Obama’s huge Saudi 9/11 dilemma

[milestogo]

President Obama is facing a dilemma over legislation allowing the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia in U.S. courts. The House is expected to vote overwhelmingly in favor of the legislation on Friday. The Senate has already passed the same legislation unanimously.

Obama has fiercely opposed the bill, arguing it could both strain relations with Saudi Arabia and also lead to retaliatory legislation overseas against U.S. citizens. The Saudi government has led a quiet campaign in Washington to kill the legislation. Those efforts have been fruitless in Congress, however. The legislation has broad support from both parties, and Congress could override an Obama veto for the first time if he rejects the legislation. Such an outcome would undoubtedly embarrass Obama and divide Democrats ahead of the 2016 elections and a crucial lame-duck session of Congress.

Friday’s vote is heavy with symbolism; it will take place on the eve of the 15th anniversary of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. If the House vote is as resounding as expected, supporters hope, coupled with the unanimous passage of the Senate version in May, the White House may reconsider its concerns. “I think the pressure is the vote,” said Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), an original backer of the bill and one of its 29 Democratic co-sponsors.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are unsure whether Obama will actually use his veto pen on the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. “I presume they would have to think very carefully about a veto because it might very well be overridden,” said Nadler. To override the president, supporters would need a two-thirds majority in each chamber. “I think the votes will be there to override it,” said Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.), who introduced the bill in the House. The White House is clearly aware of the dicey political waters in which it is sitting. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton supports the bill, as does Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who is expected to lead Senate Democrats in the next Congress.

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/295082-obamas-huge-saudi-9-11-dilemma

[gordianot]

1. How about letting families sue the entire 9-11 Commission along with Saudi enablers?

[saidsimplesimon]

2. It is the bushit

family ties dilemma.

Do we stand for values or profit motives? It is not mine to decide. The situation is a decades long result of intervention in foreign affairs. The majority of Americans, imo, are only motivated by prices at the pump, or foreign goods sold at Walmart.

Sorry, I've grown weary of defending my fellow Americans for behaviour beyond the pale.

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[Old and In the Way]

3. Open the box, Obama.

I hope he explains why this legislation may have unintended and extreme consequences, but we can't let this become an election year club against Democrats. I have no doubt that SA will have few cards to play in this investigation and that will be very bad for the legacies of Bush and Cheney.