LONDON, Oct. 29, 2007

Saudi King: We Warned U.K. Of 2005 Bombing

Before Rare State Visit To London, King Abdullah Chastises Brits For Ignoring Intelligence

  • This Image, released by Jordan's Royal Palace in Amman, shows Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan, unseen, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007. Photo

    This Image, released by Jordan's Royal Palace in Amman, shows Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan, unseen, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007.  (AP Photo)

  • Fast Facts Saudi Arabia

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  • Photo Essay London Attacks Remembered

    Paying respects to victims of the terror attack on the city's transit system one year ago.

(AP)  King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia accused Britain on Monday of failing to act on information the Saudis provided that might have averted London's deadly July 7, 2005, suicide bombings.

Abdullah told the British Broadcasting Corp. that Britain was not doing enough in the war on terror. He made the comments in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, hours before arriving in London for a state visit.

"I believe that most countries are not taking this issue too seriously, including, unfortunately, Great Britain," he said through a translator. "We have sent information to Great Britain before the terrorist attacks in Britain, but unfortunately no action was taken and it may have been able to avert the tragedy."

The king did not specify what information Saudi Arabia provided. However, the BBC reported Abdullah's remark was linked to a long-held Saudi leadership claim that it gave Britain information that might have averted the 2005 attack.

Months before the July 7, 2005, attack in which four suicide bombers killed 52 people and wounded hundreds on London's transit network, Saudi Arabia told the British and U.S. governments that it had arrested a young Saudi man who confessed to raising money for a terrorist attack in crowded areas of the British capital, officials have told The Associated Press.

The Saudis obtained information that the attack would involve explosives and a Syrian contact for financing, and that at least some of the four attackers would be British citizens, according to officials in several countries with direct access to the information. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was classified.

The officials said at the time that the investigation had not connected any players from the July 2005 attacks to the original Saudi warning and that the information provided in December 2004 did not provide attackers' names, a date, specific location or time of attack.

But they said the information gleaned from the suspect after he was captured returning to Saudi Arabia was detailed enough to heighten British concerns about the possibility of an attack around July 2005 in crowded sections of London, including in nightclubs.

In a 2006 report, Britain's Intelligence and Security Committee, a panel of lawmakers that reports to parliament, said it had examined Saudi Arabia's claims and found "some information was passed to the (intelligence) agencies about possible terrorist planning for an attack in the U.K." The report said, "It was examined by the agencies who concluded that the plan was not credible" and there had been no relevant advance warnings about the bombings.

On another topic, the king said he believes that a forthcoming Middle East peace conference in the United States will fail unless the Palestinians' needs are taken more seriously.

International pressure is growing on Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a common vision of a final peace deal before a Middle East peace conference. The meeting is expected to take place in Annapolis, Md., in November or December.

"We are hearing that our Palestinian brethren are not very optimistic about the progress that has been achieved thus far," the king said.

"And I believe that unless a serious effort is put into this in order to reach agreements that satisfy the Palestinians, and the Arab world and the Islamic world, then I believe the conference may not be successful."

Human rights activists criticized the decision to permit Abdullah's visit - the first by a Saudi monarch in 20 years.

Kate Allen, Amnesty International's British director, said Prime Minister Gordon Brown should "make absolutely clear that the extent and severity of human rights abuses in King Abdullah's country are totally unacceptable."

The acting leader of Britain's opposition Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable, said he will boycott all ceremonial events during the king's four-day visit to protest the kingdom's human rights record and other issues.

The king's visit will include a banquet held by Queen Elizabeth II and a meeting with David Cameron, leader of the main opposition Conservative Party.

Brown's office did not say Monday whether he would raise human rights issues with the king. But it praised Saudi Arabia for recently establishing a human rights council, holding local council elections and suggesting that women may soon get the right to vote.

© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Add a Comment See all 29 Comments
by phil-in-fin October 29, 2007 12:14 PM PDT
Goof ball!

We have sent information to Great Britain before the terrorist attacks in Britain, but unfortunately no action was taken and it may have been able to avert the tragedy."

Hindsight is twenty-twenty, *ssh*l*!

Go back home and count your money and leave world politics to those who are not losers.
Reply to this comment
by chrismdowds October 29, 2007 2:15 PM PDT
I find this very odd. First, I read on enemynews.com that the Saudis may be playing both sides of the coin.

