Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Sunday
U.S. Lawmakers Question U.S. Relationship With Arab Allies
Aired November 24, 2002 - 18:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Are U.S. relations with Arab allies in a crisis stage? Some congressional leaders cite concern over possible links between Saudi government money and the 9/11 hijackings. Lawmakers are demanding a full investigation. CNN's Frank Buckley joins us now from the White House.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, New York Senator Chuck Schumer among those saying he will call for an investigation. He is saying that he'll ask the inspector general of the Justice Department to look into these Saudi leads. A senior White House official tells us that Saudi government officials are fully cooperating with investigators who are attempting to determine if two hijackers involved in the Pentagon attack, that was flight 77, may have inadvertently received money from the Saudi government, specifically from Princess Haifa Al-Faizal who is also the wife of the Saudi ambassador to the U.S.
Saudi officials strongly deny that she gave money directly to hijackers, Khalid Almidhar and Nawaf Alhamzi, but they concede that she donated money to someone on a charity list. That person gave money to two Saudi students who were in the U.S., and that money may have ended up in the hands of hijackers. All of this is causing some in Congress to question the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I believe that the Saudis have got to start in the process of democratization, institutions that are fundamental to the survival of any regime. And they've got to stop this business of funding these radical Islamic organizations, which are intent on destroying the West and the U.S.
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: The Saudi/American relationship is at a crisis stage. They've been good allies. And they've depended on us to protect them, and we've depended on them for military locations and oil. They're hesitating to promise that they'll let us use military facilities we've built in Saudi Arabia if we have to go to war against Iraq. That's unacceptable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BUCKLEY: President Bush back in the U.S. after the NATO summit trip. Didn't talk to reporters today, but White House officials cautioned against jumping to conclusions, saying there's no conclusive evidence that the Saudi government gave money that ended up in the hands of hijackers -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Frank Buckley, thanks very much from the White House.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Allies>
Aired November 24, 2002 - 18:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Are U.S. relations with Arab allies in a crisis stage? Some congressional leaders cite concern over possible links between Saudi government money and the 9/11 hijackings. Lawmakers are demanding a full investigation. CNN's Frank Buckley joins us now from the White House.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, New York Senator Chuck Schumer among those saying he will call for an investigation. He is saying that he'll ask the inspector general of the Justice Department to look into these Saudi leads. A senior White House official tells us that Saudi government officials are fully cooperating with investigators who are attempting to determine if two hijackers involved in the Pentagon attack, that was flight 77, may have inadvertently received money from the Saudi government, specifically from Princess Haifa Al-Faizal who is also the wife of the Saudi ambassador to the U.S.
Saudi officials strongly deny that she gave money directly to hijackers, Khalid Almidhar and Nawaf Alhamzi, but they concede that she donated money to someone on a charity list. That person gave money to two Saudi students who were in the U.S., and that money may have ended up in the hands of hijackers. All of this is causing some in Congress to question the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I believe that the Saudis have got to start in the process of democratization, institutions that are fundamental to the survival of any regime. And they've got to stop this business of funding these radical Islamic organizations, which are intent on destroying the West and the U.S.
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: The Saudi/American relationship is at a crisis stage. They've been good allies. And they've depended on us to protect them, and we've depended on them for military locations and oil. They're hesitating to promise that they'll let us use military facilities we've built in Saudi Arabia if we have to go to war against Iraq. That's unacceptable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BUCKLEY: President Bush back in the U.S. after the NATO summit trip. Didn't talk to reporters today, but White House officials cautioned against jumping to conclusions, saying there's no conclusive evidence that the Saudi government gave money that ended up in the hands of hijackers -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Frank Buckley, thanks very much from the White House.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Allies>
