Two Cables From Us Facilities In Saudi Arabia

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United States Department of State Washington, D.C. 20520 9/1!

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SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED MEMORANDUM FOR DANIEL MARCUS GENERAL COUNSEL NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TERRORIST ATTACKS UPON THE UNTIED STATES SUBJECT: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States Request for Additional Information—Interview Request No. 9 As requested by Tom Eldridge of vour staff, attached are two cables that were brought to his attention during] [interview on December 30, 2003. Although this material is not classified in and of itself, its designation as "Sensitive But Unclassified" requires special handling. Therefore, we request that the Commission protect this information from unauthorized disclosure. We hope this information is useful to you. As always, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have further questions.

Karl Hofmann Executive Secretary Attachments: Jeddah 00933 and Riyadh 02002.

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R 161329Z JUL 00 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1828 AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA INFO AMCONSUL JEDDAH AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE AMEMBASSY NAIROBI DIRFBI WASHDC AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY LAGOS AMEMBASSY ATHENS UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 002002 STATE FOR CA/FPP AND CA/VO/F/P LAGOS FOR REGIONAL CONSULAR OFFICER ROME, NAIROBI AND ATHENS FOR INS E.O. 12958: N/A UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 RIYADH 02002 01 OF 02 TAGS: CVIS, KFRD, KCRM, SA SUBJECT: RIYADH CONSULAR FRAUD TRENDS

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REF: A) NDJAMENA 1105, B) 1999 RIYADH 3626, C) 1999 JEDDAH 974, D) 1999 JEDDAH 238 1.

SUMMARY: ALTHOUGH RIYADH AND JEDDAH HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED LOW-FRAUD POSTS, INCIDENTS SUCH AS THOSE DESCRIBED IN REF (A) HAVE SENSITIZED US TO SCRUTINIZE ALL CASES FOR SUSPECT DOCUMENTS. AS A RESULT WE CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE EVIDENCE OF ROUTINE FRAUD AND BELIEVE THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR MORE WIDESPREAD MISUSE OF LEGITIMATELY ISSUED NIVS. END SUMMARY.

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PREVENTING THE SALE OF VALID SAUDI PASSPORTS WITH U.S. VISAS HERE AT ONE OF THE VISA SOURCES WOULD BE DIFFICULT. SAUDI NIV APPLICANTS HAVE TRADITIONALLY OVERCOME 214(B) EASILY, SO WE INTERVIEW BY EXCEPTION ONLY AND ISSUE SAUDIS HUNDREDS OF VISAS A DAY. BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY FLOW OF MIGRANT WORKERS AND PILGRIMS THROUGH SAUDI ARABIA, SAUDIS SO INCLINED HAVE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO SELL THEIR PASSPORTS WITH VALID U.S. VISAS TO THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS.

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VISA ADJUDICATORS IN JEDDAH AND RIYADH HAVE LEARNED THAT SAUDI ARABIA ISSUES SAUDI TRAVEL DOCUMENTS TO NON-CITIZENS WITH THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BEING A NOTATION IN ARABIC ON PAGE SIX OF THE PASSPORT. FURTHERMORE, WE HAVE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT SAUDIS CAN OBTAIN NEW PASSPORTS WITH DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF THEIR NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH, WHICH WOULD FACILITATE NEW UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 RIYADH 02002 01 OF 02 161324Z APPLICATIONS FOR A DIFFERENT U.S. VISA. 4.

FRAUDULENT SAUDI PASSPORTS HAVE ALSO BEEN A CONCERN. REF (B) DESCRIBES A CASE OF A PHOTO-SUBBED PASSPORT DISCOVERED BY OUR NIV UNIT LAST YEAR ON THE SAME DAY THAT WE RECEIVED ANTI-FRAUD TRAINING FROM THE SAG. SAUDI AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT ULTIMATELY ARRESTED TWELVE PEOPLE IN A SUSPECTED FORGERY RING INCLUDING KENYANS, ETHIOPIANS, SOMALIS AND ONE SAUDI. REFS (C) AND (D) DESCRIBE SIMILAR CASES OF PHOTO-SUBBED PASSPORTS DISCOVERED BY THE NIV UNIT IN JEDDAH. COOPERATION IN THIS CASE BETWEEN THE CONSULATE GENERAL AND SAUDI AUTHORITIES ALSO RESULTED IN AN ARREST.

