Gold9472
01-15-2006, 12:19 PM
U.S. officials say Saudis fall short in curbing terror
They say the money continues to flow across the border to militants
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/3588020.html
By JOSH MEYER
Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON - Although Saudi Arabia has cracked down on militants within its borders, the kingdom has not kept its promises to help prevent the spread of terrorism or curb the flow of money from Saudis to terror cells around the world, U.S. intelligence, diplomatic and other officials say.
One result, these critics said, is that countless young terror suspects are thought to have escaped the kingdom's tightening noose at home by fleeing across what critics call a porous border into Iraq. U.S. military officials confirm an aggressive role by Saudi fighters in the insurgency in Iraq.
And millions of dollars continue to flow from wealthy Saudis through Saudi-based Islamic charitable and relief organizations to al-Qaida and other suspected terror groups abroad, aided by Riyadh's failure to set up a government commission to police such groups as promised, senior U.S. officials from several counterterrorism agencies said in interviews.
Those officials said Saudi Arabia has taken some positive steps within its borders. But they criticized what they called the Saudis' failure to take a more active role in the global fight.
Daniel Glaser, the deputy assistant Treasury secretary for terrorist financing and financial crimes, recalled attending a counterterrorism conference in Riyadh in February at which the Saudis declared they would be an international leader in fighting al-Qaida and in eradicating terrorism worldwide.
Nearly a year later, Glaser and other U.S. officials say, those promises are unfulfilled.
"They promised to do it, and they need to live up to their promises," Glaser said.
In response, a senior Saudi official vehemently insisted that the kingdom has taken strong steps to fight al-Qaida — not only at home but worldwide. The official said the government is working closely with regional partners and the United States on operational and intelligence-gathering fronts.
They say the money continues to flow across the border to militants
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/3588020.html
By JOSH MEYER
Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON - Although Saudi Arabia has cracked down on militants within its borders, the kingdom has not kept its promises to help prevent the spread of terrorism or curb the flow of money from Saudis to terror cells around the world, U.S. intelligence, diplomatic and other officials say.
One result, these critics said, is that countless young terror suspects are thought to have escaped the kingdom's tightening noose at home by fleeing across what critics call a porous border into Iraq. U.S. military officials confirm an aggressive role by Saudi fighters in the insurgency in Iraq.
And millions of dollars continue to flow from wealthy Saudis through Saudi-based Islamic charitable and relief organizations to al-Qaida and other suspected terror groups abroad, aided by Riyadh's failure to set up a government commission to police such groups as promised, senior U.S. officials from several counterterrorism agencies said in interviews.
Those officials said Saudi Arabia has taken some positive steps within its borders. But they criticized what they called the Saudis' failure to take a more active role in the global fight.
Daniel Glaser, the deputy assistant Treasury secretary for terrorist financing and financial crimes, recalled attending a counterterrorism conference in Riyadh in February at which the Saudis declared they would be an international leader in fighting al-Qaida and in eradicating terrorism worldwide.
Nearly a year later, Glaser and other U.S. officials say, those promises are unfulfilled.
"They promised to do it, and they need to live up to their promises," Glaser said.
In response, a senior Saudi official vehemently insisted that the kingdom has taken strong steps to fight al-Qaida — not only at home but worldwide. The official said the government is working closely with regional partners and the United States on operational and intelligence-gathering fronts.