Obama faces pressure on secret ‘28 pages’ ahead of Saudi trip
As Barack Obama heads to Saudi Arabia next week, the US president is under increasing pressure to declassify redacted pages of a 9/11 report detailing Saudi connections to the attacks.Secured behind a locked door in a secret vault on Capitol Hill in the heart of Washington, DC sits a 28-page document that only a small group of people have been permitted to see. Members of Congress may go into the room and read them – but they cannot take notes or be accompanied by members of their staff when doing so.
Such is the veil of secrecy behind what has come to be known as “the 28 pages” – or the final chapter of the 9/11 investigation report by the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. The 28 pages documenting Saudi support for the 9/11 hijackers were redacted in 2003, when the 838-page report was released, due to national security concerns.
More than a decade later, that piece of the investigation into the worst terrorist attack on US soil is still – very controversially – under wraps.
But as Obama heads to Saudi Arabia next week for a visit that will include a meeting with King Salman, the outgoing US president is facing increasing pressure to declassify those pages.
The pressure comes amid rising tensions in US-Saudi relations, with the Sunni Wahhabi kingdom – under an increasingly bellicose Salman – opposed to Washington’s overtures to its arch rival, Iran, which culminated in a nuclear deal last year. A decreasing US reliance on Saudi oil has further strained a bilateral relationship once considered too important to fray. Suddenly, realpolitik imperatives are not sufficient to silence the howls for accountability from the families of the 9/11 victims and the US public at large.
Such is the veil of secrecy behind what has come to be known as “the 28 pages” – or the final chapter of the 9/11 investigation report by the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. The 28 pages documenting Saudi support for the 9/11 hijackers were redacted in 2003, when the 838-page report was released, due to national security concerns.
More than a decade later, that piece of the investigation into the worst terrorist attack on US soil is still – very controversially – under wraps.
But as Obama heads to Saudi Arabia next week for a visit that will include a meeting with King Salman, the outgoing US president is facing increasing pressure to declassify those pages.
The pressure comes amid rising tensions in US-Saudi relations, with the Sunni Wahhabi kingdom – under an increasingly bellicose Salman – opposed to Washington’s overtures to its arch rival, Iran, which culminated in a nuclear deal last year. A decreasing US reliance on Saudi oil has further strained a bilateral relationship once considered too important to fray. Suddenly, realpolitik imperatives are not sufficient to silence the howls for accountability from the families of the 9/11 victims and the US public at large.
The clamour to unseal the 28 papers ahead of Obama’s Saudi trip was sparked by an April 10 report on the respected US television magazine, 60 Minutes, which detailed the level of frustration among senior US officials who have been pushing for a declassification over the past 13 years.
These senior former and current officials include Florida Senator Bob Graham, chairman of the Senate Select Committe and co-chairman of the inquiry, and former CIA director Porter Goss, who was also a co-chairman of the inquiry.
Two days after the 60 Minutes broadcast, Sen. Graham told Fox News that the White House had informed him that a decision on whether to declassify the documents would be made in one to two months.
Graham provided no details on why it would take a month or two, although White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Tuesday that the 28 papers were the subject of an intelligence community “classification review.”
Asked about any alleged Saudi ties to 9/11, Earnest cited the 9/11 Commission's findings that there was no evidence the Saudi government or senior Saudi officials funded al Qaeda.
Saudi authorities have long maintained that support for the hijackers did not come from the government.
In the absence of public access to the papers, rumours have long circulated that the 28 pages detail funding for the 9/11 al Qaeda hijackers – not necessarily from the Saudi government, but from wealthy Saudis, including members of the royal family.
These senior former and current officials include Florida Senator Bob Graham, chairman of the Senate Select Committe and co-chairman of the inquiry, and former CIA director Porter Goss, who was also a co-chairman of the inquiry.
Two days after the 60 Minutes broadcast, Sen. Graham told Fox News that the White House had informed him that a decision on whether to declassify the documents would be made in one to two months.
Graham provided no details on why it would take a month or two, although White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Tuesday that the 28 papers were the subject of an intelligence community “classification review.”
Asked about any alleged Saudi ties to 9/11, Earnest cited the 9/11 Commission's findings that there was no evidence the Saudi government or senior Saudi officials funded al Qaeda.
Saudi authorities have long maintained that support for the hijackers did not come from the government.
In the absence of public access to the papers, rumours have long circulated that the 28 pages detail funding for the 9/11 al Qaeda hijackers – not necessarily from the Saudi government, but from wealthy Saudis, including members of the royal family.
