Giuliani rejects $10 million from Saudi prince

[The PIT]

He's now also got a knighthood as well for his efforts.

[Joel]

Monday, Oct. 15, 2001 2:53 p.m. EDT
Congresswoman Apologizes for Giuliani's Saudi Snub

Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney apologized Friday for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's decision to return a $10 million check from Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal for the Twin Towers relief fund.

On Thursday, after a guided tour by Giuliani of the World Trade Center disaster site, the Saudi prince presented the check -- but in a statement hours later seemed to blame U.S. policy in the Mideast for provoking the attacks.

"At times like this one we must address some of the issues that led to such a criminal attack," the Saudi prince mused before suggesting that the U.S. re-examine its policy toward Israel.

In her letter of apology to bin Talal delivered to the Saudi Embassy in Washington, the Georgia Democrat made no bones about who she thought was right.

"Whether [Giuliani] agreed with you or not, I think he should have recognized your right to speak and make observations about a part of the world which you know so well."

"Many of us here in the United States have long been concerned about reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch that reveal a pattern of excessive, and often indiscriminate, use of lethal force by Israeli security forces in situations where Palestinian demonstrators were unarmed and posed no threat of death or serious injury to the security forces or to others," McKinney continued.

Then the Georgia congresswoman made a play for the gold herself.

"Although your offer was not accepted by Mayor Giuliani, I would like to ask you to consider assisting Americans who are in dire need right now." McKinney was referring to "the poor and people of color," according to the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, which first reported her apology on Sunday.

A day after McKinney sent her regrets, the Saudi prince explicitly blamed "Jewish pressures" for the flap, a phenomenon he said Giuliani was "afraid of."

No word yet on whether Rep. McKinney is buying bin Talal's "Jewish pressures" argument.

Doesn't this just make you sick. And even if we go by what she says Giuliani is also suppose to have the right to express himself also.

Joel

[Greebe]

[The PIT]

Mmm I thought both sides over react shes never seen the suicide bombers on TV I take it.

[RedRed]

On Thursday, after a guided tour by Giuliani of the World Trade Center disaster site, the Saudi prince presented the check -- but in a statement hours later seemed to blame U.S. policy in the Mideast for provoking the attacks.

Well why else do you think you are under attack?

I think at the end of the day (and we are not there yet!) donations like that do not come allong every day. The US prides itsslef on free speech, does it not? If he was asked to comment on why he felt it happened, he can.

he did call the atrocity a

criminal attack

. He feels strongly about the policies on the US in the Middle East. Its his 'back yard', not yours, so he is qualified to comment.

I do agree that your NYC mayor has shown true statesman like behavour with this trial to your country.

[Greebe]

RedRed shut the f*ck up you pathetic bleeding heart panty waste!

OK I edited out "liberal ass".

Happy now?

Geez

[Wombat]

Grrr. When did liberal become a dirty word?

Geez Mike. I thought at least you would be level-headed about this. I may not agree with RR either, but at least he carried himself well. You could at least do the same. You disagree with him strongly? Fine. But he didn't deserve to get flamed. I thought you said you stay cool under this kind of thing.

[Helevitia]

yeah, he has a right to say what he wants but we have the right to refuse it And we did

I should make my new sig "Screw Allah and the horse he rode in on!" And see how many people I piss off. Just for the record, I hate religion, I hate everything it's about. I hate what it so fakingly stands for.

Dave

[ALBPM]

Oh JEEZ!!!!! I have always been very Liberal and am critical everything and anyone.

Sure, we may be now paying the price for being the victor in the "Cold War". Maybe Mao was right when he said Capitalists are the only people who will sell arms to and provide everything needed to the very people who will bring about their downfall. And maybe that's why China kept somewhat of a low profile during the Cold War days. We may have won the Cold War but the people we put in power in these small Countries to prevent Communism from spreading are now turning on the U.S.. Sure our government meddled in these countries affairs and supported corrupt Bastards like Noriega and numerous others.

We're not perfect!!!!! But, we are one of the few if not only Nations in history that did not use it's "Super Power" status to outright invade, conquer and most importantly "Keep" other countries territory as our own. Look back in your history books... England, Spain, Holland, Germany, Russia, France, Greece, China.....it's a pretty long friggn list, all used their "Power" to take or "Invade" territory that belonged to someone else.

But if all of a sudden some radical group of psychos crashed planes into one of your cities and killed thousands of people, maybe even your friends and family, you would have a right to feel the anger and hatred that we feel. It wasn't an attack against our government or military. It was an attack against civilians from many countries not just U.S. citizens.

I say screw Osama, the Taliban and Saddam and the goat they all have sex with.

By the way here is a picture of Osama without his turbin.
No Turbin

Disclaimer: Don't look at this if your under 18 or if you think anyone was justified for killing over 5,000 people.

And....Who the Hell else would Bomb and Feed an enemy at the same time. Only the U.S.!!!!!!!! I see material for a "Stand-Up Comedy" routine here.

That's my liberal Friggn view.

Paul

[RedRed]

Thanks for you modest and reasoned reply, Greebe -

I am a bit liberal/socialist, rather than Liberal

I dont think it is necessary or constructive to hurl abuse at someone for expressing a point. You might disagree with me, fair enough, I can accept that.

You cant roll the clock back. You are outraged that this happened on american soil. Fair enough. It WAS awful.

I will spell out what I meant, in case it wasnt clear.

1 I think you will find that HE (the Prince)was speaking out against the attack.
2 He was asked to comment WHY he felt it had happened.
3 HE felt that is was because of American Policy in the Middle-East.
4 I felt that he was probably correct in this assumption.

That was it.

I dont think that this deserves such personal abuse.

Regards
RedRed

[The PIT]

Giuliani flatly rejected the prince's position. "To suggest that there's a justification for [the terrorist attacks] only invites this happening in the future," he said. "It is highly irresponsible and very, very dangerous.

"And one of the reasons I think this happened is because people were engaged in moral equivalency in not understanding the difference between liberal democracies like the United States, like Israel, and terrorist states and those who condone terrorism.

"So I think not only are those statements wrong, they're part of the problem," Giuliani said.


So no abuse RedRed your part of the problem.

[Greebe]

You are outraged that this happened on american soil. Fair enough. It WAS awful.

I'm sick by the fact it happened ANYWHERE!

Please don't think you know my mind or why I may react in any particular manner.
The reason I flamed you is because what was said has been said before and simply based on a few facts, your existance does not have any effect of the situation within your own country, so why should your commentary have any effect on ours... Especially here in TSB?!

If you want to make a difference then contact your goverment and be heard.

I do not like all the things the US Goverment has done or especially some of the legislation the has passed or currently pending. Lets just hope and pray that the leeches on Capitol Hill don't thrash this country into a police state and for Heaven sake not throw us into WW3 due to their hyper paranoia.

[Wombat]

You know, it does kind of sound like Giuliani over-reacted. If RedRed's statements were true, then the Prince might have just been stating what he percieved as the <I>cause</I>, which does not at all imply <I>justification</I>. Does anybody have a pointer to the full statement of the prince?

[KvHagedorn]

Look at Joel's original post, Rob.

[Wombat]

I did read it. If you pay attention, you'll notice that it doesn't answer my question. Where is the full statement? What prompted it? Was his opinion asked for?