Saudi Arabia to sell $750 billion worth of US assets if congress passes 9/11 bill

[Beefsquatch]

Saudi Arabia has told the Obama administration and members of Congress that it will sell off hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of American assets held by the kingdom if Congress passes a bill that would allow the Saudi government to be held responsible in American courts for any role in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The Obama administration has lobbied Congress to block the bill’s passage, according to administration officials and congressional aides from both parties, and the Saudi threats have been the subject of intense discussions in recent weeks between lawmakers and officials from the State Department and the Pentagon. The officials have warned senators of diplomatic and economic fallout from the legislation.

Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, delivered the kingdom’s message personally last month during a trip to Washington, telling lawmakers that Saudi Arabia would be forced to sell up to $750 billion in treasury securities and other assets in the United States before they could be in danger of being frozen by American courts.

Several outside economists are skeptical that the Saudis will follow through, saying that such a sell-off would be difficult to execute and would end up crippling the kingdom’s economy. But the threat is another sign of the escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United States.

The administration, which argues that the legislation would put Americans at legal risk overseas, has been lobbying so intently against the bill that some lawmakers and families of Sept. 11 victims are infuriated. In their view, the Obama administration has consistently sided with the kingdom and has thwarted their efforts to learn what they believe to be the truth about the role some Saudi officials played in the terrorist plot.

“It’s stunning to think that our government would back the Saudis over its own citizens,” said Mindy Kleinberg, whose husband died in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 and who is part of a group of victims’ family members pushing for the legislation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/16/wo...9-11-bill.html

So is this SA's way of admitting they had a hand in it in some way?

[Gamevizier]

give it up for ... the biggest regional ally of the US everyone!

[Wilian]

Finnish people have fitting saying for this sort of thing.

Siellä se koira älähtää missä kalikka kalahtaa.

[Surfd]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/16/wo...9-11-bill.html

So is this SA's way of admitting they had a hand in it in some way?

Looks more like their way of attempting to protect their assets, given that if the bill passes, it is essentially drawing a giant target on their head, regardless of if they had anything to do with it or not.

[endersblade]

A bunch of victims with pitch forks, demanding blood from anyone they can point a finger at.

Obama's Admin is doing everything in its power to stop America from collectively shooting itself in the foot.

Yes, this would be a VERY bad idea. Fucking idiots. Not only is there the threat of SA liquidating all those assets, as they threatened, but the reprisal to any American citizens that go just about anywhere in the world is going to be ridiculous. It's already damned near impossible for us to go anywhere between California and the middle-east without ending up on the news.

[Afrospinach]

Looks more like their way of attempting to protect their assets, given that if the bill passes, it is essentially drawing a giant target on their head, regardless of if they had anything to do with it or not.

Yeah seems perfectly reasonable to me.

Especially considering this is a time when Saudi may need access to that, with the low oil price and all.

[Ulmita]

give it up for ... the biggest regional ally of the US everyone!

^ This. + Biggest terror sponsoring (along with Turkey) nation in middle east. Not sure that this kind of ally honors you.

[Beefsquatch]

Looks more like their way of attempting to protect their assets, given that if the bill passes, it is essentially drawing a giant target on their head, regardless of if they had anything to do with it or not.

But if they were innocent, they wouldn't have to worry about reprisals. An investigation would clear them of any wrong doing. So why act all panicky?

[ranzino]

But if they were innocent, they wouldn't have to worry about reprisals. An investigation would clear them of any wrong doing. So why act all panicky?

Errm, nobody believes in US justice, you know.

[Elim Garak]

This is absolutely ridiculous. Why would Saudi Arabia "as a government" do such a thing to the US "which is it's number 1 ally.

So that US can invade Afghanistan and Iraq - making money thru war - and then buying more SA oil.

[Xeones]

Normally I'm all about having allies, but I don't feel Saudi Arabia is a good ally so I really don't care about angering them.

[Beefsquatch]

Depends, is this also a system where random people from the street give a verdict?

Wouldn't this be handled in a private court?

This is absolutely ridiculous. Why would Saudi Arabia "as a government" do such a thing to the US "which is it's number 1 ally.

some religious extremist "who was exiled from saudi arabia at the time btw" went on and did a stunt and people blame saudi arabia for it. cool story bro.

Are you being sarcastic or serious? Because if you're being serious, then you need to do a bit more research. It's pretty well known that SA officials in high places funded the attack. Matter of fact, I know a few politicians and generals that have come out and somewhat touched up on it..obviously very careful of not officially confirming it. They are a shit ally, and if anything this little squabble proves it.

[Deleted]

Saudi Arabia is responsible for the toxic brand of wahhabism in the world. The more the relationship sours the better.

[Masark]

some religious extremist "who was exiled from saudi arabia at the time btw" went on and did a stunt and people blame saudi arabia for it. cool story bro.

Might want to double check your facts there.

15/19 of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia and they were not exiled.

[Deleted]

Bin Laden is laughing from the grave, his plan to use Saudi Arabians national as terrorists to diminish the US/Saudi alliance is now paying off.

Before, it was no point in trying to make a coup/revolution in Saudi Arabia, becuse all did know that US will protect the Saudi dictatorship....but now its not as obvious.

[Deleted]

Guess we get to find out who owns who

[Deleted]

In United states, justice has a price, even against the nation.

[SodiumChloride]

Their currency is pegged to the USD though ...

In general, they will also end up hurting themselves.

So don't know if they will actually follow through on the threat.

The Kingdom is after all only around due to US support. Real dangerous to bite the hand that feeds you.

[alexw]

This is absolutely ridiculous. Why would Saudi Arabia "as a government" do such a thing to the US "which is it's number 1 ally.

some religious extremist "who was exiled from saudi arabia at the time btw" went on and did a stunt and people blame saudi arabia for it. cool story bro.

Its more to do with the fact that Saudi Arabia was funding terrorist networks via its security apparatus, and that it has been spreading terrorism across the middle east for decades by indoctrinating people into the fundamentalist wahhabist creed. You know the one that sees anyone who does not believe as they do as fundamentally evil.

[Stormdash]

A teachable moment in not blithely carrying around massive sovereign debt. "They have his soul, who have his bonds"