In the 60 Minutes report, Senator Graham was asked if he believed support for the 19 hijackers came from Saudi Arabia.
“Substantially,” Graham replied.
CBS reporter Steve Kroft pushed the US Congressman further: “And when we say, ‘The Saudis,’ you mean the government…rich people in the country? Charities?”
“All of the above,” Sen. Graham replied.
US government officials, however, argue that the redacted pages do not contain any information the public does not already know.
But advocates for the declassification point that if that were true, the Obama administration has no reason to maintain the redaction.
They also note that the redaction probably made sense under the George W. Bush presidency given the close personal relationship between the Bush and Saudi royal families.
Given the sensitive nature of US-Saudi relations in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, as well as the US dependence on oil, a redaction was understandable under the circumstances. But those circumstances have changed. A report entitled “The Obama Doctrine” in The Atlantic details the extent to which the current US president is willing to shake up the old ties of dependence that bound Washington to the Sunni Arab world.
The Saudis – involved in a military campaign in neighbouring Yemen and a soft power conflict against Iran that exasperates Washington – have appeared increasingly truculent over the past year.
Eyebrows were raised last year when King Salman decided not to join a summit of Gulf leaders hosted by Obama at his Camp David country residence.
Although Obama has already made three visits to Saudi Arabia during his presidency, both Washington and Riyadh know the dynamics of the US-Saudi relations are changing.
When Obama meets with Salman on Wednesday, April 20 -2016, the families of the 9/11 victims – including those supporting a lawsuit seeking redress from the Saudi government for the loss of their loved ones – will be carefully watching for any public comment on the 28 pages.
“Substantially,” Graham replied.
CBS reporter Steve Kroft pushed the US Congressman further: “And when we say, ‘The Saudis,’ you mean the government…rich people in the country? Charities?”
“All of the above,” Sen. Graham replied.
US government officials, however, argue that the redacted pages do not contain any information the public does not already know.
But advocates for the declassification point that if that were true, the Obama administration has no reason to maintain the redaction.
They also note that the redaction probably made sense under the George W. Bush presidency given the close personal relationship between the Bush and Saudi royal families.
Given the sensitive nature of US-Saudi relations in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, as well as the US dependence on oil, a redaction was understandable under the circumstances. But those circumstances have changed. A report entitled “The Obama Doctrine” in The Atlantic details the extent to which the current US president is willing to shake up the old ties of dependence that bound Washington to the Sunni Arab world.
The Saudis – involved in a military campaign in neighbouring Yemen and a soft power conflict against Iran that exasperates Washington – have appeared increasingly truculent over the past year.
Eyebrows were raised last year when King Salman decided not to join a summit of Gulf leaders hosted by Obama at his Camp David country residence.
Although Obama has already made three visits to Saudi Arabia during his presidency, both Washington and Riyadh know the dynamics of the US-Saudi relations are changing.
When Obama meets with Salman on Wednesday, April 20 -2016, the families of the 9/11 victims – including those supporting a lawsuit seeking redress from the Saudi government for the loss of their loved ones – will be carefully watching for any public comment on the 28 pages.
Families of September 11 attacks and demolitions are upset by White House effort to derail bill
Washinton - America - April 16 - 2016 - Families of the victims of the September 11 attacks/ demolitions say they are "greatly distressed" that the Obama administration is working to derail legislation giving them the right to sue the government of Saudi Arabia for any role that elements of the Saudi government may have played in the attack.
"Your place in history should not be marked by a campaign to foreclose the judicial process as a venue in which the truth can be found," more than a dozen relatives of September 11 victims wrote to President Barack Obama.
The family members also urged Obama to permit the declassification and release of American intelligence bearing on the topic of possible Saudi involvement in the attacks. At issue is a bill that would allow victims' families to hold the Saudi government liable in American courts.
House Speaker Paul Ryan tiptoed into the swelling controversy Tuesday telling reporters that lawmakers need to review the bill "to make sure that we're not making mistakes with our allies." Obama is traveling to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as part of an overseas trip.
House Speaker Paul Ryan tiptoed into the swelling controversy Tuesday telling reporters that lawmakers need to review the bill "to make sure that we're not making mistakes with our allies." Obama is traveling to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as part of an overseas trip.
"The White House is opposed to it. It's received some opposition here. We're going to let these things work the process," said Ryan, R-Wis.
The White House said it is opposed to the bill because it could expose Americans overseas to legal risk and could damage the U.S. relationship with the Saudi government. The Kingdom has threatened to pull billions of dollars from the U.S. economy if the legislation is enacted.
