Issues Under Fire: Bipartisan Effort Overrides Obama 9/11 Bill Veto
The biggest story of 2016 could be unfolding right before our eyes, as Congress just voted overwhelmingly to override President Obama's veto of a Bill that would clear the path for 9/11 survivors and their families to sue Saudi Arabia for their losses and deaths of loved ones. While on the surface, the 9/11 Bill, aka the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act or JASTA seems like a reasonable demand for justice, it's also opening the door for foreign nations to make similar demands when the United States is found to have caused damage and or loss of life to their citizens.
Until now, the United States could remain shielded from foreign litigants by sovereign immunity. The federal government's sovereign immunity simply means the United States can't be sued unless it waives that immunity. And you can bet your bottom dollar on how rare that occurs. Considering how many non-combatants have lost their lives in errant drone strikes conducted by the U.S. military and the CIA in untold numbers of counter-terrorism operations around the world, it's easy to understand why the White House was determined not to open this can of worms.
Unfortunately, these 9/11 families are just as determined to have their day in court as the President was to keep the lid on this powder keg. Explosive or not, to these folks, this is about the truth, justice, accountability and principle. According to Terry Strada, national chairwoman for the 9/11 Families and Survivors United for Justice Against Terrorism, "this is not about money". These people have refused to be quiet and just go away. And the fact that President Obama warned that the law could be devastating to the U.S. military, diplomatic and intelligence communities going forward, didn't even dent their resolve, means we could see issues like this blowing up all over the world.
Imagine a counter-terrorism operation going awry as they often do, causing the death and destruction of innocent civilians and U.S. military personnel or those acting on America's behalf are determined to be responsible. We could see questions like who pulled the trigger, who gave the order and who takes the fall for the "collateral damages"? Think about it. How could soldiers do what they're called upon to do, if in the back of their minds, they're wondering if following orders could land them in some hole in the ground, a world away from home, for life? You could lose your all volunteer military like that.
Still, just think of what we could learn when evidence in these 9/11 cases is exposed in open court. For years, the Saudis were rumored to have had a hand in the attacks that changed the world, but those rumors were shot down as fast as they surfaced. Speculators thought the Saudis were protected. Cynics thought somebody got paid NOT to see the writing on the wall. And to the skeptics, everybody was a suspect, including the United States government. After all, there is that special Bush/Saudi Royal Family connection that continues to fuel this hot issue.
Think of all the 9/11 conspiracy theorists who've been maligned and marginalized over the years for insisting the nineteen 9/11 hijackers were funded by the Saudi government. They must be feeling exonerated today and happy these cases are going forward. Since the release of 28 previously classified pages of a congressional investigation into the 9/11 attacks detailing potential Saudi involvement, the "theorist" and the 9/11 families have a stronger leg to stand on.
Bottom line: Now that the 9/11 families are allowed to seek what they justly deserve, America has to prepare itself for the unintended consequences, because Justice is best served equally. Podcast below.
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