WASHINGTON, 25 July 2004 — “Lawmakers cheered” read the headline in a story about the US House of Representatives dropping $25,000 from the US Foreign Aid Bill that was designated for Saudi Arabia. That in itself is a very shocking headline. Is it possible that the very tradition-bound US Congress actually cheers about anything that they vote on? Apparently they not only cheered, but some of the members also made comments degrading Saudi Arabia and claimed that Saudi Arabia is funding more than half the terrorists in the world.

On July 15, while the Foreign Aid Bill was being discussed, an amendment to that bill sponsored by Congressman Anthony Weiner, a Democrat from Brooklyn/Queens in New York, was introduced, discussed and voted on. The $25,000 designated for Saudi Arabia was part of the almost $20 billion requested for US foreign aid. The amendment was opposed by the Bush administration. State Department spokesman Edgar Vasquez stated, “Saudi Arabia has been a partner in the war on terror and our cooperation with them is improving. This amendment also would undermine our cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including the stabilization of Iraq and the pursuit of Palestinian-Israeli peace.”

Since both the administration and the House of Representatives are in Republican hands, one would think that the State Department appeal would at least garner the support of Republicans in the House. However, the bill passed by a vote of 217-191 with 25 members not voting. And 60 Republican members voted for the bill while 152 followed the party recommendation and voted against it. The Democrat vote was 156 for and 39 against. The one independent in the House voted for the amendment.

So why did the Saudis, a relatively wealthy country, need $25,000 of US foreign aid anyway. They probably don’t but according to Representative Jim Kolbe, a Republican from Arizona and the chair of a committee responsible for the bill, “By providing the relatively modest sum of $25,000, which allows for a single officer in this country for one program, we allow them access to the program. The results in Saudi Arabia is that Saudi Arabia has spent $13 million of its own funds here in the United States to train over 400 students at US military schools.” Kolbe went on to say that this training also exposes Saudi officers to US military doctrines and US values. So was the Congress “cutting off its nose to spite its face”? Not if you listened to some of the congressional members comments on the floor of the House during the debate on this amendment.

Congressmen Weiner said, “First of all, the Saudis are shielding known terrorists. This is not a theory of mine; this is a fact.” Weiner continued, “The Saudis have famously also failed to crack down on terror.” And he pointed out a recent statement from the very prestigious Council on Foreign Relations that claims that Saudi Arabia has not yet fully implemented its new laws and regulations and, because of that, “opportunities for the witting and unwitting financing of terrorism persists.” Weiner said, “This is not some fringe element of Congress; this is the Council on Foreign Relations.”

Weiner was joined by a Democratic member from New York, Joseph Crowley, who cosponsored the bill with Weiner with two other colleagues, Representatives Steve Israel of New York and Shelley Berkley of Nevada.

Crowley stated,”Saudi blood money does not only threaten the United States, but it also threatens our good friend and ally, the state of Israel.” Crowley continued, “The Saudi connection to Al- Qaeda is undeniable. In fact Al-Qaeda has an implicit deal, an implicit deal with the Saudi royal family to desist from violence in the Kingdom in exchange for Saudi financing.”

Representative Steve Israel picked up the ball next, “The Saudis claim that they are vigorously prosecuting and persecuting terrorists. Who are they kidding?”

Finally Representative Israel had his say, “Frankly, it is inexplicable. It is inexplicable. You can no longer live by the fantasy that somehow they are going to be helpful, that they are going to solve the problems of the Middle East if only we embrace the Saudis. We can no longer follow that fantasy thinking.” Israel concluded, “It is not a coincidence that, according to the State Department, more than half of every single dollar for terrorists comes from Saudi Arabia. It is not a coincidence, because that is what the Saudi government is all about.”

Where do these Representatives get their “facts” from and can’t someone question them as to the veracity of their statements in official proceedings of the US House? This is not the first time that Representative Weiner has gone after Saudi Arabia. During last year’s Foreign Aid Bill debate, Weiner introduced an amendment to label Saudi Arabia a terrorist state. He wanted the Kingdom to be included with the list of Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Libya and Syria. He wanted Saudi Arabia to join this official US list of terrorist states. This list also bears a striking resemblance to the Bush “Axis of Evil” list.

Weiner’s anti-Saudi amendment was defeated last year by a vote of 231-191, but he didn’t give up. He was again a principal sponsor of the “Saudi Arabia Accountability Act” which, if passed would severely damage US-Saudi relations.

Are the sponsors of this year’s anti-Saudi amendment likely to change their ways if they got their facts straight. Not likely, but will someone at least state the correct facts to the members who voted against the Saudis. And maybe these members of Congress should also all read the Patriot Act before it comes up next time. They are playing with fire and we all might get burned.

(Dr. Michael Saba is the author of “The Armageddon Network” and is an international relations consultant.)