"If we open up the possibility that individuals in the United States can routinely start suing other governments, then we are also opening up the United States to being continually sued by individuals in other countries," Obama said in an interview with CBS News.
Obama's visit to Riyadh promises to address a host of issues concerning the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia, a key ally in fighting terrorism and bolstering stability in the region. The Saudis have long pushed, with no success, for more aggressive U.S. military action to counter Iran in Syria and Iraq.
Top bill sponsor John Cornyn, R-Texas, dismissed Obama's objections to his Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. "It makes minor adjustments to our laws to help Americans who are attacked on U.S. soil get justice from those who sponsor and facilitate that terrorist attack," Cornyn said.
But Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he'll block the bill until he's sure the legislation won't boomerang on the United States. "I'm asking questions about what does this mean because what we do could bite us later," Graham said.
Graham, a retired Air Force lawyer and the chairman of the Senate subcommittee that controls foreign aid, said his concerns are rooted in the various groups the United States supports in the Middle East against the Islamic State and Assad.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, cited the Saudis' threat to "unload hundreds of billions of dollars in assets." He added that the Saudis are key U.S. allies in the fight again the Islamic State group and Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"We need the relationship," McCain said. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the chairman of the Intelligence committee, said he opposed the bill that has some 22 Senate co-sponsors. Cornyn said a vote is unlikely to happen while Obama is in Saudi Arabia.
"I'm still looking at it," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters before directing questions to Cornyn. Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he supports the bill and so does most of the Democratic caucus.
Reid said he's spoken to the White House and "they don't particularly like it. But that's OK," he said, adding, "I think that we should move forward on this legislation. I hope we can." Beyond the bill, five senators are calling on Obama to press the Saudis during his visit on human rights issues and raise the cases of two imprisoned advocates when he visits Riyadh this week.
Marco Rubio, Patrick Leahy, Dick Durbin, James Risch and Ron Johnson sent a letter to Obama on Tuesday asking him to make the issue a prominent part of his trip. They said unless Obama makes human rights a priority, U.S.-Saudi relations will suffer.
AP Diplomatic Writer Matt Lee contributed to this report.
The White House said it is opposed to the bill because it could expose Americans overseas to legal risk and could damage the U.S. relationship with the Saudi government. The Kingdom has threatened to pull billions of dollars from the U.S. economy if the legislation is enacted.
"If we open up the possibility that individuals in the United States can routinely start suing other governments, then we are also opening up the United States to being continually sued by individuals in other countries," Obama said in an interview with CBS News.
Obama's visit to Riyadh promises to address a host of issues concerning the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia, a key ally in fighting terrorism and bolstering stability in the region. The Saudis have long pushed, with no success, for more aggressive U.S. military action to counter Iran in Syria and Iraq.
Top bill sponsor John Cornyn, R-Texas, dismissed Obama's objections to his Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. "It makes minor adjustments to our laws to help Americans who are attacked on U.S. soil get justice from those who sponsor and facilitate that terrorist attack," Cornyn said.
But Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he'll block the bill until he's sure the legislation won't boomerang on the United States. "I'm asking questions about what does this mean because what we do could bite us later," Graham said.
Graham, a retired Air Force lawyer and the chairman of the Senate subcommittee that controls foreign aid, said his concerns are rooted in the various groups the United States supports in the Middle East against the Islamic State and Assad.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, cited the Saudis' threat to "unload hundreds of billions of dollars in assets." He added that the Saudis are key U.S. allies in the fight again the Islamic State group and Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"We need the relationship," McCain said. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the chairman of the Intelligence committee, said he opposed the bill that has some 22 Senate co-sponsors. Cornyn said a vote is unlikely to happen while Obama is in Saudi Arabia.
"I'm still looking at it," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters before directing questions to Cornyn. Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he supports the bill and so does most of the Democratic caucus.
Reid said he's spoken to the White House and "they don't particularly like it. But that's OK," he said, adding, "I think that we should move forward on this legislation. I hope we can." Beyond the bill, five senators are calling on Obama to press the Saudis during his visit on human rights issues and raise the cases of two imprisoned advocates when he visits Riyadh this week.
Marco Rubio, Patrick Leahy, Dick Durbin, James Risch and Ron Johnson sent a letter to Obama on Tuesday asking him to make the issue a prominent part of his trip. They said unless Obama makes human rights a priority, U.S.-Saudi relations will suffer.
AP Diplomatic Writer Matt Lee contributed to this report.
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Nobody flew a Boeing 757 into Building 7 and yet it's hard to believe millions of people think Building 7 was brought down by one or two office fires.
Who had the most to gain from the demolitions?