FYI: enemynews.com is a site listing foreign state news agencies. Its interesting to see what the US and foreign news services say.

I am not sure who I trust anymore. ~Chris
Reply to this comment
by speakinup October 29, 2007 2:30 PM PDT
I find the conclusions presented by our far left folks just as I would have expected.

leftintexas implies Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz knew 9/11 was going to happen, and told us nothing.

I would suspect that the King''s folks were lucky to get the break they did on the British bombing. OBL is NOT real chummy with the King. There is nothin more he''d like than to overthow the government of Saudi Arabia, and take over himself.

So maybe the reason we weren''t told by the King was, he didn''t know himself - ya think ?

Nancy_Naive, well she''s a little more extreme of a Bush basher. She goes a little further in her hatrid of Bush. She not only exposes her ignorance, she goes as far to create a lie to discredit those she dislikes. Ain''t she someone yo''d be proud to associate with ?

So, watch these two, folks. See where their loyalities lie. A gentleman''s bet it is with Hillary.

Reply to this comment
by phil-in-fin October 29, 2007 2:34 PM PDT
Oh, yes, King Abdullah ... whatever you say, King Abdullah ... you''re the greatest, King Abdullah ... love your new hat, King Abdullah ... how much more oil will you give us, King Abdullah? ... and at what price, King Abdullah? ... you are absolutely right, King Abdullah, you did watrn us about the attacks in the U.K. ... Oh, yes, King Abdullah, I know all about your ability to see into the future ... and what''s that, King Abdullah, that I''m not sufficiently wiping my aas with my right hand? ... oh, yes, of course, King Abdullah, I will roll over and play dead just for you ... King Abdullah, will you be my friend?
Reply to this comment
by bizzzz-2009 October 29, 2007 2:42 PM PDT
There seems to be alot of global jihadists on this website. That''''s great that CBS gives the lying, anti American, anti semetic filth of the world a forum to voice their hatred.
What''''s funny is that many of the people on this message board don''''t even have the guts to admit to their so called "fellow citizens" that there is indeed a global Muslim war against the west, that there has been for thousands of years, and although there have been lulls in their struggle from time to time, that it has ALWAYS AND WILL BE FOREVER, all Muslims fight to convert the world into a Caliphate.
A CALIPHATE is a single Muslim government across the Islamic world and eventually the world.
IF YOU ARE NOT MUSLIM, DON''''T EXPECT A MUSLIM TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH. THEIR RELIGION ALLOWS THEM TO LIE TO ANY NON MUSLIM.
Reply to this comment
by gilbertta October 29, 2007 2:49 PM PDT
The Suadi''s run a repressive regime which has spawned much opposition, among which are violent people like Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. Britain and the US should not do business with them, however rich they are. They certainly should not be telling us how to fight terrorism, as they provoked much of it by their repression.
Reply to this comment
by speakinup October 29, 2007 3:03 PM PDT
I''m not aware of their repression, gilbertta. And, it may be as ugly as you would imply, but OBL went off on his tirade due to the US forces being in his land, defiling his religion. In spite of us being there by invitation.



Reply to this comment
by feelfree1 October 29, 2007 3:13 PM PDT

There were "drills" being conducted by a private company on the day of the 7/7 attacks, which simulated attacks that were remarkably similar to the ones that took place.

What a coincidence!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jInH6VS13YY
Reply to this comment
by libsluvsuvs October 29, 2007 4:13 PM PDT
Posted by FeelFree1 at 03:13 PM : Oct 29, 2007
+ report abuse


******************

cut your conspiracy cra p will ya!

those drills are based on ''garden variety'' attacks. these strategies can be seen a mile away..the only way that it can turn complex is when morons like you gets involved and RESTRICTS any pro-active solutions.
Reply to this comment
by libsluvsuvs October 29, 2007 4:18 PM PDT
Hindsight is easy... when you''''re the guy who planned the attack.

The Saudis ain''''t Bush''''s friends; they''''re his Masters. 9-11 was just to prove that.

Regards,


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Nancy_Naive at 02:09 PM : Oct 29, 2007
+ report abuse


************

and how do left winged liberals deal with these OIL barrons???? they gather up by the thousands, stopping for gas on the way then DRIVE to a protest site.

here is a conspriacy..i think the liberals are the true secret honcho..if bush works for the shieks..the shieks works for the ones who gives them money..naming those who drove to that protest.
Reply to this comment
by azmka October 29, 2007 4:54 PM PDT
bzzzz:

A bit paranoid today, aren''t we.

