Lawmaker: Saudis hurt terror funding fight

[Syrinx]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Saudi Arabia's less-than-full cooperation has
hindered U.S. efforts to choke off terrorist financing, a lawmaker
said Wednesday, and a Bush administration official indicated the
Saudis were being prodded.

Juan Zarate, the Treasury Department's assistant secretary for
terrorist financing, also said Treasury investigators have not found a
direct link between al Qaeda and the illicit diamond trade in Africa
but did not rule one out.

"We have not seen direct links," Zarate said in testimony before the
oversight panel of the House Financial Services Committee.

Even without a direct tie, U.S. authorities are concerned that al
Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden could be involved indirectly in trade in
diamonds, gold and tanzanite or could become a direct participant,
Zarate later told reporters.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/02/16/terror.financing.ap/index.html

[cliss]

1. Saudi Arabia has done more than just fail to cooperate......

Saudi Arabia funds terrorism. I can't for the life of me understand what's so hard about that. Look at the facts: almost all the terrorists who hijacked the airplanes on 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia (I think 1 was Egyptian).

Why do the Saudis have a Carte Blanche for everything? If this was any other country, they'd have US missiles raining over their heads.

[MisterP]

2. they make Saddam Hussein look like Hillel

I recall them getting angry about medical alliances' using the caduceus because it was a "Jewish" symbol

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. Headline: direct link between al Qaeda and the illicit ..

Direct link between al Qaeda and the illicit diamond trade in Africa

AP - El Chimporer today announced this glorious nation (weapon of god against the heathens! praise God) will tomorrow invade al Qaeda strongholds deep in Africa. We will wrest the diamonds from their heathen hands!.

WE NOW RETURN TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMING.