Kerry slams Saudi prince for making "Zionist" link to terrorism

Yahoo! News ^ | 5/5/04 | AFP

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON (AFP) -

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) on Wednesday branded as "outrageous" remarks by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz linking terror attacks in the kingdom to "Zionist hands."

"Prince Abdullah's outrageous anti-Semitic comments this week blaming 'Zionists' for the terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia raises serious questions about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to combating terrorism," Kerry said in a statement.

"President Bush (news - web sites) has said nothing. As president, I will never permit this kind of attack to go unanswered."

At a news conference Tuesday, Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal was asked to explain a reference by Prince Abdullah to the "Zionist hands" he said were behind the terror attacks that began a year ago in Saudi Arabia.

"It is no secret that extremist Zionist elements ... are waging a fierce campaign against Saudi Arabia," leveling "false accusations and fabricated slanders" at the kingdom, the foreign minister said.

The minister also said the mastermind of a weekend attack at a Red Sea oil complex that killed five Westerners had links with Islamist dissidents in exile who were associated with pro-Israel parties.

[NormsRevenge]

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) D-Mass., speaks at Woodrow Wilson High School during a 'Cinco De Mayo' celebration in front of handmade paper mache sun Wednesday May 5, 2004, in East Los Angeles. (AP Photo/ Kevork Djansezian)

[Bobber58]

[Sacajaweau]

We have bases in Saudi Arabia AND we get most of our oil from them.

Now one would think that a Presidential candidate would do a little consulting before spewing but there's always tomorrow for Kerry and a revised statement.

How about a little caution, Mr. Kerry.

[PFC]

No, you are wrong. These kinds of outrageous lies need to dealt with directly.

[Bobber58]

Bush keeps his own counsel...Kerry is not required to as yet...just seeing if anything will stick

[rbg81]

Actually, I think the Prince may be on to something. The way to stop Islamic Fundamentalism dead in its tracks is to convince those yahoos that their radical Mullahs are really Zionist agents! It'll be like a dog chasing its tail--they'll wipe themselves out in no time.

[aynrandfreak]

Kerry is right on this issue, but it's easy to seem tough when you're pollsters are telling you that the Jewish vote may be wobbly. His dad was a moral equivalance type of diplomat, and I'm sure that if Kerry became President, he'd sell out Israel for 'global stability' every time.

[truth_seeker]

"We have bases in Saudi Arabia AND we get most of our oil from them."

You are WRONG about getting most of our oil, from Saudi Arabia.

[Paul_B]

At least _someone_ is outraged by the Saudi statement. Too bad it wasn't a Republican. Compromise, and you give Kerry an opportunity. A rather basic lesson.

[Southern Federalist]

Not only is it not true that we get most of our oil from the Saudis, it is also the case that Rumsfeld announced in April of 2003 that we were withdrawing our troops from Saudi Arabia. For the story, check here.

There is also the little fact that the Saudi establishment was up to its fat elbows in 9-11.

If Kerry were capable of taking a principled position, this would be a point at which, fairly or not, he could do Bush some damage. But next week he will explain that when he said there were questions about the Kingdom's commitment to fight terrorism, he certainly didn't mean to suggest there were questions about the Kingdom's commitment to fight terrorism, and anyone who says otherwise is apart of the Republican Attack Machine.

[NRA2BFree]

Everything about Kerry just screams.......SISSY. Let's just be brutally honest here. He's COYOTE UGLY. With all his and Teresa's money he can't change that. LOL!

[Go Gordon]

on Wednesday branded as "outrageous" remarks by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz

I'm surprised he didn't say "Absolutely" outrageous. Anyone else notice his repeated use of absolutes lately? (Never, absolutely, etc.) The consultants must have gotten in his ear to use them to get rid of the Flip-Flop reputation.

[Ah Beng]

As president, I will never permit this kind of attack to go unanswered.

Yeah, yeah, yeah...just like slick willy did.

[CyberAnt]

He's just pandering to the Jewish vote .. it's too little and too late!

[pete anderson]

Actually, in polls that have been recently published Kerry takes around 65% of the Jewish Vote.

I say score one for Kerry, it is about time someone in the U.S. Government spoke the truth about the Saudis.

Remember, it was President Bush who stated that Saudi Arabia and the United States had an "Eternal Friendship."

I hate giving props to Kerry but I just wish Bush would take the Saudis to task.

[bitt]

he's just trying to capitalize on the new situation developing about the Michael Moore movie/Disney thing...

[pete anderson]

Kerry wants to stay as far away from that crack pot Moore as possible. If Kerry had his way Moore would be exiled to Siberia.

[bitt]

all the "Moore" reason to push him closer and closer..."it's an outrage, I tell you, freedom of speech and my rights are being restricted and blah blah"....

[CyberAnt]

Were you aware that we have been secretly using Saudi air space and other Saudi facilities for the Iraq war ..?? It's been kept secret (until last week) because the Saudi's didn't want to stir up other muslims or Arabs.

And .. for "one prince" to spout off that he thinks Israel was involved in Saudi's recent terrorism .. is just laughable .. so laughable it doesn't even warrant a reply. Kerry should have just kept his mouth shut.

Sooooo .. while you're so busy being so gracious to Kerry, I still say Kerry is doing it to pander to the Jewish vote, and to diss the people who have helped Bush in the WOT.

I find this behavior by Kerry ironic since Kerry is out there spewing everyday how HE will bring the international community together over Iraq - well I can tell you .. after all the insults Kerry has thrown at the international community .. he'll be lucky if they even speak to him.