The Khobar Tower Bombing: The U.S. Indictment of Saudi Nationals

To the point, the Saudis claim that they have the sole right to prosecute crimes committed in their sovereign territory is not accurate, based on the internationally accepted hierarchy of claims. As explained, they do have the first right to control any investigations and legal actions; they also have a responsibility to do so in both a timely and effective manner. If they fail to fulfill their obligation, the victim's state then holds rights to prosecution of the crimes.

The legalities surrounding the Khobar Tower bombing are clear enough; first rights go to Saudi Arabia and pass to the United States only if the Saudi's fail to act or explicitly decline to. What's very telling of this specific case is the Saudi's position both before and after the bombing of the Khobar Towers. Security around the U.S. installation was obviously not adequate, specifically the distance from the perimeter fence to both housing complexes and other facilities. The U.S. forces stationed there made repeated attempts to extend the fencing to a minimum 400 feet surrounding the complex, a distance which would have effectively prevented a bombing of this type from causing the type of damage it did (GlobalSecurity.org, 2008). These attempts were rebuffed by Saudi officials, and a major breakdown in proper command was the base installation commander's failure to pass this information up the chain of command to a level were action could have been taken.

Following the attack, Saudi officials took charge of the investigation, apprehending several suspects and moving forward with prosecution of them. On the American side of these events, the obvious demand for justice is met by international law stating the Saudis will have authority to act on crimes committed within their territory. As such, the families of the murdered American servicemen would have to hope and pray the Saudi legal system would be both swift and just. Neither of those desires would come to fruition, however, prompting both the U.S. indictment in 2001 and the families of those slain bringing a lawsuit against Iran in 2006 as having orchestrated the attacks. The lawsuit was dismissed by the presiding judge, as the U.S. was in talks with Iran to halt its nuclear program and was weary of further alienating the nation (Timmerman, 2006).

The indictment was successful in forcing the hand of Saudi Arabia. Obviously Saudi Arabia wished to claim the right to prosecution and then never follow through with that prosecution. Understanding, however, they needed to do so or cede the right to America, in 2002 Saudi Arabia sentenced some of the suspects of the bombing (LA Times, 2002). No details were given on the sentencing to outside authorities, which should come as no surprise. Saudi officials claimed that three of the main suspects escaped from prison and have yet to be apprehended. Without these three, they claim, further investigation is unlikely. As a side note, I came up with better lies to tell my parents when I was five. Come on Saudi Arabia, really?

I can't help but laugh at the righteous indignation Saudi Arabia swiftly proclaims to the world when the United States moves to do the job the Saudis have failed to, knowing they have both the right and, more importantly, the responsibility to do so. I would laugh if this wasn't both so common and so sad. Let's turn the tables and say that Americans had committed similar crimes, either at home or abroad. If detained by Saudi authorities, how swift and severe would punishment have been? Likewise, if detained by American authorities, how swift and severe? It's instructive to note the level of adherence to the law, either domestic or international, in either nation. While we are certainly not without fault, the attacks on the Khobar Towers should have elicited outrage, not from just the U.S., but from Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world to the point where justice was demanded and acted upon immediately.

Over a decade has passed, and those responsible for these attacks are still at large. I would safely bet these men have been responsible for numerous other attacks on American forces in that time, likely resulting in the deaths of the men and women serving to protect America's freedom. How much evil can we allow in this world? When is enough, enough? There is very strong evidence indicating Iran's involvement in the bombing, but we didn't want to anger them in the midst of diplomacy. Diplomacy to prevent them from acquiring more tools with which to attack us and our allies. Is this not madness? Why is America the only nation which stands for freedom, not just for ourselves, but for all? Where are our allies? Why isn't the EU embroiled in Iraq and Afghanistan? Why is America the only nation, save our few much weaker allies, who hold freedom as worthy of sacrifice?

Works Cited

GlobalSecurity.org, "Khobar Towers." globalsecurity.org. 2008. Global Security. 19 Dec 2008 http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/khobar.htm.

LA Times, "Khobar Towers Bombing Suspects Sentenced." articles.latimes.com. 02 June 2002. The Los Angeles Times. 19 Dec 2008 http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jun/02/world/fg-briefs2.2.

Timmerman, Kenneth R.. "Judge Dismisses Khobar Towers Case Against Iran." freerepublic.com. 09 June 2006. Free Republic. 19 Dec 2008 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1646578/posts.