9/11 class action lawsuit against Saudis and others -- yer thoughts?

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From the sound of it, this is intended more as a strategy than a method to exact justice per se -- all the more interesting since it's a strategy that is currently not the US government's, at least openly so. Grandstanding straight up or could something actually come of this?

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 15 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

New 'anyone who knows international law better than I do welcome' answers.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 15 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Tadeusz, de-lurk immediately! p.s. it'll never work.

― Dave M., Thursday, 15 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

CNN: "The attorneys and investigators were able to obtain, through French intelligence, the translation of a secretly recorded meeting between representatives of bin Laden and three Saudi princes in which they sought to pay him hush money to keep him from attacking their enterprises in Saudi Arabia, Motley said. "

Somewhat of a blur there between bankroll and blackmail. It'd be nice if it worked. And having American legal resources directed towards a real problem, as opposed to frivolous lawsuits or taking "under God" out of the pledge, is a good thing.

― bnw, Thursday, 15 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I have really no opinion on this issue. What I do have to say is this. Whats the deal with attacking Iraq. Whats the need? I mean why does the US have to stick its nose everywhere. If we go through with this, its going to be a tragedy waiting to happen. The mid east is fucked up enough, why the need to cause more shit. Just because Georgie Jr. wants to accomplish more than Georgie Sr. It really pisses me off. We're asking for it...

― Chris, Thursday, 15 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

My first thought on hearing this news was that once the precedent is set, U.K. citizens can pursue the bankrollers of the I. R. A.

And an aside on a previous comment: taking 'under God' out of the pledge of allegiance is the most sensible use of legal resources we've seen in the U. S. for a while, I'ld've thought.

And another aside on a previous comment: There's oil in them thar dunes, hombres.

― Tim Bateman, Friday, 16 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

It's so very American: most of the world is pretty well accustomed to the idea that loads of people will in fact get killed in political and ideological struggles that have nothing to do with them.

― nabisco, Friday, 16 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think that a law suit is going to stop the Saudi's the terrorists. They probably have a lot more power and money than we are led to believe. A very scary thought.

― brg30, Friday, 16 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm just guessing, but I bet the U.S. won't go against Saudi Arabia unless we install a pro-U.S. government in Iraq (democratic or not). Even then, who knows?

The most hopeful thing about the so-called War on Terrorism is that vetting out the Al Qaida murderers might tilt our foreign policy priorities in favor of democracy and nationalism, and even against preserving the almighty flow of petrodollars at all costs. In other words, the war might turn on our proxy dictatorships in the Middle East. But I'm not holding my breath.

― Pete Scholtes, Monday, 19 August 2002 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the long term answer to a lot of this has to do with fuel cell technology...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 19 August 2002 16:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Given that the US was so keen to opt out of the ICC, it seems wonderfully ironic that Americans are now trying to sue people who are outside the juridstriction of their own courts.

I remember a similar case a couple of years ago when a domestic court in the US awarded something like a trillion dollars of damages against Iran, at which point Iran pointed out that it had absolutely to right to do so.

And I look forward to various victims of the IRA claiming their compensation from the tossers at NORAID.

― AlexM, Monday, 19 August 2002 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

unless I misread, neither of the articles stated the destination for the money. If we Americans aren't really the petty meterialists so many have claimed, than why don't we give the majority of the money to charity. If there were 3000 victims in the World Trade center attack, and, for the sake of argument, we say that there were 1000 more victims between the planes and Pentagon, that means that there were 4000. 400 multiplied by $1 million equals $4 trillion, right. If they are suing for $116 trillion, then lets give everyone their $1 million, and give the rest to Greenpeace! I am not saying that one life is equal to one million dollars, but no money can replace a human life, and who NEEDS, as oppossed to wants, more than a million dollars, besides athletes of course, who deserve every penny ;-).

As I have yet to chime in on the post-Sept. 11 world, I just wanna say that morally justified war = morally justified war. I hope I am not being cryptic.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 19 August 2002 18:13 (twenty-two years ago)

unless I misread, neither of the articles stated the destination for the money. If we Americans aren't really the petty meterialists so many have claimed, than why don't we give the majority of the money to charity. If there were 3000 victims in the World Trade center attack, and, for the sake of argument, we say that there were 1000 more victims between the planes and Pentagon, that means that there were 4000. 4000 multiplied by $1 million equals $4 trillion, right. If they are suing for $116 trillion, then lets give everyone their $1 million, and give the rest to Greenpeace! I am not saying that one life is equal to one million dollars, but no money can replace a human life, and who NEEDS, as oppossed to wants, more than a million dollars, besides athletes of course, who deserve every penny ;-).

As I have yet to chime in on the post-Sept. 11 world, I just wanna say that morally justified war = morally justified war. I hope I am not being cryptic.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 19 August 2002 18:14 (twenty-two years ago)

petty meterialists

I didn't think Americans liked meters.

― Nicole (Nicole), Monday, 19 August 2002 20:37 (twenty-two years ago)

oops that wasn't suppose to post twice and yes americans love meters, especially 4/4.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 19 August 2002 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

two years pass...

Wow - the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey is going to sue the Saudis

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 11 September 2004 02:25 (twenty years ago)

I gather they did so since the statute of limitations was going to run out otherwise.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 11 September 2004 14:42 (twenty years ago)

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