Not all Muslims are seeking world domination only the extremists.

That''s like saying all jews are greedy, selfish and so on..
Reply to this comment
by prinzowhales October 29, 2007 5:16 PM PDT
Those drills were conducted at precisely the same places that the bombs went off and at the same time... the odds are beyonds billions to one that this was a coincidence...even the man running the drills was taken aback.

And the accused ''mastermind'' just happened to be a British intel asset.

The Israelis, of course, were warned and Netanyahu, I beleive it was, did not venture forth on advice.

And, lets not forget that the actual evidence did not fit the official story, but that is par for the course.

The Saudi warning to the Brits would be like the police warning Dr. Lector that a mad cannibal was on the loose...good for a chuckle. Beyond that, as in the 9-11 case, you come to a suspect when you discover who didn''t act on the intelligence, or who stopped action on it. As with 9-11, it will be easier to proceed from the cover-up...We know Bush was involved, for instance, because of his resistance to a real investigation and his appointment of a few of his punks to serve on the 9-11 Ommission Commission.
Reply to this comment
by jowand October 29, 2007 6:49 PM PDT
The Saudi warning to the Brits would be like the police warning Dr. Lector that a mad cannibal was on the loose...good for a chuckle. Beyond that, as in the 9-11 case, you come to a suspect when you discover who didn''''t act on the intelligence, or who stopped action on it. As with 9-11, it will be easier to proceed from the cover-up...We know Bush was involved, for instance, because of his resistance to a real investigation and his appointment of a few of his punks to serve on the 9-11 Ommission Commission.
Posted by Prinzowhales at 05:16 PM : Oct 29, 2007

You mean more like Al Gore warning about global warming
Reply to this comment
by speakinup October 29, 2007 6:54 PM PDT
"How in the world did you know I am going to vote for a Democrat in the next election? It will be for whoever the nominee is. If it''s Hillary, that would be great! Posted by leftintexas

Well, leftintexas - mostly because you are transparent.

So, tell us all - what makes Hillary such a good Candidate for President ? What has she done that shows she is Presidential material.

No comparisons between different candidates - just give me the reason you think she is so great.

Is it possible you have been sold a bill of goods by one great salesperson, and she is really quite mediocre for the job ?
Reply to this comment
by logicanada October 29, 2007 7:10 PM PDT
libluvsuvs. . . FeelFree1 is not alone in his thinking about air defense drills on the day 911 took place. If you Google ''air defense drills pentagon'' you will get 331,000 hits. Before you debunk people as conspiracy nuts you might want to watch a few of the documentaries. There are thousands of professionals that agree that 911 was a government job. Are you more informed that all of them combined or are you just blind and arrogant. Please reply in an intelligent manner this time.
Reply to this comment
by finewoven October 29, 2007 7:21 PM PDT
There are thousands of professionals that agree that 911 was a government job.
Posted by logicanada at 07:10 PM : Oct 29, 2007

So in this estimtation, the U.S. Government hijacked the planes, and then flew them into the twin towers and pentagon? That the Saudi and Palastinian men who trained for piloting these jets was a hoax, and really there were U.S. Goverment workers actually doing the dirty work. Such conspiracy theories are such a waste of your time and energy, don''t they just suck the vitality right out of you? Or are no somehow empowered by such nonsense?
Reply to this comment
by logicanada October 29, 2007 7:46 PM PDT
finewoven. . . please explain then how most physical aspects of the trade center collapses defy all known scientific laws. Explain how a jet airliner penetrated the missile defenses of the most protected building in the world, the Pentagon. Explain why six of the hi- jackers killed in the ''attack'' have been seen and photographed in Saudi Arabia as recently as last year. Ask yourself who really profited from these attacks and why Bin-Laden is still at large.
If you can''t explain these things try going to ''scholars for 911 truth''. Most of these people are Americans and they are the ones empowered by emerging facts from their investigations. As for myself I''m saddened by the whole affair.
Reply to this comment
by logicanada October 29, 2007 11:46 PM PDT
C''mon , it''s been four hours! No replies?
Reply to this comment
by red164 October 30, 2007 1:17 AM PDT
Posted by finewoven at 07:21 PM : Oct 29, 2007

