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Obama: Congress veto override of 9/11 lawsuits bill 'a mistake' | Obama: Congress veto override of 9/11 lawsuits bill 'a mistake' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US President Barack Obama has said Congress made a "mistake" by overriding his veto and pushing through a bill that allows legal action against Saudi Arabia over the 9/11 attacks. | |
He said the bill would set a "dangerous precedent" for individuals around the world to sue the US government. | He said the bill would set a "dangerous precedent" for individuals around the world to sue the US government. |
Wednesday's vote was the first time Mr Obama's veto power was overruled. | Wednesday's vote was the first time Mr Obama's veto power was overruled. |
CIA Director John Brennan agreed that the bill carried "grave implications" for national security. | CIA Director John Brennan agreed that the bill carried "grave implications" for national security. |
He added: "The downside is potentially huge." | He added: "The downside is potentially huge." |
The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism (JASTA) legislation opens the door for victims' families to sue any member of the Saudi government suspected of playing a role in the 9/11 attacks. | The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism (JASTA) legislation opens the door for victims' families to sue any member of the Saudi government suspected of playing a role in the 9/11 attacks. |
Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals, but the oil-rich kingdom - a key US ally - has denied any role in the attacks, which left nearly 3,000 people dead. | Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals, but the oil-rich kingdom - a key US ally - has denied any role in the attacks, which left nearly 3,000 people dead. |
While US intelligence raised suspicions about some of the hijackers' connections, the 9/11 commission found no evidence that senior Saudi officials, or the government as an institution, had funded the attackers. | |
Almost 3,000 people were killed when they deliberately flew planes they had seized into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Another hijacked plane was brought down in a field in Pennsylvania. | |
Reacting to the congressional vote on Wednesday, Mr Obama told CNN: "It's a dangerous precedent and it's an example of why sometimes you have to do what's hard. | |
"And, frankly, I wish Congress here had done what's hard. | "And, frankly, I wish Congress here had done what's hard. |
"The concern that I've had has nothing to do with Saudi Arabia per se or my sympathy for 9/11 families. | "The concern that I've had has nothing to do with Saudi Arabia per se or my sympathy for 9/11 families. |
"It has to do with me not wanting a situation where we're suddenly exposed to liabilities for all the work that we're doing all around the world and suddenly finding ourselves subject to private lawsuits." | "It has to do with me not wanting a situation where we're suddenly exposed to liabilities for all the work that we're doing all around the world and suddenly finding ourselves subject to private lawsuits." |
What cost? - US media wary | |
"Wouldn't you know that Congress finally challenges President Obama on foreign policy, and it's in a bad cause that will harm US interests. Too bad the president did so little to stop it." - Wall Street Journal | |
"There is a broader subtext to this legislation. The kingdom can no longer count on the US and - a far more dangerous reality - may no longer even want to. With a single vote, Congress may well have brought down on America a host of plagues many on Capitol Hill may only vaguely appreciate." - CNN | |
Administration officials said they knew from the start that Obama's veto was unlikely to survive an override vote — the politics surrounding the bill had become so charged that they overwhelmed the more abstract arguments for the importance of respecting foreign sovereign immunity. - The Hill | |
But families of the victims and their lawyers have dismissed these concerns. | But families of the victims and their lawyers have dismissed these concerns. |
"We rejoice in this triumph and look forward to our day in court and a time when we may finally get more answers regarding who was truly behind the attacks," said Terry Strada, national chair of the 9/11 Families & Survivors United for Justice Against Terrorism. | "We rejoice in this triumph and look forward to our day in court and a time when we may finally get more answers regarding who was truly behind the attacks," said Terry Strada, national chair of the 9/11 Families & Survivors United for Justice Against Terrorism. |
'Most embarrassing' | 'Most embarrassing' |
Mr Obama suggested that his colleagues' voting patterns were influenced by political concerns. | Mr Obama suggested that his colleagues' voting patterns were influenced by political concerns. |
"If you're perceived as voting against 9/11 families right before an election, not surprisingly, that's a hard vote for people to take. | "If you're perceived as voting against 9/11 families right before an election, not surprisingly, that's a hard vote for people to take. |
"But it would have been the right thing to do." | "But it would have been the right thing to do." |
The Senate voted 97-1 and the House of Representatives 348-77, meaning the bill becomes law. | The Senate voted 97-1 and the House of Representatives 348-77, meaning the bill becomes law. |
White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters the vote was "the single most embarrassing thing the United States Senate has done" in decades. | White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters the vote was "the single most embarrassing thing the United States Senate has done" in decades. |
But the measure's supporters contended the legislation only applies to acts of terrorism that have occurred on US soil - and side-swiped at Mr Obama for his perceived prioritising of relations with Saudi Arabia. | But the measure's supporters contended the legislation only applies to acts of terrorism that have occurred on US soil - and side-swiped at Mr Obama for his perceived prioritising of relations with Saudi Arabia. |
"The White House and the executive branch (are) far more interested in diplomatic considerations," said Democratic New York Senator Chuck Schumer. | "The White House and the executive branch (are) far more interested in diplomatic considerations," said Democratic New York Senator Chuck Schumer. |
"We're more interested in the families and in justice." | "We're more interested in the families and in justice." |