Saturday, June 23, 2007
Who knew? Some in the House are trying to make that a past tense situation.
The prohibition, reflecting persistent tensions with the kingdom after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States in 2001, was attached to a foreign aid funding bill for next year that has not yet been debated by the Senate.
It also faces a veto threat from the White House because of an unrelated provision.
A spokesman for the Saudi embassy in Washington declined to comment on the legislation.
In the past three years, Congress has passed bills to stop the relatively small amount of U.S. aid to Saudi Arabia, only to see the Bush administration circumvent the prohibitions.
Now, lawmakers are trying to close loopholes so that no more U.S. aid can be sent to the world`s leading petroleum exporter.
"By cutting off aid and closing the loophole we send a clear message to the Saudi Arabian government that they must be a true ally in advancing peace in the Middle East," said Rep. Anthony Weiner, a New York Democrat.
According to supporters of the legislation, the United States provided $2.5 million to Riyadh in 2005 and 2006.
The money has been used to train Saudis in counter-terrorism and border security and to pay for Saudi military officers to attend U.S. military school...
...The U.S. State Department has routinely criticized Saudi Arabia for religious intolerance, disenfranchisement of women and arbitrary justice.
U.N. committees and groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International also have been critical of the Saudi legal system and its rights record, including punishments such as flogging and amputation.
Riyadh tends to dismiss the criticism by saying it follows the traditions of Islamic law...
Indeed. But don't worry, they give the money back by building Mosques and donating to lobbying groups like CAIR. Lucky us.
[via Dhimmi Watch]
On some days I feel every dictatorship in the Middle East should be turned into a 50,000 hole golf course. That may not be moderate, but neither is 3000 dead New Yorkers. We should just "kick their @ss and take their gas."
Anyway, I would consider it an honor and a privilege if you would add my blog "The
Tygrrrr Express" www.blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com to your list of linked sites if you feel the quality is high.
I came across your blog through Michelle Malkin's website, since I enjoy her
writing.
Happy summer.
eric
Let me get this straight: The Saudis literally rake in BILLIONS in oil revenue, and we're helping THEM out?
What the hell is wrong with that picture????????
BHG
As far back as the 1970's the Bush's have been in bed with the Khalid bin Mahfouz and Salem bin Laden (yes the same bin laden's)so is it any wonder that our beloved president Bush has successfully stopped any attempt to halt funding to Saudi Arabia? In fact, it’s a joke to even think Bush could be our champion against terrorism since his primary income comes from this business dealing with the Saudi family. The Bush’s also have long standing relationships with the biggest power-broker firms in Houston that have handled pretty much every international merger and acquisition for multibillion-dollar pipelines for virtually every major energy firm and most of these deals have direct links to the Saudi family.
The only way to put the brakes on terrorism here in America and around the world is to boycott Saudi Arabia and stop the “King Faud Foundation†from funding anymore Mosque construction in our county and supporting CAIR trying to usurp our political system by introducing Wahhabi style religion into our culture. Clearly, with Bush in bed with the bin Laden’s and with numerous Saudi prices, it just won’t happen!!!