WASHINGTON, 27 November 2002 — The White House urged Saudi Arabia yesterday to “do more” in the war on terrorism and said that aides to US President George W. Bush were working on how to enhance Riyadh’s participation in the global campaign.
“Saudi Arabia is a good partner in the war against terrorism but can do more,” said Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer.
“The job of the United States is to work with the government of Saudi Arabia to push them to do more.”
Those comments came after The Washington Post reported that a National Security Council task force was urging Bush to adopt a plan meant to pressure Riyadh into cracking down on alleged terrorism financing by Saudi nationals.
Fleischer said that a “working group” of low-level officials was mulling ways to improve Saudi Arabia’s abilities to battle terrorism but said the Post’s report reflected “one person’s opinion not the whole group’s opinion.”
The US daily said that the task force would give Riyadh 90 days to put the suspects out of business or US would act unilaterally.
Another senior US official, who asked not to be named, denied the report that a panel of aides to President Bush is recommending a plan to force Riyadh to crack down on alleged terrorism financing by Saudi nationals.
“The basic facts of it are inaccurate,” said the US official.
The Post, citing senior officials, said in its report the United States could present Riyadh with intelligence and evidence against individuals and businesses suspected of financing Al-Qaeda or other terrorist organizations.
The US daily quoting senior US officials said that US intelligence agencies have compiled a list of nine wealthy individuals — seven Saudis, one Pakistani and one Egyptian — believed to be the core group of financiers for terrorist groups including Osama Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network.
Another US official also denied the Post report telling AFP: “There’s no 90-day deadline, there’s no list of nine and no high-level NSC task force sitting in judgment of targets.”
