Did Anyone See the Dateline Special on Saudi Arabia Sunday Night?

8-26-02 | guess

[inquest]

So, as the title implies, did any Freepers out there see last night's Dateline special? I only caught a few segments of it, but from what I could see, it was very interesting on more than one level. For one thing, it documents rather clearly not only the extent to which the Saudis have been protecting terrorists, but further, and more importantly, the extent to which our own government has been whitewashing them. On one of the leads they were tracking, the reporter went to Saudi Arabia to interview a man who was on Washington's list as a financial supporter of terrorism. The man confirmed that the Saudi government, despite repeated extradition requests from us, has not even questioned him. Yet our own government documents, according to Dateline, express nothing but praise for Saudi cooperation in the War on Terror.

So this is interesting in and of itself, but even further questions come to mind:

1. Why would NBC, which has habitually bent over backwards to cover up the Saudis, all of the sudden produce such a blistering report?

2. In fact, the overall tone of the report (from what little I was able to see) had such an anti-establishment quality to it almost worthy of a Lyndon LaRouche infomercial, which again seems rather odd to me for such a quintessentially establishmentarian news outlet.

3. And why the hell would the Saudis consent to an American reporter coming over to blow their lid sky-high? It's like they're basically coming out and admitting that they pulled the trigger, so to speak.

Anyway, I'm hoping there are Freepers better versed in these matters than I, as well as some who might have seen the entire show last night. Thank you, and FReegards, -i.

[jimtorr]

I didn't see it, but I have long wondered at the whitewash, with only occaisonal official comments about the Saudis support of international terror.

[Shermy]

1. Why would NBC, which has habitually bent over backwards to cover up the Saudis, all of the sudden produce such a blistering report?

Maybe they're soliciting stock buys from Saudis to shut them up. Worked for AOL/Time Warner.

[WizardOfOz]

Let me speculate for a moment. I saw the show, it was quite reveiling from a number of angle's. I think that it may all boil down to a question of change of ownership. Early in the 70's I believe, the Saudi's had a considerable amount of oil money invested in the New's Media in this country. As their financial fortune's waxed and waned, their equity in the New's Media dimished. Other money moved in to fill the void. If you are interested in more details, let me know.

[inquest]

It sounds interesting but it still leaves me with the question of why the Saudis consented to NBC going there to interview someone who would all but implicate the Saudi government in the 9/11 attacks.

But anyway, I appreciate the offer. I'd be very interested in knowing what details you have about the relationship between the Saudis and the American press. Thanks, Wiz!