New Evidence Links Saudi Royal Family To Al Qaeda And Extremists, But May Never Be Used In 9/11 Suit

New York Times:

WASHINGTON -- Documents gathered by lawyers for the families of Sept. 11 victims provide new evidence of extensive financial support for Al Qaeda and other extremist groups by members of the Saudi royal family, but the material may never find its way into court because of legal and diplomatic obstacles.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[javaz]

This is not news for anyone paying attention.

[MNTom]

NO KIDDING!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!! This is not new. I have been saying this since 911. Now we might have some proof.

[IMissAmerica]

This just underscores the need for the US to create an economy that creates its own energy. We must no longer be dependent on these people in any way.

[Pleneras]

I laughed my arse off when I read the headline and the first paragraph. What's wrong with the media? Do they think people did not know this since 9/11?

[liberaldawg]

And who has been the chief benefactor of Saudi Arabia in
this country? Neocons like the Bush family and Dick Cheney.

Quite frankly, it is sickening.

[Cambridge9]

When I watched the news story some years ago of Bush walking into his house in Crawford hand in hand with the Saudi Prince I thought it was all about oil, but this story raises new questions. And the friendship between the two families, I believe, is more than national diplomacy - and I wouldn't be surprised if it continues to this day.

I second you comment - frankly, it is sickening.

[glockman]

Hmm, so when Bush holds the royal saudi hand it's sickening and an attempt to woo the man for oil, but when Obama bows (or whatever he did), it's diplomacy?

Maybe someday you'll realize all presidents are in the hip pocket of the saudi royal family. Yes, it's about oil, but not just for the Bush family. So go fill up your tank with that saudi oil based gasoline and then drive back home to post abother simple minded response to what has long been a problem in this country.

[Anthony Lema]

Bottom line......­... Muslim will support Muslim no matter what. The terrorists want an Islamic world.....­.......Sau­dis want an Islamic world. Simple.

[arvay]

Dimple thoughts for simple people.

[VinceTeeter]

Oh hey, and Rushpublicans embrace these fanatics' love of fear, hate, ignorance, and greed

[raechel]

Wrong for so many reasons, but if it helps you to get a handle on things, go ahead and reduce this complex network of relationships, interests, and history to a slogan.

[grace14]

holding hands..win win-oil?

[glockman]

Holding hands....b­owing, it's all the same...

[RoloTomassi]

And if the connection could be proven to go all the way to the guys who flew the planes on 9/11/2001, would that be all the same as well?

Or would that just be more looney-left conspiracy theory?

Would flying the bin Laden family out of the country on government transport the day after 9/11 still be seen as an innocent act for the sake of diplomacy?

No doubt Obama slid right into the exclusive club alongside his predecessors, but there is one huge distinction between those who continue the cover-up of the crime, and those who committed it.

No, no such link has been established, but then there is indeed a reason that the DoJ is fighting so hard to keep this from seeing the light of day, isn't there?

[grace14]

Does not surprise me at all not at all...know who your real enemies are and need not look far...we have ours to....G*& knows that more then we do....

[TheBurdicks]

Mischaracterization of Saudi Arabia is rampant.
Any objective review will prove Saudi Arabia has been more aggressive, spent more money, lost more police, and been more effective in combating terror than other countries, while remaining concerned with human rights, marked by ground breaking efforts and success at rehabilitation of those suspected of plotting (but not committing) terror.
Fundamental to Islam, and the Saudi character, is charity. Charitable gifts from Saudi’s, rich and poor, have always focused on good works – schools, hospitals, mosques, and books. Some donations have been funneled through organizations like Hamas, and groups like the Taliban, but both the donors and the Saudi authorities have maximized efforts to prevent these donations from supporting terror.
Saudi’s were appalled that 15 of the 9/11 criminals were Saudi. Saudi’s have done nothing to protect these criminals. Years before 9/11, OBL was stripped of his citizenship and expelled. If he returned he would surely face the sword.
During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia provided support to the Mujhaddin, the predecessors of the Taliban. This was under heavy pressure from the US government, and was the only time in 100 years that Saudi Arabia has actively interfered in the internal affairs of any other country.
King Abdullah, the Royal Family, and the Saudi government are, arguably, the most popular administration in the world, enjoying something like 95% public approval. Their proved commitment to reform and modernization is remarkable.

[1differentdrummer]

What of the Wahabbi madrasses?

[TheBurdicks]

Ordinarily, I wouldn't respond to such a one liner, but I do think it would help if there was a little more understanding. Wahabbi is perjorative, not appreciated by the Saudis, who are mostly Salafis, basically literal interpretationists, conservative, but rarely extreme. Madrassas are just schools. Admittedly, some focus too narrowly on rote memorization, and a few in Saudi Arabia may have once advocated an extreme form of Islam. The Saudi authorities have carefully monitored all schools and curriculum, and already closed or reformed any promoting extremism. Same with mosques and imams. Promotion of violence or even extremism is a crime here. Violaters face harsh jail time, and whipping (oh, I know that will raise your hackles, but, Hey, it's not waterboarding!).

