Bani Saud in panic mode as Congress overrides Obama veto over 911 charges

Crescent International

Dhu al-Hijjah 28, 1437 2016-09-30

Daily News Analysis

by Crescent International

For the first time during Barack Obama's presidency, the US Congress has overridden his veto of a bill. It relates to the Congress approving a bill that would allow families of 911 victims to sue Saudi Arabia and seek compensation for their losses. The Saudis are shell shocked and cannot believe what has happened despite spending tens of millions of dollars in lobbying efforts.

Washington DC, crescent-online.net
Friday September 30, 2016, 15:37 DST

Reports from Riyadh say member of the Bani Saud clan have not slept for two nights following the Congressional vote on September 28 overriding President Barack Obama’s veto of the bill relating to 911 victims’ families.

By 97-1, Senators in the 100-member upper chamber voted in favor of the “Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA),” that was vetoed by Obama last week.

The House of Representatives followed suit within hours by voting against the presidential decree by 348 to 77. Only 18 Republicans and 59 Democrats voted not to override the veto.

This was the first time the Congress had overridden a presidential veto during Obama’s tenure. Immediately after the Congressional vote, Obama went on air and told CNN that Congress had set a “dangerous precedent”.

On September 9, Congress had passed legislation allowing families of the victims of September 11, 2001 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia. “Well, I think it was a mistake,” Obama said.

"If we eliminate this notion of sovereign immunity, then our men and women in uniform around the world could potentially start seeing ourselves subject to reciprocal loss," he said. This was a reference to civilians killed by US drone strikes around the world. Hitherto, the US has claimed sovereign immunity from prosecution but perhaps, no longer.

"It's an example of why sometimes you have to do what's hard," he added. "And, frankly, I wish Congress here had done what's hard."

But Obama went on to say that “I understand why it happened. Obviously, all of us still carry the scars and trauma of 9/11.”

Mistake or not, it is now US law and it has not only profound implications for Saudi assets but more importantly for their relations with the US as well as their future.

Families of 911 victims cannot wait to lay their hands on the estimated $750 billion Saudi assets in the US. Their lawyers have probably already prepared multibillion class action lawsuits to be lodged in American courts.

Whatever the truth behind the 911 attacks—and there are many different versions—the Saudis are perhaps toast now.

Beyond the money lies a much deeper issue. The Saudis have lived under the illusion that the US is their guardian angel and will save them in case their regime is about to collapse. Now it seems, the US itself, notwithstanding Obama’s statements, cutting loose the Saudis. The Congressional vote signals that happy days are over for the Saudis.

Over the last two years or so, the Saudis have also come out openly in their embrace of the Zionist State. For decades, they had maintained a covert relationship. The Saudi hope was that Zionist influence in the US, especially in Congress, would keep them safe.

It is the Zionist-controlled American Congress that has overwhelmingly voted to go for the money grab. So what’s going on here? Not only are the Saudis to be robbed of their wealth, they have been cut loose.

They are now on their own. No wonder, the Bani Saud are having sleepless nights in Riyadh. Is it time for them to purchase some tents and camels and begin thinking about sleeping out in the desert, as their forefathers did not so long ago?

END