House gives 9/11 victims capacity to sue Saudi Arabia in US courts for 9/11.

[Atreus21]

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bill-allowing-911-victims-to-sue-saudi-arabia-heads-to-obamas-desk/

The House approved legislation Friday by voice vote that would allow families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia, CBS News has confirmed.

In May, the Senate passed the measure, which was sponsored by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Chuck Schumer, D-New York.

The White House has expressed opposition to the bill. Speaking to CBS News’ Charlie Rose in April, President Obama warned that the bill could have consequences that would, for example, allow people in other countries to sue the U.S.

Not sure about this. On the one hand, if it's intended to be symbolic I can sort of understand it. On the other hand, our legislature wastes enough taxpayer money without wasting time in symbolic gestures. No way will Saudi Arabia honor any award handed down by an American court that puts the Saudi Arabian treasury on the hook.

 

[Texashiker]

No way will Saudi Arabia honor any award handed down by an American court that puts the Saudi Arabian treasury on the hook.

Does Saudi Arabia have property in the United States? That property can be seized and sold.

Does Saudi Arabia have money in US banks? That money can be seized.

Example - http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Largest-US-Refinery-Now-Belongs-To-Saudi-Arabia.html

Seize the refinery and sell it to pay money awarded by a jury.

 

[ivwshane]

I know this was on my top list of things I need Congress to address! Thank god we have a Congress that's more concerned about the issues than playing bullshit political games!


/S


I still want to know who are the idiots who support these assholes.

 

[Brainonska511]

I think it's a terrible idea and an abdication of Congress' responsibilities. If Congress thought there were lingering questions around 9/11 and Saudi Arabia's involvement, they should be investigating it themselves.

 

[hal2kilo]

Be careful what you wish for. This could work both ways. Are hands aren't exactly clean. Brings to mind drone strikes. And I'm not against drone strikes, even against American citizen traitors.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

We can see from the recent Laos thread how many Americans wouldn't be happy with being on the receiving end of such a lawsuit. Dumb law.

 

[IronWing]

I still want to know who are the idiots who support these assholes.

This might be the solitary thing this Congress has done that I approve of. Fuck the Sauds.

 

[ivwshane]

This might be the solitary thing this Congress has done that I approve of. Fuck the Sauds.

So you don't believe the 9/11 investigation that found no connection with the Saudi government?

 

[leper84]

So you don't believe the 9/11 investigation that found no connection with the Saudi government?

15 of 19 9/11 hijackers were Saudi.

USA Today: "Declassified 9/11 pages show ties to former Saudi ambassador"
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...1-commission-report-released-public/87134942/

NY Times: "In 9/11 Document, View of a Saudi Effort to Thwart U.S. Action on Al Qaeda"
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/16/us/28-pages-saudi-arabia-september-11.html

Reuters: "Pages of U.S. 9/11 report detailing possible Saudi ties made public"
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-usa-congress-idUSKCN0ZV1W0

Washington Post "Congress releases long-classified ‘28 pages’ on alleged Saudi ties to 9/11"
https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...671fde-4ab1-11e6-bdb9-701687974517_story.html

28pages.org

Declassified on July 15, 2016, the 28 pages revealed a web of interconnections linking Saudi government officials, members of the Saudi royal family, suspected Saudi intelligence operatives and 9/11 hijackers.
Among those revelations:

• Saudi Prince Bandar—the ambassador to the United States—made payments to an avowed supporter of Osama bin Laden who boasted of helping two Flight 77 hijackers in San Diego.
• An unlisted phone number linked closely to Bandar was found in the phone book of al Qaeda associate Abu Zubaydah in Pakistan.
• Zubaydah also had a phone number for a bodyguard at the Saudi embassy in Washington who was under an FBI investigation prompted by his suspicious behavior in approaching U.S. intelligence community personnel.

 

[sandorski]

I doubt Obama signs it.

 

[IronWing]

So you don't believe the 9/11 investigation that found no connection with the Saudi government?

No, I don't. The continued existence of the House of Saud offends me.

 

[Brainonska511]

15 of 19 9/11 hijackers were Saudi.

USA Today: "Declassified 9/11 pages show ties to former Saudi ambassador"
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...1-commission-report-released-public/87134942/

NY Times: "In 9/11 Document, View of a Saudi Effort to Thwart U.S. Action on Al Qaeda"
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/16/us/28-pages-saudi-arabia-september-11.html

Reuters: "Pages of U.S. 9/11 report detailing possible Saudi ties made public"
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-usa-congress-idUSKCN0ZV1W0

Washington Post "Congress releases long-classified ‘28 pages’ on alleged Saudi ties to 9/11"
https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...671fde-4ab1-11e6-bdb9-701687974517_story.html

28pages.org

So they were Saudi. What does that mean with respect to the concern that the Saudi government was involved in 9/11?

I doubt Obama signs it.

The White House has actually threatened to veto it. If he didn't sign it and Congress is in session, it \becomes law.

 

[IronWing]

I doubt Obama signs it.

True. Obama continues the U.S. tradition of sucking up to the Sauds while they wage war on us.

 

[MongGrel]

True. Obama continues the U.S. tradition of sucking up to the Sauds while they wage war on us.

I doubt he will either, but probably for other reasons.

I've never been a huge Saudi fan myself.

 

[sandorski]

True. Obama continues the U.S. tradition of sucking up to the Sauds while they wage war on us.

He won't sign it/veto it because it sets a stupid precedent.

 

[hal2kilo]

I doubt he will either, but probably for other reasons.

I've never been a huge Saudi fan myself.

Hell, I can't stand the Saudis. This law is still a bad idea.

 

[fskimospy]

This should be vetoed immediately. Unintended consequences everywhere.

 

[Jaskalas]

Veto this.
Saudi influence and power should be attacked covertly. Open hostility / war is not a cost we should incur at this time.

 

[IronWing]

He won't sign it/veto it because it sets a stupid precedent.

What precedent is that? American corporations sue foreign governments in U.S. courts all the time.

 

[leper84]

So they were Saudi. What does that mean with respect to the concern that the Saudi government was involved in 9/11?

You miss the part where a Saudi Prince acting as Ambassador to the US funneled money to fund the hijackers from his kingdom?

 

[ivwshane]

You miss the part where a Saudi Prince acting as Ambassador to the US funneled money to fund the hijackers from his kingdom?

Go ahead and back that claim up from a reputable source. I think you are getting your facts mixed up.

 

[trenchfoot]

In the simple-minded version of this issue, it seems to me if the Saudi's are successfully sued they will simply pass on that cost to whomever buys their oil to cover the damages paid out. Ergo, everyone else pays for the damages awarded and the Saudi's get off scot-free.

 

[Jaskalas]

Obama to veto 9/11 victims bill

Earnest defended the administration's stance against the bill saying it is not "an effective, forceful way for us to respond to terrorism."

If Obama holds to it when the moment arrives, it'd be something I agree with. Not as a favor to the Saudis, but because there are better ways of dealing with Wahhabi terrorism.

 

[Brainonska511]

Obama vetoed the bill today:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37455437

US President Barack Obama has vetoed a bill that would allow families of 9/11 victims to sue the Saudi government.

President Obama said he felt "deep sympathy" for the families but that the law would be "detrimental to US national interests".
...

 

[senseamp]

Sad Republican political theater 15 years after the fact, when they could had 5 years to pass it while running Congress with Bush in the White House.