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SAUDI PASSPORTS ARE NOT THE ONLY POTENTIAL PROBLEM. ON THE SAME DAY THAT WE RECEIVED REF (A), WE RECEIVED APPLICATIONS FROM TWO YOUNG SUDANESE MEN SEEKING TO REPLACE VISAS WE HAD ISSUED TO THEM TWO MONTHS EARLIER. THE MEN, APPLYING AS DOMESTIC EMPLOYEES OF A MEMBER OF THE EXTENDED SAUDI ROYAL FAMILY, CLAIMED THEIR PASSPORTS HAD BEEN STOLEN SHORTLY AFTER WE ISSUED THE VISAS. THEY FILED A POLICE REPORT AND OBTAINED NEW PASSPORTS FROM THE SUDANESE EMBASSY IN RIYADH. WE HAVE RULED THEM INELIGIBLE UNDER 221(G) PENDING THE RESULT OF A POLICE INVESTIGATION INTO THE THEFT REPORT.

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THIS CASE ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE POTENTIAL FOR MISUSE

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OF VISAS ISSUED TO PERSONAL OR DOMESTIC EMPLOYEES OF OTHER NIV APPLICANTS. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF JUNE WE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 RIYADH 02002 01 OF 02 161324Z HAVE ISSUED 554 SUCH VISAS AND DENIED 148 APPLICATIONS. MOST OF THE DENIALS ARE FOR AN APPLICANT'S LACK OF WORK EXPERIENCE OR EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP, BUT SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK WE RECEIVE APPLICATIONS WITH JOB LETTERS THAT WE DETERMINE ARE FRAUDULENT. OUR REFUSAL RATE FOR SUCH VISAS HAS REMAINED STEADY AT(20 PERCENT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. 7.

LAST YEAR SAUDI AUTHORITIES ARRESTED ONE VISA APPLICANT AFTER OUR TELEPHONE CHECKS ALERTED HIS PURPORTED EMPLOYER TO A FRAUDULENT JOB LETTER, WHICH WAS APPARENTLY PREPARED IN COLLUSION WITH AN OFFICE MANAGER.

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FRAUDULENT JOB LETTERS ACCOMPANYING OTHER NIV APPLICATIONS ARE ALSO A CONTINUING CONCERN. ABOUT FIVE TIMES A DAY WE CONDUCT TELEPHONE CHECKS TO VERIFY INFORMATION IN JOB LETTERS, AND IN ROUGHLY HALF OF THE CASES WE FIND THAT THE LETTERS OVERSTATE THE APPLICANT'S SALARY. LESS FREQUENTLY WE FIND LETTERS UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

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R 161329Z JUL 00 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1829 AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA INFO AMCONSUL JEDDAH AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE AMEMBASSY NAIROBI DIRFBI WASHDC AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY LAGOS Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED

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AMEMBASSY ATHENS UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 RIYADH 002002 STATE FOR CA/FPP AND CA/VO/F/P LAGOS FOR REGIONAL CONSULAR OFFICER ROME, NAIROBI AND ATHENS FOR INS E.O. 12958: N/A UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 RIYADH 02002 02 OF 02 TAGS: CVIS, KFRD, KCRM, SA SUBJECT: RIYADH CONSULAR FRAUD TRENDS

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THAT ARE PRINTED ON MISUSED STATIONERY WITH FORGED SIGNATURES. COMMENT: NONE OF THESE INCIDENTS ARE INDICATIVE OF DRAMATIC NEW FRAUD TRENDS IN RIYADH. HOWEVER, THEY DO INDICATE THAT CONTINUING VIGILANCE IS REQUIRED TO PREVENT THE MISUSE OF OUR NIVS. WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY FURTHER UPDATES ON MISUSED AND ALTERED SAUDI PASSPORTS. END SUMMARY. FOWLER UNCLASSIFIED « END OF DOCUMENT »

