Saudi Arabia Blasts 'Deaf' U.S. Congressmen

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia bitterly criticized on Wednesday a U.S. congressional report that implied the kingdom's complicity in the September 11, 2001 attacks.

"How can Saudi Arabia be the main country fighting terrorism now and exchanging information that saved lives of people in the United States and at the same time assist terrorism? How is that possible?" Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal asked.

"This is illogical and unacceptable," he told a news conference in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah.

"We have answered many questions, whether on fighting terrorism or funding it... with figures, facts and documents that leave no room for doubt, but it seems some members of the Congress are deaf when it comes to Saudi Arabia."

Prince Saud visited Washington last week to ask President Bush (news - web sites) to declassify parts of the congressional report that dealt with Saudi Arabia. Bush refused.

Prince Saud said the main purpose of his trip was to prove that Saudi Arabia had nothing to hide.

"Where are the facts, where is the evidence? If they want to hide the truth, make false accusations and write unpublished documents here and there, we cannot deal with that," he said.

The congressional report spoke of possible links between individuals in the Saudi government and some of the September 11 hijackers, 15 of whom were Saudis.

Prince Saud declined to give any details on the questioning by FBI (news - web sites) agents of one Saudi mentioned in the report, Omar al-Bayoumi. Bayoumi, who has denied any link to the September 11 attacks, was interrogated in Jeddah on Saturday.

The report said Bayoumi had helped two of the hijackers, Khaled al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi, when they moved to San Diego, adding that although he was a student he had "access to seemingly unlimited funding from Saudi Arabia."

The report raised suspicions, but reached no conclusion about whether Bayoumi was connected to the Saudi government.

Relations between longtime allies Riyadh and Washington hit their lowest ebb after the attacks on New York and Washington.

Prince Saud said stringent U.S. security measures against Saudis wishing to travel or study in the United States following September 11 had harmed U.S. and Saudi interests.

He said the kingdom's de facto ruler Crown Prince Abdullah planned to visit Syria, Egypt, Morocco and Russia on a tour to discuss the U.S.-backed "road map" to peace between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as the future of postwar Iraq (news - web sites).

Prince Saud said Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas would visit Saudi Arabia on Thursday to discuss the road map.

We should be very glad that our congressional leadership has more sense than to allow itself to be swayed by the worthless "evidence" the Saudis have provided so far in its attempt to confuse us as to the clear meaning of "Death to America".

Tasty Manatees

For a two headed snake it's very possible Mr. al-Faisal! Just take a look in the mirror and see for yourself.

Prince Saud said Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas would visit Saudi Arabia on Thursday to discuss the road map.

Is that a threat, Prince Saud? Because if it is, to quote our President: Bring it on!!!

Actually it's not possible. We're only asserting the former for diplomatic reasons. Saudi Arabia has long been the center of terrorist funding, and the time is coming soon to pay the piper.

4 posted on 08/06/2003 12:25:10 PM PDT by thoughtomator (Objects in post may be more clever than they first appear)

We all know that lying is part of the Middle Eastern culture but I think they are just beginning to realize that we are now fully aware of that.

Rarely in our history has a more worthy or deserving foe presented themselves for destruction..

We will need to destroy these bastards.

Semper Fi

6 posted on 08/10/2003 3:39:36 PM PDT by river rat (War works......It brings Peace... Give war a chance to destroy Jihadists...)

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