An American National Security Council task force is recommending an action plan to President Bush that is aimed at forcing Saudi Arabia to crack down on terrorist financiers within 90 days or face unilateral U.S. action to bring the suspects to justice, senior U.S. officials said, according to the Washington Post.
The officials said the United States would first present the Saudis with intelligence and evidence against individuals and businesses suspected of financing al Qaeda, coupled with a demand that they be put out of business. According to the newspaper, in return, one senior official said, the administration will say, "We don't care how you deal with the problem; just do it or we will" after 90 days.
The officials stressed that the goal was to cut off funds before another terror attack can occur, and said they would press the Saudis to act even if there was not enough information to convict someone in a court of law.
U.S. intelligence agencies and financial investigators have put together a classified, working list of nine wealthy individuals believed to be the core group of financiers for al Qaeda, U.S. officials told the daily. Of those, seven are Saudis, one is a Pakistani merchant and one is an Egyptian businessman. (Albawaba.com)
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