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R 031152Z OCT 01 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2626 INFO GCC COLLECTIVE USDOC WASHDC NSC WASHDC CIA WASHDC AMEMBASSY CAIRO UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JEDDAH 000933 CENTCOM FOR POLAD LONDON FOR SUTPHIN; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL USDOC FOR 3131/UAFCA/OIO/ANESA/RD/KBRENNAN AND 4502/IEP/AMESA/ONE/DGULUGLMI RIYADH ALSO FOR DHAHRAN SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A TAGS: CVIS, SOCI, PHUM, ELAB, SA SUBJECT:

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SUMMARY 2. (SBU) MANY SAUDI TOURISTS, BUSINESSMEN, AND STUDENTS IN THE WESTERN REGION ARE CANCELING PLANS TO TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES AMID RUMORS THAT THEIR VISAS HAVE BEEN SUMMARILY CANCELLED,AND FEARS THEY WILL BE HARASSED OR DETAINED AT PORTS OF ENTRY. INCIDENTS OF ANTI-ARAB AND Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED

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ANTI-MUSLIM ATTACKS IN THE U.S., WHILE DISTURBING ON THEIR OWN MERIT, HAVE BEEN GREATLY EXAGGERATED LOCALLY. HEJAZIS, WHO LIKE THE REST OF THEIR COUNTRYMEN FEEL PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE BEING SAUDI, ARAB AND MUSLIM PREFER TO STAY AWAY FROM THE U.S. FOR THE TIME BEING. END SUMMARY.

NIV APPLICATIONS PLUMMET 3. (U) SAUDIS TRAVEL FREQUENTLY TO THE UNITED STATES, WHERE SOME OWN VACATION HOMES AND OTHER PROPERTIES. DURING THE SUMMER RUSH, VISA ISSUANCES HERE PEAKED AT 450 A DAY WITH FLORIDA BEING THE NUMBER-ONE DESTINATION. THE DEMAND FOR VISAS ALWAYS FALLS CONSIDERABLY BY LATE AUGUST WHEN SCHOOLS REOPEN. HOWEVER, COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR, THERE HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC DROP IN THE NUMBER OF NON-IMMIGRANT UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 JEDDAH 00933 01 OF 03 031201Z VISA APPLICANTS IN JEDDAH'S CONSULAR DISTRICT FOLLOWING THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACK. 4. (U) FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF SEPTEMBER 2000, THE CONSULATE ISSUED AN AVERAGE OF 45 VISAS A DAY TO HOSTCOUNTRY NATIONALS. FROM SEPTEMBER 15 TO 30 OF 2001, WE HAVE AVERAGED FEWER THAN NINE PER DAY. INCLUDING THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS, OUR NUMBERS ARE TWO-THIRDS OF LAST SEPTEMBER. MANY MORE APPLICANTS STATE "BUSINESS" AS THEIR PRIMARY REASON FOR TRAVEL RATHER THAN "TOURISM," AND THERE IS A LARGER THAN NORMAL PROPORTION OF TRAVELERS SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT. THESE NUMBERS SUPPORT WHAT WE HEAR LOCALLY REGARDING HEJAZI AVERSIONS TO UNNECESSARY TRAVEL WESTWARD. TRUTH IS CHEAP 5. (U) ALTHOUGH THE CONSULATE IS CONDUCTING BUSINESS AS USUAL, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONVINCE THE LOCAL POPULATION THAT WE HAVE NOT CLAMPED DOWN ON VISAS FOR SAUDIS. THE WIDELY-READ ENGLISH-LANGUAGE DAILIES SAUDI GAZETTE AND ARAB NEWS RAN ERRONEOUS STORIES ON OCTOBER 1 THAT THE U1S. MISSION IN SAUDI ARABIA HAD TIGHTENED VISA CONDITIONS FOR SAUDI CITIZENS FOLLOWING THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACK. THIS WAS REPORTED DESPITE THE FACT THAT ARAB NEWS CONTACTED THE CONSULATE IN JEDDAH AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN POLICY. Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED

