Congress overides 9/11 bill veto.

[eddie]

Congress overides the veto of the 9/11 bill, and it allows the families of those who were lost on 9/11 to sue Saudi Arabia, if they can prove that the Saudi Govt was involved with the high jackers.
Part of me agrees with this, if the families can prove it, the other part of me says this is going to open a big can of worms. Other countries could now sue the US Govt, our military, etc. for what they see as a crime committed by the United States overseas. Going to be a mess if this bill overide makes it to the end when Congress finalizes it.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/con...8wB?li=BBnb7Kz

[August]

Originally Posted by eddie

Other countries could now sue the US Govt, our military, etc. for what they see as a crime committed by the United States overseas.

What was stopping other countries from doing that before?

[Gray Lensman]

Originally Posted by August

What was stopping other countries from doing that before?

Well for U.S. Military presence in foreign countries it's usuallly a Status of Forces Agreement. Link!

[August]

Originally Posted by Gray Lensman

Well for U.S. Military presence in foreign countries it's usuallly a Status of Forces Agreement. Link!

Right but signed agreements are a different situation. The President has said repeatedly that this will allow other countries to do the same thing to us as if it gives them some sort of legal authorization to sue us that they didn't have before.

[Gray Lensman]

Originally Posted by August

Right but signed agreements are a different situation. The President has said repeatedly that this will allow other countries to do the same thing to us as if it gives them some sort of legal authorization to sue us that they didn't have before.

Well, if our leaders had any sack, they'd stand up for U.S. citizens abroad and if that particular country (depending on the circumstances) didn't have a justification, we just yank our business support from them. In most cases, they need us more than we need them.

The fact that in this case Saudi nationals with possibly the help from their govt' participated in what could be called an "act of war", makes this case somewhat different and the Saudis should just count their lucky stars that we didn't see it that way. They're going to get off lightly if all they have to do is pay off some damages.

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by August

What was stopping other countries from doing that before?

Obama probably already has an airliner loaded up with billions and billions ready to be delivered to any enemy that received hurt feelings from evil US troops. Looted from social security no doubt.

[XabbaRus]

Nothing new. Our UK forces have been getting sued let right and centre for Iraq and Afghanistan.

I know it is a can of worms but I think Saudi should be looked at.

[Oberon]

I doubt the Saudi government was officially involved in anything to do with the hijackers, more likely it was done through some unofficial organisation like NORAID.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

Nothing new. Our UK forces have been getting sued let right and centre for Iraq and Afghanistan.

I know it is a can of worms but I think Saudi should be looked at.

Agreed

[Skybird]

Afghanistan was attacked over 9/11 and sheltering Bin Laden, SA not. I never understood this. If you have 3000 of your people beign slaughtered, this is not a minor issue, and if a state in any way, actively or passively, assisted in that, knowingly, then this terror strike is more: it is a formal act of war.

And its not as if it is new news that SA actively supports Islamic terror groups. Aaginst Sunni Persia, but against the West as well.

BTW, if I were a America, I would have played tougher against Germany as well back then. The attackers of 9/11 found an all too convenient environment in Germany to hide, to prepare and to get ready. Germany too easily just played down such problems and ignores them (like Belgium, Sweden and some others), for the sake of some social X or Y - anything just as long as the word "social" is included. We may have turned a bit tougher on Muslim terrorism these days and years, but in principle we stick to that old pattern to just look at the other direction when we notice something bad is happening, if we do not try to find excuses for it, that is - thats is also for exmaple with regards to the great holiday ressort and refugium that Germany is for the Italian Mafia and its big names. Germany is the preferred retreat ground for them, since they have nothing to fear from police and state attorneys. Italian state attorneys since twenty years if not longer pull out their hairs over the ignorrance of the Germans, and their warnings not getting heard - it doesn't matter. Some insiders even claim there live more Italian mafiosi bosses in Germany, than in Italy these days.

[Mr Quatro]

Where's the list of individuals that have sued the US Gov or even the US military and won?
They on the other hand have other options than we do: https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...02f_story.html

The oil-rich country, which has a long but often troubled relationship with Washington, maintains an arsenal of diplomatic and commercial tools it could respond with. They include curtailing official contacts, pulling billions of dollars from the U.S. economy, and persuading its close allies in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council it dominates to scale back counterterrorism cooperation, investments and U.S. access to important regional air bases.

I just noticed this little fact: Senate voted today 97-1 to override President Obama’s veto

[Bilge_Rat]

Originally Posted by Mr Quatro

I just noticed this little fact: Senate voted today 97-1 to override President Obama’s veto

Harry Reid was the "1". He is retiring this year so is not worried about political fallout.

[Platapus]

It is going to be a useless law. It will accomplish nothing other than convincing some citizens to re-elect their member of congress.

If a US citizen sues the government of Saudi Arabia, there is nothing preventing them from just saying, "ah, no."

What exactly will the US government do? We are not going to start a war with Saudi Arabia over a civil lawsuit. They know too many very embarrassing skeletons in various embarrassing closets.

If a foreign citizen decides to sue the US government, there is nothing preventing us from just saying, "ah, no". No country is going to start a war with us over a civil lawsuit.

They can't take the US to the ICJ as we have already said that we will not abide by any ICJ decisions, since 1986. Twice the ICJ has ruled against the US and twice we have given the ICJ the one finger salute.

So this was just a feel good waste of time to get the 911 families to shut up and to allow congress to pretend that they did something.

[August]

Originally Posted by Platapus

If a US citizen sues the government of Saudi Arabia, there is nothing preventing them from just saying, "ah, no."

But what about their assets in the US. Couldn't they be seized as at least partial payment?

Originally Posted by August

But what about their assets in the US. Couldn't they be seized as at least partial payment?

See https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/Le...mttimussa2&f=m