JEDDAH — We are only a couple of days away from the second anniversary of Sept.11 and everything that it has come to stand for and symbolize.
Already across the US and in other countries as well, columnists and editorial writers of all persuasions and ideologies are sharpening their pens and turning thousands of thoughts to what they want to say and what needs to be said.
Many of them have private agendas, which they dress in Sept. 11 terms in order to give themselves and their words a certain acceptability.
I am referring here to those writers and self-designated experts on Islam, the war on terror and Bin Ladenism. They too are working feverishly to have their material ready for the anniversary so it can take full advantage of the attention it will attract by its sensationalism if not by its truth.
Much of their work — books, articles, TV reports — is based on collections of stereotypes and an avalanche of inaccurate information, incorrect news reports and interviews with unsavory and unreliable characters. And worst of all, the majority of these writers base their conclusions on hindsight. During the past few weeks, quite a few such books have appeared on bookshelves across the United States. The writers of most them have few credentials as authors and no qualifications when it comes to information and personal experience upon which to base their often biased conclusions. Few if any of them have even visited the countries they write about, nor have they met those who figure prominently, and usually discreditably, in their writings.
Since the public is generally familiar with the machinations of these “gurus” and terrorism experts, I find it hard to believe that these “techno thrillers” are anything but cheap shots used to advance careers, make a quick buck and to get invitations to advertise themselves on early morning TV talk shows across the US.
“Why America Slept” (Random House) by Gerald Posner (reviewed in TIME magazine — Aug. 31 issue), which alleges that an Al-Qaeda leader made explosive statements while being interrogated, is one example of what I am talking about. There is virtually no new information in his book, and indeed much of what is there is already public knowledge.
Gerald Posner has built a reputation and made a great deal of money by writing sensational stories about some of the most high-profile controversies in modern history, ranging from the JFK assassination to the hunt for the infamous Nazi Dr. Mengele. While critics have continually questioned Posner’s veracity, few can question his ability to capitalize on popular conspiracy theories, real or imagined. In the course of his career, Posner has demonstrated a knack for writing what sells, and “Why America Slept” is no exception.
It should come as no surprise, then, that Posner’s latest book explores the conspiracy du jour, that of Saudi Arabian involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks. Allegations of Saudi non-compliance in the war on terrorism generate easy news for writers, journalists, and politicians alike.
Posner uses few primary sources in his latest expose. In fact, his two most important sources remain anonymous. As with his past literary efforts, the charges leveled in “Why America Slept” could not stand up in a court of law because most of his evidence is hearsay, not fact. Surely, a Berkeley-trained lawyer like Posner knows that he would have a hard time convincing a court that his latest work is non-fiction.
He wants us to believe, however, that his information came from “two government sources” who are unnamed but “in a position to know.” Amazing and unsubstantiated assertions! He writes about Abu Zubaydah, an Al-Qaeda member who is supposed to have named some prominent Saudis who had close links to Bin Laden. Abu Zubaydah’s statements, let us be quick to point out, were made after he was forced to swallow first painkillers and then Sodium Pentothal, which is better known as “truth serum.”
In other words, after having his mind and judgment chemically altered, he made statements which we are asked to accept as truth. What is surely more likely than the truth of any of his statements is that the whole story is simply fiction — made up and passed off as fact to those who are ready to believe anything detrimental about Saudi Arabia and Islam.
I personally don’t believe a word of what Posner says about the connections of some Saudis with Bin Laden. One of those defamed is the late Prince Ahmad bin Salman, with whom I had the privilege of working for over 15 years.
During that time, I got to know him very well. Prince Ahmad was totally apolitical. He was genuinely humane, sincerely devoted to his family and an enthusiastic sportsman. His love of horseracing and breeding thoroughbreds took up a great deal of his time. In addition, he was chairman of one of the Arab world’s leading publishing houses. To believe that he had any connection with Al-Qaeda would be as absurd as believing that my mother was the “planner” of Sept. 11.
Not only is Posner outrageously slanderous, but he goes off the deep end by naming two other individuals who are also dead. So none of these people are here to defend themselves. And even if they were, it should hardly be necessary to defend oneself against such absurd allegations.
Even US officials and others in the media I spoke to dismissed the claims in the book; one said that it was obviously an attempt to “sensationalize” the issue. A US intelligence source described the allegations in the book as “totally absurd.” The French news agency quoted him further: “These claims have no basis at all.”
The only one of the Saudis mentioned in the book who is still alive is Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the present Saudi ambassador to London.
And he has vehemently and categorically rejected the allegations. “This information is totally false and groundless,” Prince Turki told Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News, a few days ago. “I have had no contacts with Bin Laden since 1990, and have never had contacts with Al-Qaeda, which is a satanic terrorist organization,” he added. After reading a review of Posner’s book in TIME, Prince Turki explained that he had spent years trying to bring Bin Laden to justice and he reminded the world, “Saudi Arabia revoked Osama’s citizenship in 1994.” The prince condemned all attempts to link him and the Kingdom with Al-Qaeda and its terrorist activities.
It comes as no surprise that a writer is capitalizing on Sept. 11 and the apparent American fear and mistrust of Saudi Arabia that has emerged in the last two years. But it is surprising that a supposedly credible newsmagazine would give his flimsy dossier publicity.
As witnessed by the ascendancy of Fox TV, sensationalism rules the day in the American media. It seems that since the gross and unfounded garners greater readership, even TIME has had to lower its journalistic standards.
Fairy tales, so the song tells us, can come true. But they are usually recognized as just that. Children shiver with delight at stories of witches and giants and magic, but deep in their hearts they know that the stories are nothing more.
The sad thing about Posner and his book is that he is writing about what is unknown and unfamiliar to most people. And when authors choose to do that, it is relatively easy to pass off fairy tales as fact.
- Arab News Opinion 9 September 2003
