Saudi Government Provided Aid to 9/11 Hijackers, Sources Say

Los Angeles Times ^ | 8/2/03 | Josh Meyer

[VetsRule]

The 27 classified pages of a congressional report about Sept. 11 depict a Saudi government that not only provided significant money and aid to the suicide hijackers but also allowed potentially hundreds of millions of dollars to flow to Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups through suspect charities and other fronts, according to sources familiar with the document.

One U.S. official who has read the classified section said it describes "very direct, very specific links" between Saudi officials, two of the San Diego-based hijackers and other potential co-conspirators "that cannot be passed off as rogue, isolated or coincidental."

Said another official: "It's really damning. What it says is that not only Saudi entities or nationals are implicated in 9/11, but the [Saudi] government" as well.

Despite such a harsh assessment of the alleged role of the Riyadh government, those U.S.officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say congressional investigators found no specific evidence proving that top Saudi officials — notably members of the royal family — conspired in any purposeful way to fund the Sept. 11 plot or other acts of terrorism.

[...] (Excerpted -- LA Times)

VR

[VetsRule]

IF this is true, it would seem to be an act of war. So why are we putting up with these &@#^%$*@!#*&!@#^s again?

VR

[VetsRule]

Doh. This might be a duplicate (or triplicate), although this story is slightly different from the others. Sorry about that!

VR

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

I'm sure this article is a big surprise to a lot of people. /sarcasm

[Digger]

Have you looked at where we get our oil? That's the ticket. Do you know why we are spending so many resources in Iraq? We are going to make that place a puppet state & control other arenas in the Midle East so as to NEVER be blackmailed, as we are now, by oil. If the Saudis want they can pull their assests from here & collapse this government. That's why GW has to play this game for the near future. But the noose is tightening on these ragheads.

[Chi-townChief]

If all this is classified, how does the LA Slimes know what it says?

[SandRat]

"... One U.S. official who has read the classified section said it describes "very direct, very specific links" between Saudi officials, two of the San Diego-based hijackers and other potential co-conspirators "that cannot be passed off as rogue, isolated or coincidental."

So a US Official saw a classified report and then disclosed to non=cleared third parties information about that report.

Forgive me but I have some very strong opinions on this "Us Official."

IMHO as Retired V eteran about the Disclosure by a "cleared" US Official to Unuthorized Third parties of information to be afforded protection. A disclosure by this "cleared" US Official in willful disregard and violation of the governing regulations that:

1. Granted the US Official the Clearance
2. Certified his/her need to know
3. Instructed the US Official on the rules and requirements for the safeguarding of classified information
4. Instructed this same individual on the penalties for compromising/unauthorized disclosure of classified information

Time for the US AG to start rounding up all parties involed starting with the reporters and editors for some very serious talks about a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng stay on the shaddy side of Leavenworth (Prison).

I'm sorry for ranting but this really has me steamed.

[Destro]

So the guy who liberated the Pentagon Papers was a traitor then?

To hell with classified govt files. To hell with the Fed Govt-

[Libertina]

My firsts thoughts as well - WHY is this being leaked. However, perhaps it is a preferred leak.

[habs4ever]

It is being leaked to go after Bush and raise the temperature on the WH for why they are "covering up" for the Saudis.No matter that this is still an ongoing investigation and the time isn't right to take on the Saudis, the dems and their allies want to call into question WH policy.The motives are political, as always.Niger yellowcake gives way to House of Saud Cover-Up.

[George W. Bush]

I think that BushCo and the intel groups knew that this report would be leaked before they released it. Therefore, this is a deliberate pressure tactic on the Saudis to clean up their act. By not publishing the info now, it gives the Saudis time to get rid of terrorist charities and Wahabbist officials before the real info comes out.

[aristeides]

Aren't you assuming that the leak is unauthorized?

[realpatriot]

"By not publishing the info now, it gives the Saudis time to get rid of terrorist charities and Wahabbist officials before the real info comes out."

Aren't all (or at least, most) of the saudis wahabbists?

[Betty Jo]

How right you are.."to hell with the federal government".

Tell the truth.

About oil,the Bush Family Conglomertate,and Islamic terrorism.

[Constantine XIII]

It is fairly obvious why we aren't letting this out. If it were outted, we would HAVE to go kick Saudi's arse, which we could do with a particularly fierce herd of boy scouts.

Unfortunately, this would also cause all 1 billion moose limbs to go berserk. :/

[sgtbono2002]

I am not sure about people who say to hell with the Federal government. Its our government if you dont like it you can vote and have the opportunity to change it. When you lose you try again you dont say to hell with the government. When documents are classified they arent meant to be talked about and those leaking information on them are security risks. They should be rooted out and removed from the service of the country. It isnt up to a low level Bereaucrat to decide this or that needs to be leaked.

