President Obama at a Sept. 11 ceremony in 2015. The Obama administration argues that the bill would put Americans at legal risk overseas. Credit Stephen Crowley/The New York Times
New York Times: Saudi Arabia Warns of Economic Fallout if Congress Passes 9/11 Bill
WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia has told the Obama administration and members of Congress that it will sell off hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of American assets held by the kingdom if Congress passes a bill that would allow the Saudi government to be held responsible in American courts for any role in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The Obama administration has lobbied Congress to block the bill’s passage, according to administration officials and congressional aides from both parties, and the Saudi threats have been the subject of intense discussions in recent weeks between lawmakers and officials from the State Department and the Pentagon. The officials have warned senators of diplomatic and economic fallout from the legislation.
Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, delivered the kingdom’s message personally last month during a trip to Washington, telling lawmakers that Saudi Arabia would be forced to sell up to $750 billion in treasury securities and other assets in the United States before they could be in danger of being frozen by American courts.
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Update: Saudi Arabia threatens to sell off US assets if Congress passes 9/11 bill (The Independent)
WNU Editor: The Saudi government made this threat last month .... but it is only being reported now? It looks like someone decided to leak this story on the eve of President Obama's trip to Saudi Arabia. Only a few news outlets are carrying this story (as of now) .... but this is in every way a big news story. Saudi Arabia is threatening the U.S., and while I do understand Saudi concerns that being blamed for 9/11 will open the door to multiple multi-billion dollar lawsuits .... I say the truth can only set you free. My advice to Congress .... call their bluff .... and demand that the President release the 28 pages that are still classified top secret that pertain to Saudi Arabia's connections to the 9/11, and see what happens next.
8 comments:
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Wow, now we'll never know that Saudi had a hand in it.
I would think that the Saudis should threaten to release the names of those Americans also involved in 911 and that would be a greater threat to the US, should it happen that the 28 pages are released which is highly unlikely. If it is released any redaction in the document would no doubt be relative to US involvement.
If the papers showed Saudi responsibility and it was obvious that the US knew about it, even if only after 911, what does that say about continued selling of weapons used to kill innocents.
Remember also that China threatened to sell off it US dollar cash if it continued to get pressure from the US on civil rights.
It is coming down to release it or not, the Saudi's were responsible and the US was involved.
Anyone who thinks the us was involved in 911 needs to take their meds. As for the Saudis, I agree, let the chips fall where they may.
We should be able to make up our own minds on who was or was not involved.
Just release the papers and cut the crap.
As for meds,
what's the treatment for a bad case of Bandar Bush?
Of course there were Americans involved. GW Bush's administration made the decision to cover up the Saudi role by classifying the 28 pages and Obama, despite the promise he made to the 9/11 families in 2009, has actively continued that coverup. This was a conscious decision made by people who know the contents of that 28 pages. Instead of having such authority, they ought to all be in jail.
Supposedly Cheney assented to the Kunduz airlift.
That is in the same vein.
It would have been much harder to support a large army without sealift coming though Pakistani ports.
Sure Pakistan or a very influential faction therein are playing us for suckers and everyone knows it.
But let us look at alternate history. If we had no supplies coming through Pakistan we would break The Pottery Barn Rule.
Then where would we be?
We might (<- keyword) be in a better place but the ride would still be bumpy.
For example might the espouser of the rule criticize the Bush admin more than he did? Might he have lead anti-war protests?
Publish. Let's see who's been woofing. There are a lot of reputations at stake.
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