Senator Charles Schumer's Letter to Secretary Colin Powell Department of State

May 19, 2003
The Honorable Colin Powell
Secretary of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Powell:

I was disturbed to learn that Saudi Arabia's Interior Minister, Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, is leading the investigation into last week's terrorist attacks in Ryadh. I am writing to urge the US government to use its influence with the Saudi royal family to ensure that a more credible official is given that responsibility.

Prince Nayef commitment to fighting terrorism is appalling. He is the supervisor general of the Saudi Committee for the Al Quds Intifada, which raises money for the families of suicide bombers. He has accused the United States of harboring hostility towards Arabs and Muslims "because of the influence of the Zionist lobby in the United States which seeks to distort the image of Arabs and Muslims." More recently, he was quoted in Kuwait's Al Siyasa newspaper saying that it was impossible that 15 Saudis participated in the September 11 attacks, and instead blamed unnamed Zionists for them. Prince Nayef statement came within days of the Saudi US envoy officially confirming that 15 of the 19 September 11th hijackers were Saudi nationals.

If the Saudi government is to be a true partner in the war on terror, its top officials need to do more than just embark on a public relations campaign in the United States. They need to be fully committed to fighting Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. In my view, Prince Nayef fails to meet that standard.

Prince Nayef exemplifies how the Saudis craft one message for US diplomats and media but send a dramatically different one to the Arab world. If the Saudis want their anti-terrorism efforts to be taken seriously, they cannot allow top officials like Prince Nayef to make comments that endorse the hate, violence and intolerance that consumes so many young people in the Middle East. It must ensure that its ministers unequivocally and unambiguously condemn terrorism.

The delicate approach the Administration has taken with the Saudis so far has failed so far to achieve that result, and I believe the US must begin taking a harder line with the Saudis by demanding that Prince Nayef be relieved of leading the investigation into last week's attacks.

Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator