Saudis cleared from 9/11 lawsuits

[Al-CIAda]

Saudis cleared from 9/11 lawsuits
Published: 2005/01/19 04:16:21 GMT
By Jeremy Cooke
BBC News, New York


A US federal court has dismissed proceedings under which the Saudi government was accused of providing logistical support to the al-Qaeda.
New York District Court Judge Richard Casey ruled that the Saudi government, its defence minister and ambassador in London have immunity from litigation.

Following the 9/11 attacks, relatives of victims, private firms and insurers sued for multi-billion damages.

Many of them named Saudi Arabia as a defendant in civil lawsuits.

'Blow for plaintiffs'

Ruling in a number of such cases, Judge Casey said the Saudi government and its officials have immunity to claims that they provided financial and logistical support to Osama bin Laden's network.

The judge also dismissed claims against the Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Corporation, the Saudi American Bank and the Arab Bank Plc.

Although the case against other Arabic banks, charities and companies, including the Saudi Bin Laden Group go forward, the ruling is a blow for the plaintiffs.

Justin Green, a lawyer representing more than 500 victims of the 11 September attacks, said the ruling would probably lead to the dismissal of other similar cases, but that an appeal was being considered.

The district court's ruling will come as little surprise to legal analysts here.

Many of the cases are regarded as protective actions by companies and individuals mindful that they may have to demonstrate in any future litigation that they have done everything possible to seek justice for the victims of the terror attacks.

Full story-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4186467.stm

[Earth_First]

1. Of course they were...

[cthrumatrix]

7. BBC has to run the story...US press is ignoring it

[dubyaD40web]

2. OMFG

[Solon]

3. This doesn't surprise me in the least...

When was the last time justice has ever been done in cases like this? Though, I wonder why the judge thought that Saudi Arabia and its people are immune from any liability when supporting terror, seems like a curious position.

[Ian David]

9. It HAS worked before when

1) Qaddafi paid to settle a suit for the bombing of the Pan Am flight over Scotland. (Of course, that was retaliation after we attacked his country based on faulty intelligence that he'd been behind a German disco bombing).

2) American POWs captured AND TORTURED during the first Gulf War successfully sued Saddam for billions in damages.

BUT BUSH ISSUED A PRESIDENTIAL ORDER BANNING OUR OWN CAPTURED SOLDIERS FROM COLLECTING ON THEIR JUDGMENT AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN!!!

[GiovanniC]

4. Thank You James Baker! You Un-American Piece of Shit.

n/t

[quiet.american]

5. Damn. You beat me to it. n/t

[ThorsHammer]

6. I hate to be a broken record, but 'House of Bush, House of Saud' has some

great points on this. One of the big things discussed is how the royal family basically pays off the radical clerics and mardrasas (sp?) to stay in power. I'd strongly recommend the book for anyone interested in learning more about Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and U.S policy.

[sarcasmo]

8. If I remember right 15 of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia

This whole war on terror is a joke. Saudi Arabia is the first country we should have went into even before Afghanistan. The Bush and the Saudi royals are in bed together and our Country is going to crap with a quickness.

[Al-CIAda]

10. Yes 15 of 19...or so is the 'official version'...

yet somehow the Saudi government are among those who have benefited greatly from 9-11.

[Inland]

11. Saudis get benefit of law while Citizen Padilla rots in jail w/out charges

Saudis get the best Bush family consigliore money can by and Padilla is held incommunicado and without counsel.

Disgusting.

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. Good job, Jim Baker! How much did this one cost you?

Oh, never mind. I'm sure you'll make up for it when you get your share of the Halliburton profits.