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Saudi: Bin Laden Used 9/11 to Hurt Saudis
Hipboots required. EFL:American counterterrorism officials believe the al-Qaida terrorist network primarily used Saudi Arabian men in the Sept. 11 attacks because they were easy to recruit and bring into the United States. But a Saudi official says Osama bin Laden sought out his countrymen to hurt the kingdom. "Really, he did it to attack us! Hello, are you listening? Hello?" The Saudi official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity (first name Prince?) , said that bin Laden, who was born in Saudi Arabia, personally insisted that the attacks be carried out by a group mostly composed of Saudis. The official said that suspected Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed has told his CIA interrogators that the original plan was to use a more diverse group, until bin Laden changed the plan to hurt Saudi Arabia and Saudi-U.S. relations. CIA officials declined to comment on Mohammedâs interrogation and would not confirm the Saudi officialâs statements. "He said what?" But the notion that bin Laden, the al-Qaida leader, set out to hurt the Saudis with the Sept. 11 attacks doesnât hold much water in U.S. counterterrorism circles. U.S. officials say al-Qaida drew heavily from Saudis because there were plenty who were willing to support the networkâs goals. Before the attacks, it was also easier for Saudis to receive visas to enter the United States than for people from some other countries. Thank you, State Department. Posted by: Steve 2003-09-10 |
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