Saudi Arabia and 9/11: Establishing the Truth Behind the Release of the 28 Pages and the “Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act” By Anthony H. Cordesman Update: September 14, 2016 Please provide comments to
[email protected] Cover: DoD photo by Master Sgt. Ben Bloker, U.S. Air Force Saudi Arabia and the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Attack 14/9/16 2 Saudi Arabia and the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act President Obama has made it clear that he intends to veto the legislation the House passed on September 9, 2016 that would allow families of those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to sue Saudi Arabia for any role its officials played in the terrorist attack. He should veto the bill and the Congress should pause and not override that veto. It is all too easy to understand anger the families and survivors of those who were victims on 9/11 feel, and the desire they have to find someone to punish and blame and for some compensation for their losses. It is equally easy to understand the mixed motives of a Congress caught up in the politics of tenth anniversary of the attack, an election year, and the desire not to seem soft on terrorism. Saudi Arabia is also one of America’s most difficult strategic partners for Americans to understand, and its progress, reforms, and strategic importance are often badly understated. It is easier to focus on the fact it is an Islamic state at a time when extremist threats like ISIS, Al Qaida, and the Taliban, than deal with the complicated security issues in the Gulf region and the fact the U.S.