JEDDAH: Former senior US officials and retired servicemen have sent an open letter to President Barack Obama and members of Congress, saying “JASTA” will undermine the US relationship with Saudi Arabia, harming interests of both countries.
“There is no evidence of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the events of September 11, which is behind the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA),” the letter read.
“We are writing today to express our deep concern over the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which awaits the president’s veto. This act has disturbing effects on our national security interests and unintended consequences affecting our relations in the Middle East, Europe, and our position worldwide,” the letter added.
“All of us, of course, are sympathetic to the victims of September 11 and their families, but this act will not help them.
"There was no reliable evidence proving the involvement of Saudi Arabia in the tragedy of September 11 ... Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council, are both considered main economic partners of the United States.
"This partnership extends well beyond oil, and includes hundreds of billions of dollars of investment in both the Middle East and the United States. This act will send a disturbing signal to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the entire Gulf region that we no longer appreciate the relationship that has been there throughout history, which will encourage governments and their private sectors to seek other relationships.”
Furthermore, “These scenarios are just predictions at this stage and of course might become a reality if the United States unilaterally decided to change its relationship with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states and our European allies, and will push these relations into the abyss.”
The letter continues: “We strongly urge the president and Congress to seriously consider the potential geopolitical and economic consequences that might weaken the US-Saudi relations and international partners. Regardless of the disagreements and the differences that occur from time to time, this strategic relationship is in the interest of the United States.”
Signatories to the letter included former US Defense Secretary William Cohen, Michael Bernard Mukasey, lawyer and former judge who served as the 81st attorney general of the United States, Stephen John Hadley, former assistant to the president for National Security Affairs under President George W. Bush, Michael Joseph Morell, former US deputy director and the acting-director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Richard A. Clarke, former national coordinator for security and infrastructure protection and counterterrorism, Rand Beers, former deputy homeland security adviser to the president, Thomas Pickering, former undersecretary of state for political affairs, Frank George Wisner II, former undersecretary of defense for policy and Daniel Charles Kurtze, former US ambassador to Israel.
“There is no evidence of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the events of September 11, which is behind the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA),” the letter read.
“We are writing today to express our deep concern over the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which awaits the president’s veto. This act has disturbing effects on our national security interests and unintended consequences affecting our relations in the Middle East, Europe, and our position worldwide,” the letter added.
“All of us, of course, are sympathetic to the victims of September 11 and their families, but this act will not help them.
"There was no reliable evidence proving the involvement of Saudi Arabia in the tragedy of September 11 ... Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council, are both considered main economic partners of the United States.
"This partnership extends well beyond oil, and includes hundreds of billions of dollars of investment in both the Middle East and the United States. This act will send a disturbing signal to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the entire Gulf region that we no longer appreciate the relationship that has been there throughout history, which will encourage governments and their private sectors to seek other relationships.”
Furthermore, “These scenarios are just predictions at this stage and of course might become a reality if the United States unilaterally decided to change its relationship with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states and our European allies, and will push these relations into the abyss.”
The letter continues: “We strongly urge the president and Congress to seriously consider the potential geopolitical and economic consequences that might weaken the US-Saudi relations and international partners. Regardless of the disagreements and the differences that occur from time to time, this strategic relationship is in the interest of the United States.”
Signatories to the letter included former US Defense Secretary William Cohen, Michael Bernard Mukasey, lawyer and former judge who served as the 81st attorney general of the United States, Stephen John Hadley, former assistant to the president for National Security Affairs under President George W. Bush, Michael Joseph Morell, former US deputy director and the acting-director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Richard A. Clarke, former national coordinator for security and infrastructure protection and counterterrorism, Rand Beers, former deputy homeland security adviser to the president, Thomas Pickering, former undersecretary of state for political affairs, Frank George Wisner II, former undersecretary of defense for policy and Daniel Charles Kurtze, former US ambassador to Israel.
