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THE SAUDIS

On August 6th the Washington Post obtained and published a confidential report on Saudi Arabia prepared for the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board by the staff of the Rand Corporation. Shortly after the briefing became public, the Pentagon claimed Rand Corporation "employees" had prepared it and it was not their "official" view. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld disavowed the report and the White House expressed fear that our relations with our Saudi "ally" would be harmed. Even conservative columnist Robert Novak joined the fray to discredit the report.

What was in this report that shot waves of political fear through the White House, the Defense Department and both houses of Congress? The report contained the truth about Saudi Arabia, something the politically correct establishment can't face.

Rand Corporation analyst Laurent Murawiec who prepared the report, stated that Saudi Arabia was, "the kernel of evil" and the most "dangerous opponent" of the United States in the Middle East. According to the Washington Post the report concluded, "The Saudis are active at every level of the terror chain, from planners to financiers, from cadre to foot soldier, from ideologist to cheerleader."

In the final analysis the report recommended that the United States tell the Saudis to stop supporting terrorism or face seizure of their oil fields and financial assets currently in the United States. The Saudi royal family was livid. They are absolute monarchs who allow no freedom of speech or press. To have this report appear in the Western free press outside of their control caused tantrums on a royal scale.

The Rand Corporation is a highly-respected think tank. The Defense Policy Board consists of former administration officials who are consultants to the Pentagon. These facts made the report a major event. With the report out of the bag, it becomes clear that it was not just a coincidence that 15 of the 19 hijackers on September 11th were Saudis. The report also explains why the Saudi government gives money to the families of suicide bombers, while pushing the Bush Administration to lean on Israel not to retaliate against Islamic militants.