House votes to ban aid to Saudi Arabia

By Richard Cowan
Jun 22, 2007

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Friday to prohibit any aid to Saudi Arabia as lawmakers accused the close ally of religious intolerance and bankrolling terrorist organizations.

The prohibition, reflecting persistent tensions with the kingdom after the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001, was attached to a foreign aid funding bill for next year that has not yet been debated by the Senate.

It also faces a veto threat from the White House because of an unrelated provision.

A spokesman for the Saudi embassy in Washington declined to comment on the legislation.

In the past three years, Congress has passed bills to stop the relatively small amount of U.S. aid to Saudi Arabia, only to see the Bush administration circumvent the prohibitions.

Now, lawmakers are trying to close loopholes so that no more U.S. aid can be sent to the world's leading petroleum exporter.

"By cutting off aid and closing the loophole we send a clear message to the Saudi Arabian government that they must be a true ally in advancing peace in the Middle East," said Rep. Anthony Weiner, a New York Democrat.

According to supporters of the legislation, the United States provided $2.5 million to Riyadh in 2005 and 2006.

rest of article (http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=3308064)

I can understand this country buying oil from them. Hell, we must to buy it from someone. And I can understand selling them some military hardware, they too, must buy it somewhere. But why do they need AID from anyone?

But why do they need AID from anyone?

Exactly the thought that jumped into my head.

Remember in grammar school there was always an outcast who brought candy in everyday to give to everyone so they would like him.......

House votes to ban aid to Saudi Arabia

About damn time.

Adapting something that adapted after that adapted after that adapted after that...(repeat on eternity)

God, we've made Tower of Babel again.

Remember in grammar school there was always an outcast who brought candy in everyday to give to everyone so they would like him.......

That's more information than we NEED to know.
Have you seen a Confessor and cleared yer conscience,BTW ?

How come those Saudi Sheiks don't like Pony-up
some their's Oil riches.Man ...those dudes shore know how
to spend dat Moola that came from underfoot.
Sheiks have Lavash spending urges,why don't the People
of Saudi Arabia DEMAND a little more from what came
from their soil.

U.S. taxpayers --> Saudi Arabia --> GOP --> Paraguay

follow the money

Foreign aid... if Saudi qualifies I sure as hell should. Foreign aid, what a crock of crap...

why don't the People
of Saudi Arabia DEMAND a little more from what came
from their soil.
Probably because it'll be a bad day for anyone who does.

It also faces a veto threat from the White House because of an unrelated provision.I've searched for a while and can't find out what this 'unrelated provision' is. This administration has exercised the veto only three times in six years-- twice on stem cells and once on Iraq. Does anyone really believe that if they veto this bill it doesn't have anything to do with offending the Saudis? I'm rather skeptical, to say the least.

I agree with most posters here, why does Saudi Arabia need aid for...? They have one of the richest people there, thanks to their oil businesses. $2.5 million is next to nothing for them... I wonder what they use it in.

U.S. taxpayers --> Saudi Arabia --> GOP --> Paraguay
Parallel gay --> Rosie O'Donnell and Ann Coulter --> Adam's Apples --> Garden of Eden --> Iraq --> George Bush --> Rigged voting machines --> U.S. Taxpayers

Dear lord man! We've stumbled onto the greatest secret of all---everything is circular. Meet me at the cafe on Stosselmeier Avenue, we've much to discuss.

I agree with most posters here, why does Saudi Arabia need aid for...? They have one of the richest people there, thanks to their oil businesses. $2.5 million is next to nothing for them... I wonder what they use it in.

I guess that not Saudi but US needs the relationship for strategy on Middle East.