Diplomatic Snub: Ghost of 9/11 Threatens Saudi-US Ties
WASHINGTON -- There are new questions Thursday about America's relationship with Saudi Arabia. President Barack Obama is in the country visiting with Arab leaders in hopes of smoothing things over.
However, when the president touched down on Saudi soil, King Salman wasn't there to greet him. Instead he sent lower ranking royals. Experts say it's a sign of the tense relations between the U.S. and its key Middle Eastern ally.
The president's visit comes amid new questions about the possible involvement of Saudi officials in the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and as 9/11 victims ask the president to declassify 28 pages from the 9/11 Commission Report believed to point fingers at Saudi Arabia.
"We have to examine that relationship and how we deal with terrorist financing issues and how we need to work with the Saudis as an ally rather than as an enemy," Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of House Committee on Homeland Security, said.
McCaul has read the classified 28 pages and been briefed by the person who wrote them. He believes they aren't as explosive as some might think.
"He told me that the leads that are in the 28 pages -- they actually did their investigations and the leads didn't go where they thought they would," McCaul said.
Meanwhile, Congress is considering a bipartisan bill that would prevent Saudi Arabia and any other country with alleged terrorist ties from claiming immunity in U.S. courts.
Such a move would allow the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia.
"The victims of terrorism in our country should be able to seek justice from people who do fund that terrorist act," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said.
Other members of Congress, however, are treading lightly on the issue.
"I think we need to review it to make sure we're not making mistakes with our allies," House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., cautioned.
The president and critics of the bill fear it could open up the United States to lawsuits from people around the world.
"If Saudis were not complicit in terrorism they have nothing to fear," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said.
If the bill passes, Saudi leaders are threatening to sell up to $750 billion worth of U.S. government securities – a move some fear could disrupt world markets
But other analysts doubt the Saudis either could - or would - do it because it could hurt their own economy as much as the United States.
Meanwhile, Obama is now moving on to Europe to meet with British and German leaders. White House officials say the president "cleared the air" with the Saudis.
He's relying on the U.S. relationship with them during his final months in office as he tries to deal with the exceedingly complicated Middle East that critics say has unraveled during his presidency.