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6. (U) IN RESPONSE TO WIDESPREAD RUMORS THAT THE STATE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 JEDDAH 00933 01 OF 03 031201Z DEPARTMENT HAS CANCELED THE U.S. VISAS OF ALL SAUDI PASSPORT HOLDERS, THE CONSULAR SECTION CONTINUES TO TAKE CALLS FROM SAUDIS WHO BELIEVE THEIR VISAS ARE NO LONGER VALID. ONE CONOFF WAS APPROACHED SEVERAL TIMES BY SAUDIS AT A CHINESE NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATION ASKING WHEN THE CONSULATE WOULD RESUME ISSUING VISAS TO SAUDIS. WE CONTINUE TO WAIVE INTERVIEWS FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF SAUDI APPLICANTS. NEVERTHELESS, THE SAUDI GAZETTE REPORTED THAT SAUDIS ARE NOW REQUIRED TO UNDERGO A PERSONAL INTERVIEW AT THE EMBASSY OR CONSULATE AND MUST BRING REAMS OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. 7. (U) BOTH SAUDI GAZETTE AND ARAB NEWS, AS WELL AS THE ARABIC-LANGUAGE OKAZ RAN ARTICLES OCTOBER 2 IN RESPONSE TO A PRESS RELEASE FROM EMBASSY RIYADH STATING THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN U.S. VISA POLICY FOR SAUDIS. ALTHOUGH THE PAPERS COVERED THE SALIENT POINTS FROM OUR PRESS RELEASE, THE ARTICLES WERE NOT RETRACTIONS, AS THERE WAS NO MENTION OF PREVIOUS EDITIONS HAVING PRINTED EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 01 ACTION NEA-00

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USDOC FOR 3131/UAFCA/OIO/ANESA/RD/KBRENNAN AND 4502/IEP/AMESA/ONE/DGULUGLMI RIYADH ALSO FOR DHAHRAN SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A TAGS: CVIS, SOCI, PHUM, ELAB, SA SUBJECT:

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MUSLIMS NEED NOT APPLY? 8. (U) ON OCTOBER 2, AN INDIAN PASSPORT HOLDER WITH A VALID FIVE-YEAR VISA ISSUED IN MUMBAI CAME TO THE CONSULATE REQUESTING THAT HIS VISA BE "REVALIDATED." A FREQUENT TRAVELER TO THE U.S. CURRENTLY IN SAUDI ARABIA TO PERFORM "UMRA" OR THE SO-CALLED MINOR PILGRIMAGE, HE PLANNED TO CONTINUE ON TO VISIT HIS SONS STUDYING IN THE U.S. HE SAYS HE WAS TOLD BY THE EGYPT AIR OFFICE IN MECCA THAT ALL MUSLIMS MUST NOW APPEAR AT THE EMBASSY OR CONSULATE AND HAVE THEIR VISAS "REVALIDATED" BEFORE THEY CAN BOARD A FLIGHT TO THE UNITED STATES. WHILE HE GRACIOUSLY ACCEPTED THE EXPLANATION THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD NEVER SUMMARILY CANCEL THE VISAS OF AN ENTIRE RELIGION, HE SAID, "I KNOW, BUT THESE RUMORS CNTRIBUTE GREATLY TO THE MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT MERICA IN THE MUSLIM WORLD." 9. (U) ACCORDING TO THE SUPERVISOR OF THE EGYPT AIR OFFICE IN MECCA,THE AIRLINE IS FOLLOWING AN EGYPT AIR DIRECTIVE SSUED IN CAIRO. ACCORDING TO THIS TELEX, ALL PASSORT HOLDERS FROM INDIA, PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH, SR LANKA, IRAQ, IRAN, NIGERIA, RUSSIA, SOMALIA, NORTH KOREA, CHINA AND CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE POSSESSING A U.S. VISA MUST HAVE THAT VISA REVALIDATED AT A U.S. MISSION BEFORE BOARDING AN EGYPT AIR FLIGHT TO THE UNITED STATES. THE AIRLINE EMPLOYEE, WHO DECLINED OUR REQUEST TO FAX THE DIRECTIVE TO THE CONSULATE, STATED HIS BELIEF THAT THE NEW REQUIREMENT ORIGINATED WITH UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 JEDDAH 00933 02 OF 03 031201Z THE USG. INTERESTINGLY, CONTRARY TO THE REPORT OF MR. SAHEB, THE TELEX DID NOT MENTION "MUSLIMS." Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED

