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The Official Story, Part II – Who Really Did It?

The Official Story, Part II – Who Really Did It?. Dr. Matthew Robinson Appalachian State University ANT/CJ 3535 – “9/11” Fall 2007. The Official Account. Recall the official account of the 9/11 Commission: 19 men, without any aid from any foreign government , attacked the US.

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The Official Story, Part II – Who Really Did It?

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  1. The Official Story, Part II – Who Really Did It? Dr. Matthew Robinson Appalachian State University ANT/CJ 3535 – “9/11” Fall 2007

  2. The Official Account • Recall the official account of the 9/11 Commission: • 19 men, without any aid from any foreign government, attacked the US (No help from Saudi Arabia, no help from Pakistan)

  3. In fact … • There is strong evidence of DIRECT involvement by high level officials in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in the 9/11 attacks • WHY would people there want to attack us?

  4. President Bush on The Saudis • “Either you are with us, or you are against us.  From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime.” • “As far as the Saudi Arabians go, they’ve been nothing by cooperative … Am I pleased with the actions of Saudi Arabia?  I am.”

  5. The Saudis: The Official Account • 1) UBL and 15 of the  19 hijackers came from Saudi Arabia! • 2)The so-called “Saudi rules” allowed Saudi students to enter the US with only cursory or no background checks. • 3) Some flight schools issued paperwork that allowed students to obtain visas at US embassies or consulates.

  6. The Saudis: The Official Account • 4) Saudi Arabia officially recognized the government of the Taliban in Afghanistan. • Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and UAE are the only three nations that did so as of 9/11. • The Taliban housed UBL and al-Qaeda, which attacked the United States on 9/11.

  7. The Saudis: Other Facts and Allegations • 1) UBL blackmailed the Saudi government by threatening to bring terrorism against Saudi Arabia if they did not support al-Qaeda. • 2) Many of the Saudi princes sympathize with UBL, his religion (Wahhabism), and the cause of al-Qaeda. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahhabism http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/saudi/analyses/wahhabism.html

  8. The Saudis: Other Facts and Allegations • 3) High level Saudis send money to al-Qaeda • 4) July 2002 briefing to a top Pentagon advisory group (Defense Policy Board): “The Saudis are active at every level of the terror chain, from planners to financiers, from cadre to foot-solider, from ideologist to cheerleader … Saudi Arabia supports our enemies and attacks our allies.”

  9. The Saudis: The Khalid bin Mahfouz controversy • 5) bin Mahfouz -- Saudi billionaire with suspected links to terrorism • Managed largest bank in Saudi Arabia in 1980s (National Commercial Bank) • Directed Bank of Credit and Commercial International (BCCI), largest bank in Arab world.

  10. The Saudis: The Khalid bin Mahfouz controversy • Involved in money laundering, bribery, tax evasion, smuggling, illegal immigration, illegal purchases of banks and real estate, arms trafficking, sale of nuclear technologies, and support of terrorism! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_Credit_and_Commerce_International

  11. The Saudis: The Khalid bin Mahfouz controversy • Indicted by a New York state grand jury for fraud. • US Federal Reserve alleged he breached banking regulations. • Khalid denied any wrongdoing and the charges were dropped after he agreed to pay $225 million, including $37 million in lieu of fines.

  12. The Saudis: The Khalid bin Mahfouz controversy • Khalid and NCB were involved in a separate $253 million deal to settle claims with BCCI's creditors. • Did he ever give money to support terrorism? • Author Craig Unger claims bin Mahfouz donated over $270,000 to UBL’s al Qaeda at the request of Osama's brother Salem bin Laden.

  13. The Saudis: The Khalid bin Mahfouz controversy • Bin Mahfouz’s lawyer: "This donation was to assist the US-sponsored resistance to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and was never intended nor, to the best of Sheikh Khalid's knowledge, ever used to fund any 'extension' of that resistance movement in other countries."

