Saudi prince donates $10 million to Trade Center fund, rejected by Giuliani

Here are the Saudis being helpful.

Saudi official says U.S. request to use air bases has been rejected

By TAREK AL-ISSAWI, Associated Press


DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (September 23, 2001 10:32 a.m. EDT) - Apparently concerned about possible strikes on fellow Arab states, Saudi Arabia has rejected a U.S. request to use its air bases for an offensive against terrorism, a Saudi official said Sunday.

The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh referred all queries to the Pentagon on Sunday. In Washington, the Pentagon referred reporters to the State Department, which had no immediate comment.

Just a day earlier, U.S. officials in Washington said they were pleased with cooperation from Saudi Arabia as America prepares to retaliate for the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States.

Washington blames Islamic militants led by exiled Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden for the attacks on New York and Washington that left more than 6,000 people missing or dead. Officials indicate a strike on Afghanistan, where bin Laden has found a haven, could come at any time.

Saudi officials, though, say the United States cannot use the Prince Sultan Air Base, south of the Saudi capital Riyadh, for U.S. retaliatory attacks. Last week the commander of the U.S. Central Command's air operations, Air Force Lt. Gen. Charles Wald, shifted his operations from South Carolina to the base.

"Saudi Arabia will not accept any infringement on its national sovereignty, but it fully backs action aimed at eradicating terrorism and its causes," said the official, who refused to be identified further.

A diplomat in Riyadh, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Saudis were negotiating with the United States over the anti-terrorism campaign. The Saudis were pushing for a multilateral campaign that would allow them some influence over the targets of American retaliation, the diplomat said. The concern appeared to be the possibility other Arab states would be targeted.

In the past, Washington has accused Yemen, Sudan and Iraq of harboring terrorists. People in those countries now fear a U.S. attack.

The United States and Saudi Arabia have been close allies for more than half a century. U.S. troops have remained in the kingdom since leading the multinational coalition that ended Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1991.

Saudi Arabia hosts about 4,500 U.S. military personnel and an undisclosed number of warplanes at Prince Sultan Air Base. U.S. warplanes patrolling a no-fly zone over southern Iraq take off from Saudi Arabia.

 

I thought the whole point of refusing the donation was that he did not think that mixing politics with charity was appropriate in this situation?

 

Sad to see some Americans are easily bought.
The Saudis HAVE NOT been helpful and their arrogance disgusts me.
I'm off to my second memorial in a week. You all have a nice day supporting the Saudis Shanna.

 

More genius from the Prince. It's pretty clear where his comments are coming from now. For being from a country that doesn't allow free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of politics, etc., he sure is quick with the lip.

Saudi prince blames ‘Jewish pressure’ for Giuliani’s decision to refuse his donation

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, October 13 - A Saudi prince has blamed “Jewish pressure” for the rejection of his $10 million donation to a New York relief fund.

New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who accepted the donation from billionaire Saudi investor Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal on Thursday, ordered the money returned when he learned about a statement Alwaleed had made on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“The whole issue is that I spoke about their position (on the Middle East conflict) and they didn’t like it because there are Jewish pressures and they were afraid of them,” Alwaleed said in remarks published in the daily Okaz.

He said Giuliani “can say what he wants. My comments were welcomed in Palestinian circles, and (Palestinian Authority) President Yasser Arafat sent me a thank you letter.”

During his visit to the wreckage of the World Trade Center on Thursday, Alwaleed called the Sept. 11 terrorist attack “a tremendous crime” and said Osama bin Laden, a Saudi dissident who is the prime suspect, “does not belong to Islam.”

But in a written statement handed out by his publicist during the visit, the prince added: “At times like this one, we must address some of the issues that led to such a criminal attack. I believe the government of the United States of America should re-examine its policies in the Middle East and adopt a more balanced stance toward the Palestinian cause.”

Alwaleed told The Associated Press on Friday that Israeli attacks on Palestinians were “an important factor destabilizing the region,” a view widely held by Arabs throughout the region.

Despite Giuliani’s rejection of his donation, Alwaleed said he respected the mayor for the “spectacular job” he has done in the month since the attack.

“My policies and actions are an indisputable part of those of my country and I cannot contradict them,” Okaz quoted him as saying.

Many Arabs are angry with the United States, accusing it of unfairly siding with Israel in the conflict with the Palestinians.