Posted on 11/24/2002 5:14:41 PM PST by MadIvan
The FBI is investigating whether the Saudi royal family gave funds to two of the al-Qa'eda terrorists who attacked the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
Princess Haifa al-Faisal, daughter of the late King Faisal and wife of Prince Bandar, Saudi ambassador to Washington and a friend of the Bush family, sent tens of thousands of dollars to a family linked to a man helping the two hijackers establish themselves in America.
The money, on a list of charitable donations by the princess, is thought to have ended up in the hands of Khalid al-Mindhar and Nawaf al-Hamzi, two of the five al-Qa'eda members who hijacked American Airlines Flight 77.
Fifteen of the 19 hijackers on September 11 were Saudis, but the Bush administration, which relies on Saudi oil and hopes to use Saudi bases to launch a war against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, has sought to play down Saudi Arabia's links to terrorism.
Proof of September 11 terrorists being funded by the Saudi royal family would boost a £10 trillion legal case brought by 3,000 relatives of victims of the attacks. The lawsuit has strained relations between Washington and Riyadh.
Legal papers filed in August allege that 186 defendants, including foreign banks, Islamic foundations and members of the House of Saud, knowingly aided al-Qa'eda terrorists.
The White House said there was no evidence that Princess Haifa knew the eventual destination of the money, paid in monthly instalments in 2000 to the family of Osama Bassnan, a Saudi citizen whose friend Omar al-Bayoumi helped the hijackers.
Bayoumi was enrolled in a graduate business course at Aston University in Birmingham. He was arrested in Britain after September 11 and records of telephone calls to diplomats at the Saudi embassy in Washington were found, but he was released without charge after a week.
He was charged with visa fraud in America, but this is not an extraditable offence and he is thought to have returned to Saudi Arabia.
"While you have an ongoing investigation, it's important not to rush to judgment," said Sean McCormack, the US National Security Council spokesman. "They [the FBI] have in fact received some co-operation from the Saudis on this investigation."
Adel al-Jubeir, foreign policy adviser to Crown Prince Abdullah, de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, said the notion that the princess had aided terrorists was "crazy".
Saudi Arabia "will be merciless against people in the war on terrorism", he said, adding: "Princess Haifa is a very generous woman . . . she donates large amounts of money to charities." The money was said to have been given to the Bassnan family to help pay medical costs.
There have been persistent allegations in Washington that Saudi Arabia helps to foster extreme Islamic fundamentalism. "The Saudi royal family has been engaged in a Faustian bargain for years to keep themselves in power," said Senator John McCain yesterday.
The cheques to Osama Bassnan and his wife were issued from the princess's account at Riggs Bank in Washington. The couple were deported to Saudi Arabia and Jordan respectively recently for visa violations.
Do you really think it is a matter of 'Political Correctness' on the part of the Bush Administration? I don't think so. I sense that the Bush Administration (secretive from the beginning) is playing close to the chest all of the things that are known regarding the Evil Saudis.
It would be extremely unwise for the Bush Administration to play the Democrats little intellectual pursuit. What you hear from the Liberals and other Bulshevichs is "Why not attack the Saudis, Why not attack North Korea, Why not Attack the Sudanese or the Chinese... blah blah blah" I hear this argument all the time. And my response is a blank stare. Because as they say 'loose lips sink ships'.
But I think it is okay to say at this point that we are taking it 'One Conflict at a time'.
And the Saudis are on our ----- LIST!!
expletive deleted
We know the information on this FBI investigation came from a leak from the Intelligence Committee. Known leakers are predominately democrats.
This story has been discussed on the cable channels all day.
Tonight, the odious Senator Lautenberg (the Torricelli replacement) was interviewed on Rita Cosby's show on Fox.
Imagine my astonishment to hear Senator Lautenberg (who voted AGAINST Gulf War I) going on and on about all the trouble the Saudis gave us since then, how they refused to help look for the Cobar Towers bomber, etc. , as if he was a red-hot hawk and pro-intelligence for the last 10 years. In point of fact he made every attempt to hamstring the CIA and the FBI, voted against any military spending, and I will bet cash money he made several junkets to Saudi Arabia and was treated like royalty.
My conclusion is that the princess gave money unknowingly, as the royal family routinely hands out money to all sorts of Saudi hard-luck stories.
Although I do not trust the Saudis because there are too many Islamasists lurking in their midst, I do think this particular story is being ginned up by the democrats. Lautenberg was my clue.
I also am having a hard time knowing exactly how much cooperation the Saudis are giving because the press has taken an anti-Saudi position, even though the press is pro-Palestinian. Although this seems contradictory, I believe it is based on disliking anyone that is a friend of the Bush family. Prince Bandar has known the Bush family for a long time. Either this story is being flogged to cause controversy and disrupt our relationship with the Saudis, or Prince Bandar and his wife are guilty of the most vile treachery. I guess we will eventually find out which is which.
--- why?
Because we haven't secured an alternative source of oil for the West, as yet.
Thus, Iraq.
First...
MadIvan, as odd as the American Tort system may seem at times, there is precedent for holding Nations responsible.
Earliy in the morning of September 30, 1916, an ENORMOUS explosion...perhaps the largest non nuclear 'event' occurred on the Munitions Terminal on Black Tom Island in New Jersey, set off while America was Neutral, by German saboteurs.
Unexploded Artillery Shells were found 15 miles [24+ km] away
The civil litigation it spawned survived two World Wars and was concluded in the late 1960's!
I would hate to learn this intelligence leak was political, drummed up and used to beat the saudi's over the head in order to hurt our President and our goals on the war on terror.
My hope is the timing, and Putin's comment are all related and released via our President's approval.
Said Bill to Monica.
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