Saudi Official: US 9/11 Bill Would ‘Fuel Extremism’

Claims Suing Saudis Would Boost Terror Recruitment

The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) has been unanimously passed in both the House and Senate, and is facing a veto from President Obama which could easily produce the first successful override of his presidency. The bill allows American victims of 9/11 to sue Saudi Arabia over its support for 9/11 plotters in court.

Obama has warned that the bill sets a dangerous precedent for the US, as it could lead to other countries allowing people to sue America over its assorted misdeeds over the years. Saudi Foreign Ministry officials threatened to crash the US Treasury market in retaliation.

Today, the speaker of the Saudi Shura Council also warned of terrorism threats, saying that allowing the bill to become law would “fuel extremism,” and that Saudi extremist groups could find new recruitment opportunities if Americans start suing the Saudi government.

The 28 pages from the 9/11 Report detailed substantial evidence of Saudi government funding for people linked to the 9/11 plot, though the Obama Administration argues that sovereign immunity should keep them from facing any repercussions from that.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.