More on the Saudi/Al Qaeda connection

Sean-Paul, the Agonist, links to a story by Joel Mowbray at National Review Online, which in turn cites a “report prepared for the United Nations Security Council.” I don’t know the history here, but “prepared for” is somewhat ambiguous; did the President of the Security Council ask for the report — written by the firm that’s promoting the suit against Saudi Arabia by the families of the 9-11 victims — or did the author, Jean-Charles Brisard, send it of his own accord?

The document itself is persuasive and detailed, naming persons and institutions, but it seems to be thinly sourced. I lack the competence to evaluate its accuracy. The report focuses on the practice of zakat (charitable giving) as practiced under official auspices in Saudi Arabia; the total sum involved is estimated at $10 billion per year, which means that a little leakage into terrorism funds a lot of terrorism.

A Google for “Saudi terror Brisard” shows nothing on this report, dated December 19. There are earlier stories quoting Brisard in the Washington Times. Pardon me? Where are the allegedly liberal media, and the alleged Democrats, on this issue? The Saudis financed 9-11; the Bushes are in bed with the Saudis; and conservatives are the ones making the fuss?

Author: Mark Kleiman

Professor of Public Policy at the NYU Marron Institute for Urban Management and editor of the Journal of Drug Policy Analysis. Teaches about the methods of policy analysis about drug abuse control and crime control policy, working out the implications of two principles: that swift and certain sanctions don't have to be severe to be effective, and that well-designed threats usually don't have to be carried out. Books: Drugs and Drug Policy: What Everyone Needs to Know (with Jonathan Caulkins and Angela Hawken) When Brute Force Fails: How to Have Less Crime and Less Punishment (Princeton, 2009; named one of the "books of the year" by The Economist Against Excess: Drug Policy for Results (Basic, 1993) Marijuana: Costs of Abuse, Costs of Control (Greenwood, 1989) UCLA Homepage Curriculum Vitae Contact: Markarkleiman-at-gmail.com