  14. The Saudis: The Khalid bin Mahfouz controversy • Khalid denied that NCB was involved in funding al Qaeda … • But, a high-placed Saudi businessmen transferred millions of dollars through NCB to charities operating as fronts for al-Qaeda. • Khalid says he was not aware of such wire transfers moving through the bank.

  15. The Saudis: The Khalid bin Mahfouz controversy • The Saudi government bought a controlling 50% stake of NCB from Khalid in 1999 • Khalid set up a charity called the Muwaffaq Foundation ("blessed relief“). • He funded this charity with $30 million, and put his eldest son on the board of directors.

  16. The Saudis: The Khalid bin Mahfouz controversy • In October 1999, the US Treasury Department named the Muwaffaq Foundation as an al-Qaeda front. • Yasin al-Qadi, a Saudi who ran the charity, was named a supporter of terrorism by the US Treasury, which has frozen his assets. • Khalid said he did not know.

  17. The Saudis: The Khalid bin Mahfouz controversy • Khalid and President George W. Bush are connected. • Khalid inherited an interest in Bush’s “Arbusto Energy.” • Arbusto merged with Spectrum 7 and then Harken Energy, and Khalid stayed involved.

  18. The Saudis: The Khalid bin Mahfouz controversy • Arbusto, Spectrum and Harken Oil lost millions, yet a wealthy Saudi invested in it • In 1990, it was awarded a contract to drill for crude oil off the coast of Bahrain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbusto_Energy

  19. The Saudis: The Khalid bin Mahfouz controversy • Khalid’s holdings were managed by James Bath, a close friend to Bush. • Bath also directed BCCI and was part owner of Harken Energy with Bush. • Bath served as representative of Salem bin Laden (UBL’s half-brother)

  20. The Saudis: The Khalid bin Mahfouz controversy • Like Bush, Bath was suspended from flying status in 1972 for failing to accomplish his annual medical examination. • Bottom line: This Saudi allegedly had a role in terrorism and possibly 9/11 • No evidence directly links him, however

  21. Saudis Who Were Involved • 1) Omar al-Bayoumi – • Alleged Saudi spy • Worked for the Saudi Ministry of Defense and Aviation headed by Prince Sultan prior to coming to the US • (denied by the FBI – see Graham, p. 11).

  22. Saudis Who Were Involved • 1) Omar al-Bayoumi – • Job to keep an eye on Saudis in San Diego, especially college students engaged in activities that might threaten Saudi Arabia. • “Vouched for” hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar (so that they would be accepted into the community and its mosque).

  23. Saudis Who Were Involved • 1) Omar al-Bayoumi – • Claims he met the two men in a Middle Eastern restaurant just miles from the airport. • Claims the two men did not like it in Los Angeles and so told them if they would like to move to San Diego they should just call him. • Probably picked up the two hijackers from LA (see Graham, p. 12).

  24. Saudis Who Were Involved Saud al-Rashid • 2) Hamid al-Rashid – • A Saudi government official whose son Saud is connected to al-Qaeda • Saud’s picture is found on a CD-ROM in an al-Qaeda safe house in Pakistanthat also contains the pictures of four 9/11 hijackers

  25. Saudis Who Were Involved Saud al-Rashid • 2) Hamid al-Rashid – • Approved salary of al-Bayoumi • Monthly stipend comes from Ercan (which contracted with Dallah Avco Aviation, a Saudi government contractor)

  26. Saudis Who Were Involved • 3) Saleh Kamel – • Owned Dallah Avco Aviation • Named a member of the “Golden Chain” that provides money to UBL and al-Qaeda regularly • al-Bayoumi given $3,000 per month for a project in Saudi Arabia. • al-Bayoumi showed up for work once and the supervisor wanted to fire him but was told Ercan’s contract would be terminated.

