Saudis raise FBI ire by paying for lawyers, bail of citizens arrested in t

[Judi Lynn]

Saudis raise FBI ire by paying for lawyers, bail of citizens arrested in terror sweeps

JOHN SOLOMON, Associated Press Writer Friday, October 17, 2003
(10-17) 23:38 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

In a move that has raised the eyebrows of U.S. investigators, Saudi Arabia has doled out hundreds of thousands of dollars to provide lawyers and cover bail for Saudis detained or questioned in the United States during the crackdown on terrorism.

The Saudi governments acknowledged concerns by the Justice Department and FBI, but said it was essential that Saudi citizens who are unfamiliar with the American legal system be provided with good lawyers to defend themselves.

"Our view is give them lawyers and let the process take its course, and if they are found guilty of crimes they will pay their price and would have had fair representation. If not, they should be released," said Adel al-Jubeir, Crown Prince Abdullah's foreign policy adviser.

John Pistole, assistant director of the FBI's counterterrorism division, told a Senate hearing recently that the bureau has raised concerns with the Saudi government that paying legal bills and bond for Saudis being questioned in the terror probe could influence their testimony. (snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/10/17/national1506EDT0648.DTL

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

1. The gaul of those people expecting/wanting legal representation...

Gee, I guess they are admitting that the Public Defender system we have here really is a sham. What a surprise.

On a more serious note, it is amazing that they actually felt comfortable bitching about the fact that someone they arrested had the wherewithal to actually afford a lawer or bail. The Constitution seems to be getting smaller and smaller.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. The Saudis are circumventing the police's window of opportunity.

It's a narrow moment in time when police can use coercive tactics and still remain believeable that their mistakes were in good faith, and no harm was meant. I think only police, prosecutors and judges still believe in this myth. Well, and white mainstream America as long as the narrow window doesn't apply to them.

[benfranklin1776]

11. This is the modern Ashcroftian interpretation of the constitution.

It is a slimmed down streamlined version, minus the protections for all those freedoms that he hates, such as freedom from unwarranted detention, freedom to choose counsel of one's choice, freedom to not be incarcerated without charges and a speedy trial, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures of one's home and personal effects, freedom to not experience cruel and unusual punishment, freedom to assemble and speak peacebly. Under this new interpretation Johnnie and his minions seek only to preserve one freedom, the freedom to do as they please without constraint.

[saigon68]

2. Jack Boot State

Someone might really assert they have some rights as a suspect.</Sarcasm> You bet your ass these "agents" would have F. Lee Bailey if they were charged with beating a prisoner to death etc. They are scum

[izzie]

3. That woul d be just like them

If you are in their country you must use their lawyers and things always goes their way. They do not live up to their contracts for the people that go over their.

[DuctapeFatwa]

4. The transition from "right to counsel" to possible privilege of counsel

is bound to have some bumpy spots.

Most of the US voting class would agree that Muslims, especially Saudis, have no rights at all, and while there may be some flurry of mild protests when the new condition is applied to white middle class Americans accused of mundane crimes, but in the end there will be a general agreement that streamlining the judicial process will empower local law enforcement officials to remove undesirables at a much lower per capita cost in dollars.

[Don_G]

5. "You Can't Do That!"

You are terrorists and are only buying off witnesses! What, you're using the laws of our land against us????

Uh-Oh boss, I think they're going to whip out a calico cat next or maybe a few billion barrells of oil...your decision....

[DUreader]

7. Terra suspects only get lawyers and bail if they are Saudi, I guess

Everyone else dissappears

[teryang]

8. Let's see, 99 percent of the persons rounded up

...were innocent of any serious crime, many of whose rights were violated, so hiring lawyers for them is tantamount to buying off witnesses?

This is just another attack on the right to counsel.

[benfranklin1776]

12. Exactly what it is.

An attempt to legitimize in people's minds the concept of detaining people without trial or access to an attorney by stigmatizing people who have the temerity to assert their basic fundamental rights.

[TryingToWarnYou]

9. I think what you might be missing is....

the fact that the Saudis have been backing terrorists for years while shaking hands with us. We look the other way. Kinda like back when Saddam and Reagan were chummy...see, Saddam was one of our allies and it was important that we support him. Much like we are doing now with the Saudis.

9-11 = 17 Saudi's 0 Iraqi's.

[Robb]

10. I doubt anyone here is missing that.

It's been a hot topic here for some time.

But we still have a thing for the Constitution.