saudi people and the people that follow the Liberal line of crap here in America. Look how so many flock to the Clintons and follow their BS. Not much difference the way I see it.

If there were just some way to awake them before its to late but they won't listen or see the wrong in it.

[4Freedom]

The difference is who's Attorney General, not who's President.

[nicmarlo]

Saudi Arabia was "shocked" to learn the Justice Department has added Saudi to a list of terrorist-sponsoring countries subject to immigration restrictions

LOL. And I'm just as shocked, I tell you . . . . shocked!