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That Bin Laden family thing is false by the way: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/flights-of-fancy/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/flights-of-fancy/ They l

That Bin Laden family thing is false by the way: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/flights-of-fancy/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/flights-of-fancy/ They left the country shortly after 9/11 for the simple reason that they thought they'd be killed if people realized who they were. Most were just kids in high school and college.

tptacek 7y ago
Also: why wouldn't you OK the return of the Bin Laden family to Saudi Arabia? Al Qaeda wasn't a family business. UBL was one of like 40 siblings.
- vowelless 7y ago
  That’s a fair point. And no one should punish family members for what someone in their family did. And it is entirely possible that they were questioned on the few days that they did remain in the US. So why was Clark even needed to “approve” these flights, one might wonder. I was just trying to say that Clark has been connected with rich Gulf monarchs and elites for a long time.
- GhettoMaestro 7y ago
  > [...] why wouldn't you OK the return of the Bin Laden family to Saudi Arabia, even if you had to? [...] I can think of one reason: 3000 people who got roasted alive or crushed to death on a Tuesday morning in September 2001. If you really think that event does not have implications beyond what you personally feel is right..... lol, ok chief. I would have had no moral qualms holding that family for years if necessary to enact the changes necessary within Saudi Arabia. This is a war setting, not a judicial setting.
- Pigo 7y ago
  This is what I'd heard about this situation, many times. They had never even met. I actually thought it showed integrity to not lump him in with what appeared to be close family.
wnoise 7y ago
From your link: > Second, we found no evidence of political intervention. We found no evidence that anyone at the White House above the level of [National Security Council official] Richard Clarke participated in a decision on the departure of Saudi nationals … The President and Vice President told us they were not aware of the issue at all until it surfaced much later in the media. None of the officials we interviewed recalled any intervention or direction on this matter from any political appointee. If "no one above the level of Clarke" participated in the decision, it's entirely possible that Clarke did, which is what the parent said.
- mzs 7y ago
  Participated in what? After flights were grounded no Saudis were in the air leaving the US until September 14th. We have known this for more than 15 years now. It is extremely disappointing to me that this old disinformation is currently the top thread under this submission.
- strictnein 7y ago
  No the parent said Clarke got them out on 9/11. That is false. They left after other commercial flights were up and running so why would they need help leaving the country? > "None of the officials we interviewed recalled any intervention or direction on this matter from any political appointee." Clarke was a political appointee.
  - vowelless 7y ago
    But were there not private planes that also shuttled some saudis across the US? And this I believe was before the ban was lifted for private planes. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2003/10/saving-the-saudis-200310 https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2003/10/saving-the-saudis-20... “”” Commercial flights had slowly begun to resume, but at 10:57 A.M. the F.A.A. had issued another notice to airmen, a reminder that private aviation was still prohibited. Three private planes violated the ban that day, and in each case a pair of jet fighters quickly forced the aircraft down. As far as private planes were concerned, America was still grounded. “I was told it would take White House approval,” says Grossi. Then one of the pilots arrived. “Here’s your plane,” he told Grossi. “Whenever you’re ready to go.” “”” It was this, as far as I understand it, that requires Clark’s approval.

tptacek 7y ago

Also: why wouldn't you OK the return of the Bin Laden family to Saudi Arabia? Al Qaeda wasn't a family business. UBL was one of like 40 siblings.

vowelless 7y ago
That’s a fair point. And no one should punish family members for what someone in their family did. And it is entirely possible that they were questioned on the few days that they did remain in the US. So why was Clark even needed to “approve” these flights, one might wonder. I was just trying to say that Clark has been connected with rich Gulf monarchs and elites for a long time.
GhettoMaestro 7y ago
> [...] why wouldn't you OK the return of the Bin Laden family to Saudi Arabia, even if you had to? [...] I can think of one reason: 3000 people who got roasted alive or crushed to death on a Tuesday morning in September 2001. If you really think that event does not have implications beyond what you personally feel is right..... lol, ok chief. I would have had no moral qualms holding that family for years if necessary to enact the changes necessary within Saudi Arabia. This is a war setting, not a judicial setting.
Pigo 7y ago
This is what I'd heard about this situation, many times. They had never even met. I actually thought it showed integrity to not lump him in with what appeared to be close family.

wnoise 7y ago

From your link: > Second, we found no evidence of political intervention. We found no evidence that anyone at the White House above the level of [National Security Council official] Richard Clarke participated in a decision on the departure of Saudi nationals … The President and Vice President told us they were not aware of the issue at all until it surfaced much later in the media. None of the officials we interviewed recalled any intervention or direction on this matter from any political appointee. If "no one above the level of Clarke" participated in the decision, it's entirely possible that Clarke did, which is what the parent said.

mzs 7y ago
Participated in what? After flights were grounded no Saudis were in the air leaving the US until September 14th. We have known this for more than 15 years now. It is extremely disappointing to me that this old disinformation is currently the top thread under this submission.
strictnein 7y ago
No the parent said Clarke got them out on 9/11. That is false. They left after other commercial flights were up and running so why would they need help leaving the country? > "None of the officials we interviewed recalled any intervention or direction on this matter from any political appointee." Clarke was a political appointee.
- vowelless 7y ago
  But were there not private planes that also shuttled some saudis across the US? And this I believe was before the ban was lifted for private planes. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2003/10/saving-the-saudis-200310 https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2003/10/saving-the-saudis-20... “”” Commercial flights had slowly begun to resume, but at 10:57 A.M. the F.A.A. had issued another notice to airmen, a reminder that private aviation was still prohibited. Three private planes violated the ban that day, and in each case a pair of jet fighters quickly forced the aircraft down. As far as private planes were concerned, America was still grounded. “I was told it would take White House approval,” says Grossi. Then one of the pilots arrived. “Here’s your plane,” he told Grossi. “Whenever you’re ready to go.” “”” It was this, as far as I understand it, that requires Clark’s approval.