  27. Saudis Who Were Involved • 4) Mohammed Ahmed al-Salmi – • Director General of Civil Aviation • Sent letter to Ercan saying it wanted al-Bayoumi’s contract renewed as quickly as possible. • Al-Bayoumi’s monthly stipend for job was $2,800 with allowances of $465 a month. • After inviting two hijackers to San Diego, getting them places to live, monthly allowance rose to $3,700.

  28. Saudis Who Were Involved • Allegedly al-Bayoumi came to the US to set up the mosque to launder money and to set up the terrorism cell in San Diego to carry out the 9/11 attacks. • 1998-1999 FBI counterterrorism inquiry found al-Bayoumi has contacts with people under investigation. • The 9/11 Congressional Inquiry concluded that he has “access to seemingly unlimited funding from Saudi Arabia.”

  29. Saudis Who Were Involved • 5) Fahad al-Thumairy– • Official from the consulate’s section on Islamic and cultural affairs • Prayer leader at a local mosque in LA • Met privately with al-Bayoumi before he picked up the hijackers

  30. Saudis Who Were Involved • 5) Fahad al-Thumairy– • Graham says of al-Thumairy: “With a number of suspected terrorist ties, he was no friend of the United States.  In fact, in May 2003, the United States would revoke al-Thumairy’s diplomatic visa, ban him from the United States, and put him on a plane back to Riyadh” (p. 12).

  31. Saudis Who Were Involved • 5) Fahad al-Thumairy– • Graham summarizes the events: “That a suspected Saudi spy would drive 125 miles to a meeting at the Saudi consulate in Los Angeles, where he would meet with a consular officer with suspected terrorist ties, and then drive another seven miles to the one Middle Eastern restaurant – out of more than 134 Middle Eastern restaurants in Los Angeles – where he would happen to sit next to two future terrorists, to whom he would happen to offer friendship and support, cannot credibly be described as a coincidence” (p. 13)

  32. Saudis Who Were Involved • From January to May 2000, al-Bayoumi had a large number of phone conversations with Saudi officials in LA and DC. • See the official account of all of this, according to the US government (pp. 168-169!)

  33. Saudis Who Were Involved • 6) Mohdar Abdullah– • Met hijackers in San Diego mosque • Helped them get driver’s licenses, car insurance, credit cards, social security cards, and locate flight schools. • Deported to Yemen after spending almost three years in New York and San Diego County jails. • Admitted to inmates about knowing about the plot.

  34. Saudis Who Were Involved • 7) Anwar Aulaqi– • Also met hijackers in San Diego mosque and become their religious leader. • Suspected of being the first person the two hijackers shared their plans with in the US. • They became so close that when the two hijackers left for Virginia, Aulaqi followed

  35. Saudis Who Were Involved • 8) Abdussattar Shaikh?– • Reportedly a retired English professor from San Diego State University • Really a San Diego FBI asset • Job to monitor the Saudi community in San Diego for suspicious behavior http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdussattar_Shaikh

  36. Saudis Who Were Involved • 8) Abdussattar Shaikh?– • Hijacker Nawaf al-Hazmi noticed that Shaikh had posted on the Mosque bulletin board available quarters in his home for a committed young Muslim. • So al-Hazmi and Khalid Al-Mihdharmoved into his house!

  37. Saudis Who Were Involved • 8) Abdussattar Shaikh?– • Graham: “Two future terrorists, both of whom would later be placed on the government’s watch list, were living under the nose of an FBI informant, and one would later actually live with him, yet the informant was never asked to draw more information from them, get closer to them, or gain their confidence” (pp. 20-21).

  38. Saudis Who Were Involved • 8) Abdussattar Shaikh?– • His handler, Steven Butler is told by Shaikh they are good, religious Muslims, legally in the US to visit and attend school. • Butler asks Shaikh for their last names, but Shaikh refuses to provide them. • Butler is not told that they are pursuing flight training. • Shaikh tells Butler that they are apolitical and have done nothing to arouse suspicion.

