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Questions, Questions, and More Questions

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In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, many questions have been asked of the US government and its security efforts. Many of these questions have been asked specifically of the workings within the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Failures within the INS have been suggested due to visa applications that were approved for a number of individuals who were hijackers of the airlines that attacked and destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged the Penatgon although they were incomplete and should have raised security flags.

Joel Mowbray, a contributor to the National Review and Michelle Malkin, a frequent contributor to the New York Post have found glaring problems with regard to immigration control. Visas were extended to individuals who should never have been granted the privilege. Applications were incomplete or contained false or misleading statements. The incomplete applications were accepted although federal law requires that such applications be rejected.

How those applications should have been accepted is a fundamental question that has since been partially addressed; the Visa Express program, which allowed Saudi nationals to apply and obtain visas to the US, has been eliminated and a new program that requires Saudi applications to undergo new, more stringent, reviews was implemented.

Saudi Arabia has come under increasing pressure from US legislators and victims groups because of ties to terrorism that have been uncovered in preparation for trial and from intelligence sources. A Saudi princess was accused of providing thousands of dollars in charity to two individuals who were connected with the 9/11 hijackers. It remains to be seen whether that money entered the hands of the hijackers, or whether the princess knew that the money could go to the hijackers, but every day brings new problems for the Saudi regime.

The Saudis claim that they are allied with the US in the fight against terrorism, and against Saudi expatriate Osama Bin Laden in particular. Their actions belie their claims as they have dragged their feet in investigations into attacks against US interests within the country. The Khobar Towers attacks, attributed to al Qaeda, were never fully and properly investigated because the Saudis stonewalled FBI investigators who went over to Saudi Arabia to interrogate witnesses and suspects, and review the damage to the site. How the Saudis can claim that they are aiding in the anti-terrorism efforts while throwing up roadblocks to investigations is troubling.

Some suspect that the Saudis play this game because this is how they can remain in power - they have to protect their interests and cover their bets. Saudi money is spent all over the world on all sorts of charitable causes, some of which could involve terrorism. Saudi Arabia has announced that they will institute new guidelines for charitable donations worldwide. This is a promising first step, but previous ties with terrorism will plague the Saudi government for years to come unless they come clean.

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