[Redcloak]

To hell with classified govt files. To hell with the Fed Govt-

7 posted on 08/02/2003 8:54 AM PDT by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorisim by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)

---

Kinda funny, these two thoughts in nearly the same breath. "Know your enemy" is one I've hear, but "Let your enemy know you" is a new one.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

I am no lover of the Saudi government, but I have spent much time in the Middle East during my career. And, I can tell you it is an acceptable manner to play both sides against each other. It has crossed my mind that the Saudi government took a good hard look a the weak responses to terrorism against the USA during the eight year Presidency of Bill & Hillary Clinton. Actually, those two Democrat "traitors" did absolutely nothing to deter the strength and capability of terroists all over the world. They weakened our military and destroyed our intelligence mechanisms. The Saudi's, watching this farce, said we'd better get in there and protect our butt because the USA is going down! I'm certain they felt that Al Gore would follow Clinton and the situation would only become more dangerous for them. If the USA wanted to commit suicide, that's its business, but the "House of Saud" is not going down. They did not count on GW Bush becoming President. When the American "tiger" began to roar, the Saudi's got caught red handed with their hands in the cookie jar. You can thank Bill & Hillary Clinton and their "traitor" Democrat Party for this. I just hope the American people put on their thinking caps and never elect such horrible people to office ever again!

[Courier]

With the most convoluted logic I have ever read, please quench my curiosity and tell me in what field you had a "career".

[Libertina]

I know the extremist liberal progressives will always set out to harm President Bush, but I pray that his administration is better prepared to handle it than you give them credit for.

[Monty22]

"Unfortunately, this would also cause all 1 billion moose limbs to go berserk. :/"

Well, 9/11 made 300 million Americans berzerk. WEll, at least half of em.

This is gonna get ugly fast, and I don't CARE one BIT how pissed off the mooselimbs get. F em!

[SandRat]

Aren't you assuming that the leak is unauthorized?

IAW all governing regulations concerning "Classified" information and the fact that "anonymous" US Official is cited by the NYT and other Bushel haters as well as inferences provided on the tube by the "Loyal Members of the Opposition Party" who are on the Intelligence Committees; YES!

I worked, and to an extent still work under those information rules. In my earlier post I stated retired military well that plus post retirement is 30+ years of dealing with undergoing intensive security background checks and training on the proper handling of materials.

If these Dinagalings had to undergo the same kind of background checks as I and others in the military had to/still have to or as Government Civilians/Contractors do these Dinagalings could not get a clearance to read the Grocery Store checkout counter Magazines much less work for one of those tabloids.

Let's put it very simple; they have committed a willful act designed to bring harm to the US.

That's TREASON! or at the very least SEDITION!

Again, I apologize for any anger in this posting but this has really got me steamed.

[aristeides]

If you have all that experience, haven't you ever witnessed an authorized leak?

[habs4ever]

Like they haven't handled things just fine so far? How do you counteract when your opponents lie and are abetted by their fans in the media? Why you'd underestimate Bush et al even now is puzzling.I give them as much credit as they warrant from their performance, which to now has been superb.That proves to me they know what they are doing.Can you disprove that?

[Peach]

What is it about dependency on foreign (Middle Easter) oil that people don't understand? How do people think the United States would exist without oil? (I'm not addressing you personally, aristeides).

[swarthyguy]

Traitors in high places.

[nicko]

one school of thought might be that this is an "approved" leak to help the moderates in the House of Saud who are supportive of the administrations approach, but who are fearful of continued Islamic radical backlash targeted at the perception of support for the infidels- Saud has much to lose from Islamic fundamentalism within- by not publishing the damning documents, the perception still exists, which gives the moderates room to continue to fight the Bin Ladens from the inside...just an idea...

[PsyOp]

"That's TREASON! or at the very least SEDITION!"

Well said. I agree completely. When government officials leak classified information, they should be subjected to the same punishments as any military man or woman would be if they did the same.

First and foremost they should have to undergo the same background checks the rest of us are subjected to before being allowed to see it. If you can't pass the appropriate background check, you don't get to see the reports in the first place.

[AIC]

To let you know that NO country who invest in the U.S. can withdraw/pullout their money and collapse this country!
Why, because, for one thing there are a lot of non-liquid assets that would have to be sold. The banks only let so much money go out of the country at one time. If a country would try to take enough money away that it would hurt the country, the banks would not let it go.
It is much easier to invest in the U.S. than it is to get it and take it out. Remember, your liquid dollar assets are just a piece of paper saying IOU so much. No hard currency to back up the dollar. If by some miracle a country was able to take that much money away, the U.S. would issue the numbers to other banks in the world and tell them that the U.S. will not honor those notes and they will be left with nothing but useless paper and then print more. Of course this is just a nutshell reason why it can't be done.