  39. Saudis Who Were Involved • 8) Abdussattar Shaikh?– • According to the 9/11 Congressional Inquiry, Shaikh later admits that Alhazmi has “contacts with at least four individuals [he] knew were of interest to the FBI and about whom [he] had previously reported to the FBI.” • Three of these four people are being actively investigated at the time the hijackers are there.

  40. Saudis Who Were Involved • 8) Abdussattar Shaikh?– • Gives inaccurate information to US officials. • Has an “inconclusive” polygraph examination about his foreknowledge of the 9/11 attack. • Is also a self-admitted friend of Omar al-Bayoumi • Was the “best chance to unravel the September 11 plot” (9/11 Congressional Inquiry).

  41. Saudis Who Were Involved • 8) Abdussattar Shaikh?– • San Diego Union Tribune reports: • “Shaikh has deep ties to San Diego. He was a founder of the Islamic Center of San Diego in Clairemont. He has served as a member of the city's police review board and on a hate crimes task force, among other posts.”

  42. Saudis Who Were Involved • 8) Abdussattar Shaikh?– • Shaikh says: "I've been here 42 years in this country, and my blood boiled and I got angry as much as any other American did, maybe more because I knew that guy [al-Mihdhar], because he betrayed me," Shaikh said. "And still, I feel that people will think I shared their criminal will, and I didn't know that he was criminal." http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/terror/firstweek/20010916-sdattack.html

  43. Saudis Who Were Involved Prince Bandar • 9) Osama Basnan– • Wrote to Saudi Arabian Prince Bandar (Saudi Ambassador to the US) to get money for surgery for his wife. • Got a check for $15,000 but then needed more, so his wife (Majeda Dweikar) made a separate request.

  44. Saudis Who Were Involved Prince Bandar • 10) Princess Haifa al-Faisal– • Received request for money from Basnan’s wife. • Began getting checks every month between $2,000 and $3,000. • She signed some of the checks over to Manal Bajadr, the wife of Omar al-Bayoumi. • Al-Bayoumi possibly gave the money to al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar!

  45. Saudis Who Were Involved Prince Bandar • 10) Princess Haifa al-Faisal– • Graham says: “to follow that stream of income is to trace a line from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the wife of one spy, to the wife of another, and ultimately to the hands of two plotting terrorists” (p. 168). • The al-Bayoumis and Basnans lived at the Parkwood Apartments at the same time as the two hijackers.

  46. Saudis Who Were Involved Prince Bandar • 10) Princess Haifa al-Faisal– • Prior to that lived in another apartment complex together. • Both wives were also arrested together for shoplifting in April 2001. • Prince Bandar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Bandar

  47. Saudis Who Were Involved Prince Bandar • back to Osama Basnan– • His passport was stolen in Houston, Texas on April 25, 2002, the same day that Saudi Princes Abdullah, al-Faisl, and Bandar are in Texas to meet with President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice in Crawford, Texas. • The entourage passed through Houston … did Basnan meet with them?

  48. Saudis Who Were Involved Prince Bandar • back to Osama Basnan– • Later arrested for visa fraud and deported to Saudi Arabia after he admitted he used fake documents to stay in the US. • In his possession was the phone number of the Saudi Embassy in London

  49. Saudis Who Were Involved • 11) Salem Ibn Abdul Rahman Hussayen -- • Director of the SAAR charity that is suspected of terrorism ties. • September 2001 -- came to the US to visit charities that have since been linked to terrorism (the Global Relief Foundation, World Muslin league, International Islamic relief Organization, and the Islamic Assembly of North America)

  50. Saudis Who Were Involved Sami Omar Hussayen • 11) Salem Ibn Abdul Rahman Hussayen -- • Three hijackers (Hanjour, al-Mihdhar, and Nawaf al-Hazmi) stayed at the same hotel • His nephew Sami Omar Hussayen ran a web site affiliated with the Islamic Assembly of North America that called for suicide attacks with planes. http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/002355.php

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