New Legislation would Allow 9/11 Victims to sue Saudi Arabia

This Sunday marks the 15th anniversary 9/11, a coordinated terrorist attack that killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000. This Friday, the House passed a bill that would allow those injured in or bereaved by the attack to sue the Saudi Arabian government. 

The bill, pushed by Rep. Pete King (R-NY) on behalf of the families and friends of 9/11 victims, amends a 1976 law that protects foreign nations from American lawsuits. The bill represents a personal battle for King, who knew about 150 of the victims. 

The “Saudi 9/11 Bill” passed through the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, but King admits it was a tough process. “The Saudi government employs many former government officials and they tried to stop [the bill] at every turn.”

The attack on September 11th, 2001 went down in history as the single worst assault on American soil by a foreign aggressor, and the victims’ families have been asking for recompense for the past 15 years. Most of the terrorists involved in the attack were Saudi nationals, and the victim’s families have demanded the right to sue.

But money and lawsuits will not bring their loved ones back, and King’s bill could set a dangerous precedent for people in other countries suing the US. 

People love to sue other people with deep pockets, and the US government has very deep pockets. 

The Obama Administration does not support King’s bill, and many are expecting a veto followed by a Congressional override. I feel for those who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attack, but King’s bill is a bad idea, and in this rare instance I agree with President Obama.

Editor’s note: The U.S. is the most active country in the world when it comes to supporting its allies, and collateral damage is frequent in military action. Can you imagine people all over the world suing the U.S. for damage and death with every drone strike, every covert mission and even ones where we were not even involved? It woud turn into a subsidy program for lawyers worldwide.