Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: How the Bush Administration Covered Up the Saudi Connection to 9/11 [View all]starroute
(12,977 posts)89. Here are the main pieces
The case was brought by the Motley Rice law firm, and for anyone who's interested, their website has a long list of related documents at http://www.motleyrice.com/anti-terrorism-and-human-rights/9-11-litigation-relevant-documents.
In many ways it seems like a legitimate search for justice in the face of government obstruction -- but there are also huge sums of money involved, and that seems to have attracted some dubious players.
Here's a pdf of a Motley Rice press release from August 2002 announcing the suit:
http://www.motleyrice.com/files/9-11-to-bankrupt-documents/press-release-8-15-02.pdf
Seeking to expose the flow of money fueling terrorists and shut it off for good, more than 500 family members and survivors of the September 11 th attacks today filed the first major legal action against seven international banks; eight Islamic foundations, charities and their subsidiaries; individual terrorist financiers; the Saudi bin Laden Group; three Saudi princes; and the government of Sudan for bankrolling al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and the Taliban. . . .
The action, Burnett et al v. Al Baraka Investment and Development Corporation et al, charges the defendants with 15 counts under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, Torture Victim Protection Act and Alien Tort Claims Act; violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act; and tort claims, including Wrongful Death and Conspiracy. The plaintiffs, 9/11 Families United to Bankrupt Terrorism, seek damages sufficient to punish the defendants and deter them from ever again funding terrorist activities. . . .
Two members of the Saudi royal family named in the complaint are Prince Turki al Faisal al Saud and Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al Saud. The complaint alleges that in 1998, Prince Turki agreed not to extradite Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda members from Afghanistan and to provide generous assistance to the Taliban in exchange for bin Ladens agreement not to use the Afghani infrastructure to undermine the Saudi government. It also alleges that Prince Sultan has donated at least $6 million since 1994 to four charities that finance al Qaeda. . . .
The banking defendants in this case are Al Baraka Investment and Development Corporation, National Commercial Bank, Faisal Islamic Bank, Al Rajhi Banking and Investment, Al Barakaat Exchange LLC, Dar Al Maal Al Islami, and Al Shamal Islamic Bank. The charitable and foundation defendants are the International Islamic Relief Organization, Sanabel Al Kheer, Inc., Muslim World League, Saar Foundation, Rabita Trust, Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, Inc., Benevolence International Foundation, the World Assembly Of Muslim Youth, and a host of associated individuals, organizations and subsidairies.
In March 2003, a DC district court judge heard the first of several motions to dismiss. The case was later consolidated with others and moved to the Southern District of New York.
In 2004, they tried to depose Sibel Edmonds and were refused. By then, the firm was looking for a trillion dollars and had taken on an additional multi-billion lawsuit against the Arab Bank:
http://www.mafhoum.com/press7/221E16.htm
In a bid to both bankrupt those who finance terror and bring some sense of justice to its victims, the legal team that is suing the Saudis for $1 trillion has launched yet another massive lawsuit against prime supporters of radical Islamic jihad.
Filing in the Eastern District of New York last week on behalf of 700 survivors and family members of those killed by terrorism in Israel, legendary trial lawyer Ron Motley is seeking unspecified billions to continue his quest to change the face of counterterrorism.
In 2006, they were complaining that the Transportation Security Administration was denying them access to pre-9/11 documents that had formerly been in the public domain. By that time, the suit had grown to 6,161 plaintiffs.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rep-sabo-911-families-urge-senate-to-stop-tsas-excessive-secrecy-56229492.html
The 9/11 families charge that TSA is hiding documents that are of no use to terrorists but would reveal how and why 19 hijackers were allowed to board four airplanes on September 11, 2001. Now, they are urging the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee to take similar action.
"Americans expect open and transparent government, and these 9/11 families are depending on it," said Rep. Sabo. "Though it has made some changes, TSA still has very poor procedures for designating Sensitive Security Information. Section 525 in the House Homeland Security Appropriations bill would force TSA to balance legitimate security needs with our nation's commitment to due process and freedom of information."