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10. (U) ON OCTOBER 3, THE CONSULATE RECEIVED A CALL FROM ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF SAUDIS WITH THE LAST NAME "ALGHAMDI," A MAJOR ASIR-BASED TRIBE, ONE OR MORE MEMBERS OF WHICH MAY HAVE TAKEN PART IN THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS. THE CALLER STATED THAT HE HAD A VALID VISA AND PLANNED TO TRAVEL TO THE U.S. ON OCTOBER 4 OR 5 BUT WAS TOLD BY AN SAA REPRESENTATIVE THAT NO AL-GHAMDIS ARE BEING ALLOWED TO BOARD U.S.-BOUND FLIGHTS. WE HAVE NOT YET VERIFIED THIS STORY WITH SAA.

THE NUMBERS GAME 11. (U) THE SAUDI GAZETTE REPORTED A MARKED DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VISAS "GRANTED" TO SAUDIS OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, BUT THE IMPLICATION IS NOT. THERE HAS BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SAUDIS WHO ARE APPLYING FOR VISAS TO THE U.S. BUT NO CHANGE IN THE RATE OF ISSUANCE. SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, 104 SAUDIS HAVE APPLIED FOR NIVS IN JEDDAH. OF THOSE, 102 WERE ISSUED WITHOUT INTERVIEW. THE REMAINING TWO APPLICANTS WERE ASKED TO COME IN FOR ROUTINE REASONS AND VISA WERE SUBSEQUENTLY ISSUED TO THEM. THIS IS ACTUALLY A DECREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF SAUDIS INTERVIEWED FROM THIS TIME LAST YEAR. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 JEDDAH FEAR OF REPRISAL

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12. (U) LOCAL TRAVEL AGENCIES REPORT A 70-80 PERCENT CANCELLATION RATE NATIONWIDE OF TRAVEL FROM THE KINGDOM TO EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES FOLLOWING THE TERRORIST ATTACKS IN THE U.S. DISCUSSIONS WITH LOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES CONFIRM THAT THE FEAR OF REPRISAL ATTACKS ON ARABS AND MUSLIMS IS THE MAJOR REASON. OTHERS ARE NOT TRAVELING FOR FEAR THEY WILL BE HUMILIATED, HARASSED, OR DETAINED BY THE INS, FBI, OR OTHER AUTHORITIES AT THE PORT OF ENTRY. 13. (U) FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF THIS CRISIS, SAUDIS AND EXPAT ARABS IN JEDDAH HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO THE TREATMENT OF ARAB VISITORS AND ARAB-AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY ARE UNDERSTANDABLY UPSET BY REPORTS OF HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE AIMED AT PERSONS OF ARAB AND MUSLIM Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED

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ORIGIN. EVERYDAY, LOCAL PAPERS RUN STORIES ABOUT VIOLENCE AGAINST ARABS AND MUSLIMS IN THE UNITED STATES. CONDEMNATION OF THESE INCIDENTS IS WIDELY DISMISSED, WHILE UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 01 ACTION NBA-00

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R 031152Z OCT 01 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2628 INFO GCC COLLECTIVE USDOC WASHDC NSC WASHDC CIA WASHDC AMEMBASSY CAIRO UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 JEDDAH 000933 CENTCOM FOR POLAD LONDON FOR SUTPHIN; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL USDOC FOR 3131/UAFCA/OIO/ANESA/RD/KBRENNAN AND 4502/IEP/AMESA/ONE/DGULUGLMI RIYADH ALSO FOR DHAHRAN SENSITIVE E.G. 12958: DECL: N/A TAGS: CVIS, SOCI, PHUM, ELAB, SA SUBJECT:

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THE POTENTIAL RISK TO U.S.-BOUND SAUDIS IS EXAGGERATED. VETERAN TRAVELERS AFRAID TO ENTER U.S Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED

