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U.S. discusses releasing Saudi names in 9/11 report
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. officials have talked with their Saudi Arabian counterparts about identifying the Saudis named in the intelligence report on the attacks of September 11, 2001, the White House said Saturday. Portions of the report that were not made public indicated possible links between Saudi government officials and the hijackers, officials have said. White House spokesman Scott McClellan also said the Saudis have been helpful in the U.S.-led war on terrorism and in the September 11 investigation. This week, Prince Saud al Faisal urged President Bush to unseal 28 classified pages of the 800-plus-page congressional report on intelligence surrounding the attacks in order to allow the Saudi government to defend itself. Bush refused his request. Saud said the allegations that Saudi Arabian government officials had links to the terrorist attacks are meant to drive a wedge between allies in the war against the al Qaeda network. Sen. Bob Graham, former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the classified section contains "compelling evidence" that "one or more foreign governments" assisted some of the hijackers. "We want to see [the full report] for two reasons," Saud said. "If there are accusations against Saudi Arabia, we want to respond to [them], because we know we are clear of any accusations. But if there are any information about possible supporters of terrorists, we want to know about them to take care of the situation." Bush said allowing the entire report to be declassified would compromise intelligence sources. Saud called the decision disappointing but understandable. Graham, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, and Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama -- the committee's ranking Republican when the report was prepared -- have said only a small portion of the report needs to be kept secret. Although 15 of the 19 suicide hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, Saudi officials point out that al Qaeda also opposes the Saudi monarchy, and they deny that the hijackers received official government help. "These people are attacking us. They are killing us. It sounds morbid to say that we would protect those who would kill us," Saud said. Ties to suspected Saudi agents allegedCongressional officials highlight the case of Omar al-Bayoumi, an employee of the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority, as one example of possible Saudi help to the hijackers. Families representing victims of the attacks have questioned whether al-Bayoumi was working as a Saudi agent when he helped two of the hijackers. Investigators believe al-Bayoumi helped two of the hijackers settle in San Diego, California, in January 2000 and provided them with financial assistance, though officials disagree on the extent of the aid. Saud has told the White House that the FBI may question al-Bayoumi, a Saudi citizen, administration officials said. According to U.S. officials, al-Bayoumi helped arrange the move of hijackers Nawaf Alhamzi and Khalid Almihdhar to an apartment in San Diego. At the time, al-Bayoumi was active in San Diego's Muslim community, but he has since returned to Saudi Arabia. Saud said al-Bayoumi has been questioned by U.S., British and Saudi officials and has not been charged with a crime. A U.S. government source who has read the report and is familiar with the investigation said al-Bayoumi is probably an unofficial Saudi intelligence agent. The man identified another of the men described in the report as Osama Bassnan, and identified him as another probable unofficial Saudi intelligence agent. A complicated and not clearly understood financial relationship exists between the men and the Saudi government, the source said the report concluded. The source added that the report suggests further investigation into both men. The source said the two Saudis who had had "at least indirect" contact with two of the 19 hijackers were "probably" Saudi intelligence agents and "may have" reported to Saudi government officials. The source added that the information about the two men was based on a single, "not very corroborated" source.
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