TEL AVIV – Many on Saudi social media have aligned with the country’s leadership in an attempt to fend off American attempts to implicate the Kingdom in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
This comes as President Obama visited the kingdom on Wednesday and Thursday in a bid to ease tensions in the U.S.-Saudi alliance, including on issues related to Iran and the conflicts in Syria and Yemen.
CNN reported that Obama “really cleared the air” with Saudi King Salman during a meeting on Wednesday, citing U.S. administration officials.
Yet even as White House officials stressed that the leaders made progress, a prominent member of the Saudi royal family told CNN “a recalibration” of the U.S.-Saudi relationship was needed amid regional upheaval, dropping oil prices and ongoing strains between the two longtime allies.
That attitude was reflected on Twitter, where the popular hashtag #Jubeir_threatens_Obama celebrates Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir’s recent declaration that Saudi Arabia would sell the American bonds it possesses if Congress passed a bill that places the blame for the deadliest terror attack in US history on them.
Tayoof tweeted: “Well done, well done, you can do it. Allah blessed you. There’s no god but Allah.”
Ghafel made a reference to Saudi Arabia’s airstrikes in Yemen, a military operation dubbed “Storm of Resolve:” “Our resolve and daring have reached as far as America.”
“America is behind the 9/11 attacks to legitimize its actions,” writes Ali. “And now you want to place the blame on us! But you Jews came to us in an era of resolve.”
An anonymous Twitter user wrote: “Jubeir threatens Obama and shows the world how to fend off the media war against our country. The US carried out the September attacks to pursue its goals.”
“God bless our homeland,” tweeted Essa. “Strength and resolve make us walk tall.”
Motabee replied: “You are an Iranian agent, the leader of the stupid and the ignorant, a graduate of the Iraqi prisons and king of tactical retreats.”
Mohammed warned that the Saudi economic threats may bear consequences: “The bonds are in our banks, and if Saudi Arabia took it half seriously they would freeze all their bonds, like they did during the Cold War.”
“The poor Jews, it’s not their responsibility,” Lovenight commented sarcastically. “It’s just the Evangelical Christians, they are the source of all the trouble in the world.”
On Saturday, the New York Times first reported that the Saudis were threatening economic consequences if a U.S. bill is passed allowing the Saudi government to be held accountable for 9/11 in American courts.
The Times reported:
Saudi Arabia has told the Obama administration and members of Congress that it will sell off hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of American assets held by the kingdom if Congress passes a bill that would allow the Saudi government to be held responsible in American courts for any role in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The Obama administration has lobbied Congress to block the bill’s passage, according to administration officials and congressional aides from both parties, and the Saudi threats have been the subject of intense discussions in recent weeks between lawmakers and officials from the State Department and the Pentagon. The officials have warned senators of diplomatic and economic fallout from the legislation.
CNN confirmed the story, reporting:
Saudi Arabia is warning it will sell off billions in American assets if the U.S. Congress passes a bipartisan bill that would allow victims of 9/11 and other terrorist attacks to sue foreign governments.
Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir issued the warning to U.S. lawmakers last month during a visit to Washington, two senior State Department officials told CNN. A source with knowledge of the Saudis’ thinking said investments would be put in jeopardy if this bill passes, so they are trying to protect themselves from risk.
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