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14 (SBU) SAUDIS WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES PRACTICALLY AMERICAN ARE NOW AFRAID TO RETURN TO THEIR "SECOND HOME" DUE TO FEARS THEY WILL BE TREATED LIKE CRIMINALS BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGION AND NATIONALITY. A YOUNG SAUDI HOLDING A GREEN CARD CAME INTO THE CONSULATE IN SEARCH OF ASSURANCES THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ARRESTED AT THE AIRPORT IF HE TRAVELED TO FLORIDA TO CLOSE ON THE SALE OF A NEW HOME. ANOTHER LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT, AN EXECUTIVE AT SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES, PLANNED TO RETIRE IN THE U.S. WITH HIS AMCIT WIFE AND CHILDREN. HE IS NOW EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT HOW HE WOULD BE TREATED BY HIS LONG-TIME NEIGHBORS IN NEW JERSEY AND HAS POSTPONED HIS PLANS TO MOVE BACK TO THE STATES. HE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT HE WOULD BE TREATED POORLY BY OFFICIALS AT THE AIRPORT IN FRONT OF HIS CHILDREN.

IT'S LATE SEPTEMBER AND I REALLY SHOULD BE BACK IN SCHOOL

15. (U) FEAR OF VIOLENCE AND ANTI-SAUDI SENTIMENT HAS PROMPTED MANY PROMINENT SAUDI FAMILIES TO WITHDRAW THEIR CHILDREN MID-SEMESTER FROM AMERICAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. SAUDI AND EXPAT ARAB PARENTS ALIKE EXPRESS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 JEDDAH 00933 03 OF 03 031201Z CONCERN FOR THEIR CHILDREN STUDYING IN THE U.S. THE LEBANESE BROADCAST CHANNEL (LBC) REPORTED LAST WEEK THAT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN BEIRUT, IN RESPONSE TO WIDESPREAD FEAR FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF ARAB STUDENTS IN AMERICA, ANNOUNCED IT WAS PREPARING TO ACCEPT MID-SEMESTER TRANSFER STUDENTS. SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES GROUNDED 16. (U) DESPITE REPEATED REPORTS BY THE LOCAL MEDIA THAT SAA WOULD RESUME FLIGHTS TO THE UNITED STATES "TOMORROW", AS OF OCTOBER 2, THE NATIONAL AIRLINE HAS YET TO RESUME ITS U.S. SCHEDULE. ACCORDING TO CONTACTS WITH THE AIRLINE, SAA

NOW'PLANS TO RESUME SERVICE TO THE u.s. ON OCTOBER 4. SAA AND OTHER AIRLINES ARE CANCELING OR CUTTING BACK ON SCHEDULED INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. WHILE THE AVIATION INSURANCE CRISIS AND NEW FAA SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ARE FACTORS, A MAJOR REDUCTION IN DEMAND SHOULD NOT BE DISCOUNTED AS CONTRIBUTING TO THE REDUCTION IN FLIGHTS TO EUROPE AND THE U.S. Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED

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COMMENT 17. (SBU) IN A PART OF THE WORLD WHERE RUMORS CARRY GREAT WEIGHT AND OFFICIAL STATEMENTS DO NOT, MANY HEJAZIS HAVE DIFFICULTY BELIEVING THAT THE CONSULATE CONTINUES TO OPERATE UNDER ITS PRE-SEPTEMBER 11 POLICIES. ALTHOUGH THE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 JEDDAH 00933 03 OF 03 031201Z USG HAS STATED THAT UNLAWFUL ACTS AGAINST INNOCENT MUSLIMS AND ARABS WILL BE PROSECUTED, THE REACTION OF THE JEDDAH STREETS IS THAT AMERICAN AUTHORITIES WILL TURN A BLIND EYE AND AMERICAN JURIES WILL NOT CONVICT. ARGUMENTS PERTAINING TO CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW IN AMERICAN DO NOT GO FAR AMIDST CURRENT TENSIONS. END COMMENT. BALTIMORE UNCLASSIFIED « END OF DOCUMENT »

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