[SandRat]

If most of them had to pass the background checks to be sworn into office we would not have had X42.

I still think that they should be subject to the UCMJ if they are in any elected or appointed position in the US Federal Government.

These guys are making Adam Clayton Powell and Jim Trafficant look like saints.

[optimistically_conservative]

That's a pretty good assessment, I'd like to add to it if I may.

Anyone, who has spent any time in the ME, knows that fundamental islamism/terrorism is part of the political and social fabric of the ME. There are precious few countries in the Southern Europe, Mid/South West Asia, Northern Africa region that do not have ties to "terrorist" groups. If you're a rich oil despot, you almost certainly have financial ties to terrorism - whether you intended to or not. Most likely, you didn't care one way or another.

This apoplexy being demonstrated by too many here concerning Saudi Arabia is troubling. Both from a concern for our country, and a concern for strengthening the "disloyal opposition."

[yonif]

This has been reported in other media as well. Saudi Arabia, just like the rest of the countries in the Arab World, sponsors terrorism against the US and Israel. They support terrorists and fund them, terrorists such as Hamas and others.

The US is making a big mistake calling Saudi Arabia a "friend and ally" on the war on terrorism. The reason? The Saudis are going against Al Queda for a different reason then the US.

Al Queda wants to overthrow the Saudi government. The Saudi government, as in all dictatorships, wants to remain in power. THIS IS the reason why it is going after Al Queda. It is not because of the innocents that Al Queda kills, maims, or orphans. It is not because they hated what Al Queda did on Sept. 11. It is none of those reasons. It could care less about what Al Queda does around the world.

It is simply USING the US to go after Al Queda to save its power. That is all.

It is NOT against terrorism.

[FairOpinion]

Suggest reading this article and thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/956829/posts

This is more honest reporting than the other articles, which make it sound like there is "smoking gun" evidence.

Note the report "raises the possibility" about ties, but provides NO SOLID EVIDENCE.

"The congressional investigators, however, warn the leads they have dug up for the FBI and CIA to pursue are at times contradictory or circumstantial. U.S. intelligence and FBI investigators view the evidence of ties to Saudi intelligence as unclear, the officials said."

Weren't the same Democrats complaining that there wasn't sufficient intelligent information about Saddam's WMD to justify a war, and now they are all up in arms against the Saudi on MUCH MUCH LESS, even contradictory evidence?

[AIC]

All that was said in this article has been said piece meal after 9/11. It was the FBI who had this information about these people and even the persons name was mention. The money came from the princess and was given to charities and school scholarships. The scholarships are the OTHER in the article. The only new thing is the blackouts that are classified and I Think that was brought out last week because the news media is stiring the pot to sell papers. Nothing new here. Just trying to sell papers with old news slanted and put together differently.

[optimistically_conservative]

Who would be the leaking authority then, might I ask?

Would it have to be the same as the declassifying authority?

Perhaps we can come up with a whistleblowing authority?

How about a statute subversion authority?

[Mulder]

Time for the US AG to start rounding up all parties involed starting with the reporters and editors for some very serious talks about a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng stay on the shaddy side of Leavenworth (Prison).

If people are leaking legitimate national security information, then I agree. They should be in jail.

On the other, if folks are slapping a "classified" label on documents solely to cover their political asses, then they should go to jail.

[FairOpinion]

Don't worry, a lot more is going on behind the scenes. Bush is working according to priorities, we can't just take over the entire Middle East in one day.

This current furor over these pages is nothing more than the Democrats trying to create a furor over Saudi, to try to make people think we should have attacked Saudi, instead of Iraq, just to attack Bush.

Note that with all their talk against Saudi, the Democrats are the ones who oppose drilling in ANWR, which could substitute the oil we import from Saudi.

If we publicly attack and sanction the Saudis now, then the pro-US elements will become powerless, the Bin-Laden sympathizers take over and turn it into another haven for them, like Afghanistan was, cut off our oil, killing our fragile recovery and send us into a depression. Of Course the Democrats would like nothing more: destroy the US, just so they can achive their political ambitions.

People need to think things through, before falling for the Dems' political attack drumbeat, using the Saudi issue, as a Trojan Horse.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

You are evidently a person that never thinks outside the box! My career my friend, is my business. Just suffice to say I have had mega experience in dealing with Arabs, some good, some bad. I do certainly know how they think. Your mind should take note that these folks have existed for thousands of years, by being "practical" survivers! When they see one ally going down, they shift to another behind the scenes. It's an accepted way of life! Of course, people like the Clintons would never think to put themselves in someone's different culture. It's only always about them. That is a dangerous way to play in world game where there are plots within plots and schemes within schemes! When I hear Democrats say, "why it was only about sex", I cringe knowing the way the rest of our "enemy" world looked at us! We were just made ripe for the pickings of our enemies by Bill and Hillary Clinton's inattention to the nation's most critcal business, our security! Many innocent Americans have died because of their failure to protect our country!

