"Symbolic" protest from House cuts pocket change from jizya to Saudi Arabia

Posted by Marisol on June 10, 2006 8:05 AM

[UPDATE: Poster tibmag has gently noted that the appropriation of $21.3 billion is a broader aid package, not a lump sum to Saudi Arabia. Mea culpa. --MS]

From [1] Reuters: "House jabs Saudi Arabia in foreign aid bill"

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives on Friday took a symbolic jab at Saudi Arabia, accusing the kingdom of fueling religious extremism and violence, as it passed a $21.3 billion foreign aid bill.
[...]
Decrying Saudi Arabia for teaching intolerance and financing terrorism, lawmakers voted 312-97 to cut the $420,000 the oil-rich kingdom receives to participate in U.S.-backed military and counter-terrorism training.
"I hope my colleagues send a strong signal symbolically that enough is enough," said Rep. Joseph Crowley, a New York Democrat.
[...]
Rep. Jim Kolbe, an Arizona Republican, said the measure would hurt efforts to foster Saudi Arabia as a partner in fighting terrorism. But his was a lonely voice.
Congress has passed similar measures in the past, but Bush has used a waiver to clear the funds to Saudi Arabia.

Article printed from Jihad Watch: http://www.jihadwatch.org/2006/06/symbolic-protest-from-house-cuts-pocket-change-from-jizya-to-saudi-arabia.html

URLs in this post:
[1] http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060609/pl_nm/congress_foreign_dc_1