You will eat your words if

Monday, October 29 2007 - Stories by Topic

Bradblog Exclusive: FBI Whistleblower Sibel Edmonds Will Now Tell All

BLOGGED BY Brad Friedman ON 10/29/2007 5:30AM
EXCLUSIVE: FBI Whistleblower Sibel Edmonds Will Now Tell All - and Face Charges if Necessary - to Any Major Television Network That Will Let Her; She''s Prepared to Name Names, Including Those of Two ''Well-Known'' Congress Members Involved in Criminal Corruption
The ''Most Gagged Person in U.S. History'' Tells The BRAD BLOG She''s Now Exhausted All Other Channels...
-- By Brad Friedman

Attention CBS 60 Minutes: we''ve got a huge scoop for you. If you want it.

Remember the exclusive story you aired on Sibel Edmonds, originally on October 27th, 2002, when she was not allowed to tell you everything that she heard while serving as an FBI translator after 9/11 because she was gagged by the rarely-invoked "States Secret Privilege"? Well, she''s still gagged. In fact, as the ACLU first described her, she''s "the most gagged person in the history of the United States of America."



http://911truth.org/
Reply to this comment
by sgtrds October 30, 2007 1:42 AM PDT
It doesn''t matter....it''s all out of our hands anyway......we lost....power and money won.....glad my health is so bad I won''t have to deal with it.......
Reply to this comment
by red164 October 30, 2007 1:56 AM PDT
It doesn''''t matter....it''''s all out of our hands anyway......we lost....power and money won.....glad my health is so bad I won''''t have to deal with it.......


Posted by SgtRDS at 01:42 AM : Oct 30, 2007

Sorry to hear your not feeling well. HONEST
Reply to this comment
by red164 October 30, 2007 2:02 AM PDT
libluvsuvs. Are you more informed that all of them combined or are you just blind and arrogant.

Please reply in an intelligent manner this time.


Posted by logicanada at 07:10 PM : Oct 29, 2007

logicanada, you''re asking for the impossible.
Reply to this comment
by libsluvsuvs October 30, 2007 2:26 AM PDT
Posted by red164 at 02:02 AM : Oct 30, 2007
+ report abuse

******

please jar my memory..which idiotic post that i responded to that offended you?
Reply to this comment
by juwboy October 30, 2007 6:34 AM PDT
"Speaking is a means to achieve objectives. If a praiseworthy aim is attainable through both telling the truth and lying, it is unlawful to accomplish it through lying because there is no need for it. When it is possible to achieve such an aim by lying but not by telling the truth, it is permissible to lie if attaining the goal is permissible and OBLIGATORY TO LIE IF THE GOAL IS OBLIGATORY."

Naqib-al-Misri (Muslim theologian)
Reply to this comment
by watcher269-2009 October 30, 2007 6:49 AM PDT
Didn''t the Saudi government also give information on Terrorists attacks in the United States in Sept 2001? Oh Wait, no, that was Saddam who gave information that Saudi Terrorists would attack the United States back in 2001.
Reply to this comment
by zootallures2 October 30, 2007 12:26 PM PDT
Really? And Israel warned the US on 9/11. And Israel and Saudi Arabi have the most bought western politicians and intel people. I would imagine those who helped planned, would know. With your money no less.
Reply to this comment
by zootallures2 October 30, 2007 12:28 PM PDT
I hear Star Wars is his favorite movie...LOL!
Reply to this comment
by speakinup October 30, 2007 6:07 PM PDT
And, who would be trying to ''muzzle'' you leftintexas ?

I am simply asking you why you like Hillary so much.

The answer is already known, but I just want to see if you can give me a real reason.

The answer is, you don''t know why you like Hillary. You are this mindless little sheep that is following the Hilly and Billy bell as you graze on the side of the hill.

You are so stupid, because that''s the way Hillary wants you to be.

Unfortunately for Hillary - she will be the second President in the same family to get impeached. Only, she will be found guilty, and be out of office. She can''t help it, she''s a Clinton.
Reply to this comment
by logicanada October 31, 2007 6:22 PM PDT
libsluvsuvs. . . you are getting your text mixed up. The question should be which question you responded to like an idiot. That I can answer. All of them.
Reply to this comment
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