[Ryoki]

Sounds like a wonderful place. I'd like to see it during your next elections.

[TheBurdicks]

No, just like anywhere else, it has its good points and its bad. It's safe and secure, but too hot and dusty. The people are great, with a few bad apples, just like anywhere else I've ever been. And the elections last year were orderly, fairly run, and successful in representing the will of the people. Before you sarcastically slam this place, come over and look around. Your eyes might be opened a bit.

[arvay]

It's naive to ignore the fact that the Saudis have supported Al Quaeda to further their own national goals and frankly the idea that any major nation, including Saudi Arabia, has only once "actively interfered in the internal affairs of any other country" is equally naive.

They only really cracked down on actively on Al Quaeda when, as the Taliban is doing in Pakistan, they turned on their "host" and started killing important people in SA and attacking the oil fields. THAT was too much.

Frankly, I'm unmoved by their "charity" which is made necessary by neocolonialism and extremist implementations of Islam, among other causes. The British royals are a tourist attraction, but these characters actually run a country with enormous revenues and global impact. They're like Prince Charles with nuclear weapons.

The Mideast doesn't offer many good alternatives, thanks to our meddling and Israel uber alles policy.

The secular choices are Egypt -- a corrupt secular dictatorship -- and Syria -- which at least has some potential if it would loosen up its economy and tamp down corruption. It would be great to see a successful secular Arab state in the region.

And we've started to play a very dangerous nuclear game with the UAE. Apparently we've learned little from our experience with the Taliban, and expect the UAE to meekly restrict their nuclear ventures to threatening Iran.

[TheBurdicks]

Saudi Arabia never supported Al Quaeda, the sworn enemy of the Saudi regime, the primary target of Al Quaeda and OBL. Describe another instance (besdies Afghanistan) where Saudi Arabia interfered in internal affairs of another nation. This is specifically and repeatedly condemned by Saudi leadership. Al Quaeda opened it's international terrorism down the street in Riyadh in 1996, bombing OPM-SANG, the Saudi Arabian National Guard and military advisors. Charity is one of the five Pillars of Islam. Charity has nothing to do with proselytizing, neocolonialism, or radical Islam. Proselytizing is passive in Islam, in response to requests from non Muslims. No missionaries. No interest in neocolonialism by Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia Islam is Salafism, conservative and based in literal interpretation, but hardly in extremism. The Saudi's have neither nuclear weapons nor nuclear weapon research. They are opposed to nuclear proliferation or existence of nuclear weapons anywhere in the region. How about letting the citizens of the Middle East decide if they want a secular state, as in Turkey? It's not your call, sir! Saudi Arabia stands in opposition to nuclear weapons in UAE, a neighbor, but not in any way a part of, or under the control of, Saudi Arabia.
An aside, might interest in nuclear weapons in the region (UAE?, Iran, "Saddam" Iraq, +N. Korea?) be defensive, based on the ridiculous idea that the U.S. or Israel might launch a preemptive attack? Where would Arabs or Persians (or Koreans) get such a silly notion?

[confidance government]

This really doesn't suprise me; I thought this was common knowledge.

[breakingpoint]

torture no woman's rights slave labor religious extremist 911terrorist

sanctions! boycott!

oh wait, the have oil.

forget it

[opine2u]

Life is like living under one big circus tent called the USA and the way that it's unravelling these days, makes the ticket price for attendance too high for it to be worth watching anymore. The show is over, the acts are all gone, even the elephants, all that's left are the unhappy clowns with fading smiles and crying wet running make up. The Big Top is closed, the show is over, its time to go home if it's not yet foreclosed.
Don't despair the Saudis have Oil coming our way, it'll get here as soon as China gives us enough money for its purchase.

[Shaas]

Is here someone "reinventing the wheel"?

[deepfreezevideo]

It's real simple, the Saudis own some judges and the judges just told Americans that the Saudis have the right to have our evidence destroyed, they have the right to prevent our lawyers from looking at it, and we HAVE NO RIGHTS.

I do know what remaining right I have...all I have to do is find a way to excercise it.
I have the right to declare the Saudis to be terrorists and enemies of the United States of America.
I also have the right to declare that judge an enemy of the people of the United States.

[Palemoon]

Mr. Obama, have you no grasp of, nor sense of, something called JUSTICE? You have the power to right so many wrongs, to punish those responsible for grave misdeeds against our country. Yet, you scoff and snort and complain about a full plate? May I ask sir, when will you be un-busy?

[Mondayboy]

Obama is a politician first and a humanitarian thirdly. He will avoid all the difficult issues until he can win a second chance in office. Then at that time he will not care much whom he offends and will do a lot of good things....­..hopefull­y.

[opine2u]

You're a dreamer, wake up and smell the Rose Garden.

[1differentdrummer]

What set you off? Were you saying things like that during the bush years?

[YewNeekId]

Obama is much too busy fawning for the cameras to give any consideration to this or other issues.

I didn't realize it at the time, but we elected a smile to the office of POTUS when I actually thought we were electing a man who was going to work for the American people.