Obama Sides with Saudi Royals against U.S. Families in 9/11 Lawsuit

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Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Obama Sides with Saudi Royals against U.S. Families in 9/11 Lawsuit

Barack Obama and Saudi King Abdullah, April 2, 2009 (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

The Obama administration has made clear where it stands between victims of Sept. 11 and the Saudi royal family, as the president prepares to meet with King Abdullah this week. Last Friday, the Justice Department filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court taking the position that the families of those who died on 9/11 cannot sue the family for allegedly helping to finance the terrorists—15 of whom were from Saudi Arabia—who attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001. Solicitor General Elena Kagan sided with a lower court decision that threw out the lawsuit on grounds that the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act members of the royal family from liability in American courts because the Saudi royal family is synonymous with the.sovereign nation of Saudi Arabia.

Kristen Breitweiser, a leader of the Sept. 11 families, who lost her husband in the World Trade Center attacks, told the New York Times that the decision by the Obama administration was “reprehensible.” She added: “One would have hoped that the Obama administration would have taken a different stance than the Bush administration, and you wonder what message this sends to victims of terrorism around the world.”

The lawsuit, brought by insurance companies representing the victims and their families, was first filed in 2002 and originally asked for $116 trillion. The group now seeks $1 trillion in damages. In addition to pursuing the Saudi royal family, the plaintiffs have targeted international banks, Islamic foundations and charities, individual financiers, the Saudi bin Laden Group, three Saudi princes, and the government of Sudan, according to media reports.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

Obama Administration Sides with Saudis on 9/11 Suit (by Stephen C. Webster, Raw Story)

Justice Dept. Backs Saudi Royal Family on 9/11 Lawsuit (by Eric Lichtblau, New York Times)

Federal Insurance Co., et al., Petitioners v. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, et al. (U.S. Supreme Court) (PDF)

Comments

Ray 15 years ago

People should realize that Obama is just a puppet that is not patriotic to America. It is absolutely frightening that we have allowed our once great nation to be taken down by the NWO so easily without a stand. They will not go after those who they are in bed with. Also they had no probelm going after Sadam Hussein, who had nothing to do with 911. Why wasn't he afforded immunity? They are making excuses because they know that if the truth gets out they are finished! Those in the govt who do all they can to avoid bringing this to court should be tried for treason becasue that is what they are, traitors! Obama, Bush, Cheney and any who agree with them on this issue. They are not PATRIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

arnie 15 years ago

Thought this would be of interest to readers. Since September 2001 I have maintained a free and confidential "9/11 list-serv". The "9/11 list-serv" distributes daily e-mails containing newspaper articles and other relevant information re: 9/11 issues of interest to 9/11 families, 9/11 o

The Wisdom Fund 15 years ago

If Obama knew the facts about 9/11 -- see http://www.twf.org/911.html -- he would do a lot more.

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Obama Sides with Saudi Royals against U.S. Families in 9/11 Lawsuit

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