In 2009, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision that exempted the Saudi princes from being sued.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/29/supreme-court-will-not-he_n_222256.html
The Supreme Court has refused to allow victims of the Sept. 11 attacks to pursue lawsuits against Saudi Arabia and four of its princes over charitable donations that were allegedly funneled to al-Qaida.
The court, in an order Monday, is leaving in place the ruling of a federal appeals court that the country and the princes are protected by sovereign immunity, which generally means that foreign countries can't be sued in American courts. . . .
In their appeal to the high court, both sides cited the report of the Sept. 11 Commission. The victims noted that the report said Saudi Arabia had long been considered the primary source of al-Qaida funding. The Saudis' court filing, however, pointed out that the commission "found no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded the organization."
The victims' lawsuits claim that the defendants gave money to charities in order to funnel it to terrorist organizations that were behind the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
That's the most straightforward account of the suit that I can piece together from my notes of a few years ago. The complexities come in by way of the connections among Motley Rice, the Washington Group PR and lobbying firm which has the 9/11 Families as a client, and a "terrorism research institute" called the Nine Eleven Finding Answers Foundation, which is also represented by the Washington Group and which may be the successor to a dubious private intelligence firm called the Rosetta Group.
But that's the point at which it all gets very murky, and I never did figure out all the personal and financial connections among these various entities.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
178 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
How the Bush Administration Covered Up the Saudi Connection to 9/11 [View all]
Hissyspit
Sep 2014
OP
New Yorker now a conspiracy theorist? 9/11 threads not allowed. Creative speculation...
ChisolmTrailDem
Sep 2014
#2
I am glad you're sister narrowly escaped that conflagration. Sad for those who didn't, but
ChisolmTrailDem
Sep 2014
#37
Sad that some need to put their fingers in their ears, close their eyes and say
rhett o rick
Sep 2014
#136
If by "allowed" you mean "overwhelmingly supported by the evidence" than yes
YoungDemCA
Sep 2014
#77
you know, if somebody had presented the "official" scenario as a work of fiction, no reputable
niyad
Sep 2014
#118
Anyone want to recap Cheney's interference in the command center when it was happening?
Baitball Blogger
Sep 2014
#5
yea, the guy bushies refused to listen to and whom was summarily relieved of his duties. But
ChisolmTrailDem
Sep 2014
#10
'Do the orders still stand?' Censoring MINETA Testimony Evidence 9-11 Commission Was Cover-Up Job.
Octafish
Sep 2014
#116
I hope you are saying that in jest. If not, I hate to tell you, I doubt that it offends
rhett o rick
Sep 2014
#137
Uh-HUH! I remember that. They rounded up all the Saudis and skeedaddled 'em straight out of the
calimary
Sep 2014
#24
Perhaps this is why the Bin Ladens were hustled out of the country so quickly.
kairos12
Sep 2014
#32
What do you mean "stolen"? It is common practice to report on other media outlet's stories and
ChisolmTrailDem
Sep 2014
#45
Very interesting...didn't realize the significance of this airport.
Old and In the Way
Sep 2014
#161
With 9/11 the PNAC got the new American Pearl Harbor they were clamoring for.
Enthusiast
Sep 2014
#61
Lots of people got what they wanted. The Bush family, Cheney made millions and got to
rhett o rick
Sep 2014
#139
8 fucking years of 24/7 criminal activity! And the bastard wasn't even elected!
santamargarita
Sep 2014
#65
The really weird part of calling information like this tin foil hat stuff, etc. - people are helping
djean111
Sep 2014
#87
Remember how AG John Ashcroft stopped flying commercial aircraft in July 2001?
Octafish
Sep 2014
#157
Eric Holder has appointed detective Barney Fife to get to the bottom of it.
whereisjustice
Sep 2014
#127
What did George W. Bush and Dick Cheney know, and when did they know it?!?!
blkmusclmachine
Sep 2014
#143
A voice in the wilderness I still sorely miss. He could cut through BS like butter.
raouldukelives
Sep 2014
#160
A treason so grave it infects whoever sees the real evidence like the ebola virus.
gordianot
Sep 2014
#169
For the record, I do believe that many rich, powerful Saudis-including individuals within the govt.
YoungDemCA
Sep 2014
#174