Rumsfeld calls report criticizing Saudi Arabia 'clearly harmful'

Associated Press | August 7, 2002

[HAL9000]

(Pentagon-AP) -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says it's "clearly harmful'' to make public a report criticizing Saudi Arabia.

Rumsfeld says the report doesn't reflect the views of the U-S government -- nor he adds -- even the Defense Policy Board.

He explains the report was prepared by the Rand Corporation and presented to a closed meeting of the defense group, which includes former government officials and experts.

The report claims the Saudis are active at every level of the terror chain. And it says the kingdom is America's "most dangerous opponent'' in the Mideast.

Rumsfeld says Saudi Arabia reflects a "broad spectrum of opinions.'' And he notes the kingdom is wrestling with a number of issues, including the fact that many of the September eleventh hijackers came from Saudi Arabia.

The defense secretary's harshest comments were aimed at those responsible for leaking the report. He says this probably came from someone who wanted to appear important.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) </blockquote

[pgkdan]

and money was apparently sent to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers. The U.S. is pressuring the Saudis to cut off those funds, and has achieved some success on this.

Saudi Arabia IS unding suicide bombers and their families. What success in curbing that funding can you cite? Do you think they missed their terrorist fundraising goals with their last telethon?

[HAL9000]

What success in curbing that funding can you cite?

The U.S. demanded that the Saudis cut off funds to the madrassas that were teaching anti-American hatred in Pakistan, and if I recall correctly, they agreed to do so.

[NetValue]

One of the primary benefits of diplomacy is that by using its language and techniques, nations and leaders do not have to face up to and deal with the truth.

In the war on terrorism we have lost touch with the truth. Some of the big lies: Arafat is not a "terrorist"; Saudi Arabia is a friend; Iran is becoming moderate; Islam is a peaceful religion.

We are burying our national righteousness in lies. We are losing our way.

Message to politicians on both sides: State the facts. Face the facts. Act upon the facts. Act alone if you must, but for God's sake, act.

Make the world safe for truth, justice and the American way.

[Stavka2]

The "it'll only get worse" argument is the last defense of scoundrels. Sorry, I don't buy into it. It might get worse and it might get better, but to always keep the devil you know doesn't quite work out well...especially when he's a venomus, lieing, backstabbing little bastard who wouldn't even be there if the US was spending $10 billion defense dollars protecting his melicious arse.

[Stavka2]

The U.S. demanded that the Saudis cut off funds to the madrassas that were teaching anti-American hatred in Pakistan, and if I recall correctly, they agreed to do so.

Really? Last I checked it was the Pakistanies who decided to close them down, not the Saudies who NEVER cut funds.

[HAL9000]

The question was raised at two days ago at the State Department briefing -

QUESTION:  The President and many others in the administration have talked about the financial aspect of the war on terror being very important.  With that respect, talking about the madrasas in Pakistan, what steps have been taken on the financial side that you know of to cut off funding, or the funding streams that come from outside Pakistan and go into the madrasas?  Saudi Arabia comes to mind, Syria.

MR. REEKER:  I don't know.  I don't have any figures with me at this time.  We can check back with the counterterrorism people and look at that. 

Hopefully, the statistics will be reported soon.

My recollection of the news reports several months ago is that the Saudis were slow to respond to our complaints about their government funding madrassas in Pakistan that were promoting violence against the U.S., but they did eventually cut off at least some of the funds.