[mtbopfuyn]

But, but, that can't be because they're our friends!!! Not.

One step at a time. We're already spread thin and with the Saudi's against AL, then use them while we can. With NK waving it's arms, SA can be placed further down the list.

[FairOpinion]

The bottom line is:

Do we trust Bush to deal with the world and Saudi, on his own time, based on seeing the big picture, or do we fall prey to the Democrats' drumbeat, who are perfectly willing to screw up our war on terror and everything else, to attack Bush.

And let me repeat a perceptive post from another thread:

===

"Also note that other articles specifically mention that there is no real evidence in the 28 pages, the "evidence" is circumstantial, inconclusive, and contradictory.

There is nothing in here that we didn't already know -- save some speculation based on contradictory reports and inconclusive evidence.

Having failed with the Niger Incident, the media and the Democrats are now trying to turn L'affaire al-Bayoumi, et al into more Bush bashing agitprop.

We don't need to be a party to it.


33 posted on 08/01/2003 9:22 PM PDT by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE.) "

===

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/956811/posts?page=33#33

[yonif]

I agree that the Democrats are just using this as a tool. And I agree that if they really cared about it they would be for drilling in ANWAR.

But I have reservations about all this cuddling with them. I fear it could backfire on us.

"Your either with us, or you are with the terrorists"

[Courier]

Blaming the Clinton's first, last and always is not thinking outside the box.

What it is, is getting rather tiring.

[Bulldog1967]

I'm shocked.

No, really.

[MississippiMan]

I'm sorry for ranting but this really has me steamed.

You don't know that the leak wasn't sanctioned and intentional. I also think this is the kind of information the public has a right to know. To classify details that can compromise people or specific interests is one thing; to cover up the broad facts as to who our enemies and friends are is not necessarily in the same vein. We don't have enough information to know, basically.

MM

[Destro]

Then, again, our military training is in many respects superior to that of our adversaries. Our city is thrown open to the world, though and we never expel a foreigner and prevent him from seeing or learning anything of which the secret if revealed to an enemy might profit him. We rely not upon management or trickery, but upon our own hearts and hands. And in the matter of education, whereas they from early youth are always undergoing laborious exercises which are to make them brave, we live at ease, and yet are equally ready to face the perils which they face.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

My dear friend! You are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine! You may love the Clintons and that is your right. I detest both of them whith every bone in my body! The passing of time and history will prove who is right, not you or me!

[Courier]

Is that more of your thinking outside the box?

If I don't believe everything in 2003 relates to the Clinton's, then I must love them?

If everyone loved the Clinton's as much as I do, Hillary would just now be about to be paroled for the illegal futures trading and Bill would need to pay for BJ's.

[Afronaut]

"Instead, Republicans, like Democrats, only criticize the misuse of power when the other party is to blame. When one of their own is the culprit, they seem willing to tolerate virtually any abuse or abridgement."

[kinghorse]

I like seeing these right to the point liberals, or should I say, left to the point, come in here with soft cuddly names like Peach and Angel. Can Fuzzy Bunny and Snookums be far behind. It's hilarious to watch the Patriotic Zealots in here completely ignoring the Muffin and Sweetcakes hard hitting guerilla DU'er posts. Well what about it Peach? What's your suggested course of action to supplant the combustion engine? You have none. People understand this grim calculus and accept the present state of affairs. It's fair to question it but at some point you have to convey a sense of what the corrective plan will be. Liberals have no plan and as such are getting little play.

[montag813]

My firsts thoughts as well - WHY is this being leaked. However, perhaps it is a preferred leak.

INSIDER ALERT: My West Wing sources tell me the leaks came from both Democrat and Republican Senators to the New York Times and others. They tell me there was a huge internal Admin fight over this. There are many staffers angry about the decision to keep the 28 pages classified, but they are afraid to speak. Unfortunately the good forces of Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Cheney et al have been somewhat on the defensive over the Iraq/Niger/Nuclear flap, and this weakend their position on this issue. Powell is squeaky clean on that media "scandal", and used his new power to protect the Saudis. Tenet, who is also on the defensive, backed Powell, I am told, telling the President that revealing the 28 pages would compromise the war on terror. This is clearly far from the truth. The ease with which the pro-Saudi side won was made clear when the Saudi Foreign Minister got a meeting with Bush within 12 hours of the release of the report. Staffers were stunned and dismayed by this unusually rapid access to the President, which they described as a ruse to make it appear that the Saudis had nothing to hide, when in fact they were pushing all along for the 28 pages to be kept under wraps...you will hear this NOWHERE else. But my sources swear to this.