Keep your money, prince
A Boston Herald editorial
Saturday, October 13, 2001
In returning a $10 million check from a nephew of the king of Saudi Arabia, New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani showed the world that principles of decency are not for sale in America, not even for filthy rich royalty.
After touring the World Trade Center ruins, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal handed over the check for the center's relief fund - and unburdened himself of the usual anti-Israel harangue: ``Our Palestinian brethern continue to be slaughtered at the hands of Israelis. At times like this, one has to address some of the issues that led to the criminal attack.''
Giuliani properly noted a major flaw in this excuse for the murder of nearly 6,000 Americans: ``To suggest there is a justification for it only invites it happening in the future.''
Coming from a medieval monarchy in a culture where the conflict on the West Bank provides a ready-made explanation for any setback, no matter whether related or not, the prince has a poor sense of how to court esteem in the civilized world. It is a horror to suggest that anyone's grievances are a justification of the World Trade Center carnage.
Way to go, Rudy.
bostonherald.com
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An eloquent, if costly, statement
Rudolph Giuliani, in saying thanks but no thanks to a $10 million check from a Saudi prince, has embraced something far more valuable, and that's the truth that no American policy can be held responsible for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The prince, Alwalee bin Talal, gave the mayor the check as the two were touring the ruins of the World Trade Center. Bin Talal is one of the world's richest men and he said he wanted to aid victims.
At the same time, journalists were receiving a statement from him that identified America's Middle East policies as leading to the attack and that called for ''a more balanced stance toward the Palestinian cause.''
If bin Talal wants to criticize America's policies, that's acceptable. But linking those policies to Sept. 11 is not. America's policies did not cause this mass murder of innocent men, women and children any more than the policies of other nations toward Germany caused the Holocaust.
In both instances, it was twisted psyches - the fanatical beliefs and consuming hatred of evil men - that were responsible.
As Giuliani is quoted as saying, ''There is no moral equivalent for this attack.''
In his video shown on American TV weeks after Sept. 11, Osama bin Laden did make reference to America's Palestinian policies. But an expert quickly noted that the Palestinian cause has never interested bin Laden much before. He was apparently bringing the issue up on that occasion in an effort to win over fellow Arabs.
America has arduously sought a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yasser Arafat himself was quick to condemn the terrorist attacks, for he understands that America's involvement is the best chance Palestinians have for the creation of their own state. America is Israel's friend. That does not make America the enemy of legitimate Palestinian aspirations.
As mayor of New York City, Giuliani has performed admirably throughout the period since Sept. 11, his one slip being his flirtation with finding a way to extend his term or run again despite a term limit. His refusal of the check was a means of making a statement that was well worth the cost.
Publication date: 10-12-01
cincypost.com
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A $US10 million ($20 million) cheque from a Saudi prince for the World Trade Centre relief effort was rejected by New York city officials yesterday after he followed the gift by criticising US policies in the Middle East.
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, in a statement released after he visited the World Trade Centre site, said the US "should re-examine its policies in the Middle East and adopt a more balanced stance toward the Palestinian cause".
The comment drew a sharp rebuke from Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, followed by an announcement that the cheque was rejected.
"We are not going to accept the cheque – period," said Sunny Mindel, the mayor's communications director.
Mr Giuliani, at a City Hall news conference after the prince's statement, said such remarks "were part of the problem" behind the September 11 terrorist attack.
"There is no moral equivalent for this attack," the mayor said.
"The people who did it lost any right to ask for justification when they slaughtered 5000-6000 innocent people . . .
"Not only are those statements wrong, they're part of the problem."
The prince, an outspoken member of the Saudi royal family, is a major investor in American companies. After his tour of the New York site, the prince initially called the attack "a tremendous crime".
thecouriermail.news.com.au
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FEDS HAIL CITY'S $10M SLAP AT APOLOGIST PRINCE
By DAVID SEIFMAN and RITA DELFINER
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October 13, 2001 -- The State Department yesterday backed Mayor Giuliani in blasting a billionaire Saudi prince for tying the Sept. 11 terror attacks to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
A ticked-off Giuliani rejected Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's $10 million donation to the Twin Towers Fund Thursday after the royal suggested U.S. Mideast policy was partly to blame for the attacks.
"We do object to Prince Alwaleed's remarks," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said yesterday.
"We find [them] highly inappropriate. We find those kind of remarks highly objectionable," he said.
"What we find objectionable is linking the Sept. 11 attacks with Israeli policy or U.S. policy in the Middle East. We think there's no excuse for the murder of innocent civilians," Boucher said, adding:
"I think history has shown that al Qaeda [Osama bin Laden's terror organization] is out to kill Americans, whatever is going on in the Middle East, and they could care less about most of the governments in the Middle East who are working for peace."
Boucher said it was up to New York City and the fund whether to accept the check the prince offered to Giuliani during a visit to ground zero.
After his visit, the prince said in a statement that the United States should "adopt a more balanced stance toward the Palestinian cause. Our Palestinian brothers continue to be slaughtered at the hands of Israelis."
At City Hall Thursday, Giuliani said the prince's comments were "highly irresponsible" and "there is no moral equivalent for this attack."
The prince, the world's sixth-richest man, stuck by his remarks yesterday, saying it was a misunderstanding to interpret them as a justification for the attacks.
He called The Associated Press from his palace in Riyadh to say he felt obliged to speak about how to go about solving the problem of terrorism.
At ground zero yesterday, Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice president of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, praised Giuliani for his "act of courage" in turning down the check.
"For him to come here to try to take advantage of this sacred site, and of the tragedy that took place, for narrow political goals, there was only one response and that was what the mayor did," he said.With Post Wire Services
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