Fox Your World with Neil Cavuto - Transcript

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SHOW: YOUR WORLD WITH NEIL CAVUTO (16:00)

HEADLINE: Interviews With Susan Collins, Frank Lautenberg

GUESTS: Frank Lautenberg, Susan Collins

BYLINE: Neil Cavuto

BODY:
NEIL CAVUTO, HOST: Are the Saudis doing enough to fight the funding of terror? If a report released by the Council on Foreign Relations is right, the answer is no. That report was released before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee this morning. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine is that committee's chair and joins us now from the nation's capital.

Senator, always a pleasure.

SEN. SUSAN COLLINS ®, MAINE: Good afternoon.

CAVUTO: So what is the deal? These guys say they are combating terror-terror, but you say they are not.

COLLINS: Well, the Saudis do deserve credit for implementing some reforms, but what we find with the Saudis is it always seems to be one step forward and two back. The reforms look a lot stronger on paper than they are when they are actually implemented.

CAVUTO: But what would be-to stop them, Senator, from combating terror in our own homeland? After all, it threatens-it threatens them. So why wouldn't they be vigilant in combating it?

COLLINS: Since the bombings on their own soil, the Saudis have taken the war against terrorism much more seriously. But they still continue to export a radical form of Islam that preaches violence and intolerance. In addition, the Saudis have been very reluctant to publicly move against major figures in the country that are financing terrorism groups. And that is very disturbing.

Finally...

CAVUTO: But Senator, they disagree with that. They claim that the Council on Foreign Relations report is, in their words, politically motivated, ill-informed and factually incorrect, that they have not been given their fair day. What do you say?

COLLINS: Well, I would point to the facts. And the facts say that the Saudis have failed to publicly prosecute a single individual for terrorist financing. They say that they have secretly gone after five individuals, but that isn't the same and doesn't have the same deterrent effect as publicly prosecuting those that are supporting al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

CAVUTO: But let's talk about what the Saudis risk, that is the kingdom risks, if it doesn't vigilantly go after these terrorists. It risks itself being annihilated. So self-preservation alone would tell you that.

I know some of these terrorist groups are some of the elite of the Saudi society, I realize that. But it is in their vested interest, is it not, to combat this? And so they counter with just that argument, that they-all deference to you, Senator, but they say this council report is just a political hatchet job.

COLLINS: Well, I just don't think that is fair. It is a bipartisan report, it is based on the facts. But you have put your finger on what the Saudi dilemma is.

For years, the Saudis have played a dangerous double game. In order to preserve their own power, without undertaking the reforms that are necessary in the country, they have allowed hatred and intolerance to foment among the population. And the Saudis' leaders' recent inflammatory and anti-Semitic remarks, where they blamed the attacks in Riyadh and other areas of the country on Zionism, are just further illustrations of that.

CAVUTO: All right. Senator Collins, thank you very much. Always great having you on.

COLLINS: Thank you.