-Caveat Lector-
-- Unfinished business from the Clinton watch ...
- -
14 Indicted in Saudi Arabia Bombing
by JONATHAN D. SALANT Associated Press Writer
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) -- Thirteen Saudis and one Lebanese were indicted
Thursday in the 1996 bombing that killed 19 American servicemen in Saudi
Arabia.
A 46-count, 29-page indictment handed up by a federal grand jury charged
the defendants, under the direction of Iranian officials, conspired to kill
U.S.
nationals.
''This indictment serves to underscore the commitment of the Bush
administration and the Justice Department to bringing terrorists to
account,'' Attorney General John Ashcroft said.
''Americans are a high-priority target for terrorists and our nation will
vigorously fight to preserve justice for our citizens both here at home as
well as abroad.''
Some of the 14 are in custody in various countries. Officials declined to
be specific.
The indictment charges that as early as 1993 members of Saudi Hezbollah
began extensive surveillance in search of a U.S. target, settling two
years later on the American military housing high-rise near Dhahran.
Most of the Saudis indicted are young male members of the Shiite branch of
Islam who lived in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia near the Persian
Gulf.
The indictment said they were trained in Lebanon in Hezbollah-controlled
areas and also in Iran.
Ashcroft said the United States is charging that certain unspecified
Iranian figures ''inspired, supported and supervised'' the activities of
the terrorists.
But he said the indictment did not name any Iranians, although the
investigation continues. The attorney general suggested that U.S.
authorities do not yet have sufficient evidence to indict Iranians.
But he did say he was gratified that the Justice Department and FBI were
able to obtain the indictment nearly five years after the Khobar Towers
bombing.
''For the victims and for their families, the indictment filed today means
that next week's five-year anniversary of this tragedy will come with some
assurance to victim family members and to the wounded that they are not and
will not be forgotten,'' Ashcroft said.
President Bush spoke by phone Thursday with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah to
thank him for Saudi Arabia's cooperation in the investigation, said White
House spokeswoman Mary Ellen Countryman. Bush issued a statement praising
both the Justice Department and the Saudis for their work, saying more
people might be charged in the case.
Bush also offered personal assurances to bombing survivors and families of
the dead. ''Your government will not forget your loss, and will continue
working, based on the evidence, to make sure that justice is done,'' Bush
said.
Those with loved ones among the dead welcomed the latest development in the
case.
''It's (been) five years of pure hell, with or without indictments, that
part doesn't change,'' said Fran Heiser, of Palm Coast, Fla., who lost her
only child, Michael, a 35-year-old Air Force master sergeant, in the
bombing. ''It's nice to see this coming to a head.''
The FBI said the investigation into the blast moved slowly in part because
the Saudi government restricted the agency's access to witnesses and other
evidence. Eventually, FBI agents were allowed to formulate questions and
watch as Saudi authorities posed 212 questions to eight suspects.
Saudi Arabia has yet to disclose its findings in an investigation it
carried out jointly with the FBI.
A recent State Department report on terrorism referred to Hezbollah, the
pro-Iranian group that led the guerrilla war against Israel's occupation of
south Lebanon, as a radical Shiite Muslim group that is ''strongly
anti-West and anti-Israel.''
AP-NY-06-21-01 1438EDT
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Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF:
*Michael Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
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