Homeland Security

We are pleased with the continued cooperation that we have received and continue to receive from the Government of Saudi Arabia in the global war on terrorism.  We believe that such improved oversight of financial transfers, as announced and discussed today by the Saudis, that is essential to reduce and impede financial support for terrorism originating in Saudi Arabia.  We strongly support a comprehensive monitoring of charitable organizations based in the Kingdom to ensure that well-intentioned donations are used for their intended purpose and not to finance or abet terrorists. 

We also believe that such monitoring, especially of donations leaving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, can prevent those who would assist terrorists from using the charitable generosity of Saudi citizens as cover for their activities. 

The United States is encouraged by Saudi efforts and will continue to provide technical cooperation to Saudi Arabia and other allies in the region as we all work to improve the capabilities in monitoring and countering the financing of terror.

We expect continued and comprehensive exchanges of expertise with Saudi officials, and in that vein the United States also looks forward to convening the upcoming meeting of the US-Saudi Joint Working Group on Terrorism.  That should take place in early January here in Washington.

We believe that this will further improve and formalize our cooperation in countering terrorism.  This is chaired for the United States by the Department of State's Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ambassador Cofer Black.  It's a working group that will serve as the primary mechanism in our continuing coordination of joint activities, as well as the exchange of information and the setting of mutual priorities in the battle against terrorism.

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QUESTION:  I just want to go back to what you were talking about with the Saudis.  You said that this meeting in early January will further improve and formalize the relationship?  What does that mean?  Do you expect something new to -- some new agreement to be worked up or signed between the two sides at that point?  Or are you just saying that it -- what you have now is informal, or what would exist now --

MR. REEKER:  Well, what has been created -- I think you are aware that there is a -- we have created a US-Saudi Joint Working Group on Terrorism and it's going to have a meeting in January.  I don't have any more details.  I think they are still trying to work out those details.  And that will be chaired, as I said, by the new Coordinator for Counterterrorism here at the State Department. 

QUESTION:  Well, I guess I'm asking what do you mean by formalize the relationship?

MR. REEKER:  Well, there is now a formal structure.  We have been cooperating in a variety of manners --

QUESTION:  So it's not some new --

MR. REEKER:  So, you know, I can't predict what will come out of that meeting at this point, a month or so away.  We will just continue to watch, but we do look forward to that because that is, in fact, a formal structure by having a working group in which we can have a formal scheduled meeting that will take place, this round, here in Washington in January.

Elise.

QUESTION:  At this press conference this morning, one of the complaints by the Saudi Government is that there are a lot of discussions between the US and Saudi, a lot of cooperation, but that there are so many various departments that the US is working with the Saudis that sometimes it's not centralized enough that there's enough understanding of what the Saudis really do. 

Do you think that this formal channel -- because they say that these formal structures have been going on since '96, in fact.  So do you think that this working group will enable Saudi contributions in the war on terrorism to be more obvious?

MR. REEKER:  Well, it has been obvious to us because we have been saying all along, as many of you are well aware who have asked us repeatedly day after day, that we are very pleased with the continued cooperation we have received from Saudi Arabia in the global war on terrorism.  And remember that the global war on terrorism involves many different aspects, and indeed, many different departments of our government, and undoubtedly the Saudi government as well.  When we're looking at financial issues, we have to deal with the Treasury Department.  We have to deal with the State Department.  So many people are involved.  There are law enforcement issues.  There's intelligence and information sharing.  So it's a complex process.

But to prosecute the war on terrorism, as the President has said, we need to utilize all the tools at our disposal and follow through with that, and it is going to be a long effort.  We have cells all around the world, from al-Qaida and other organizations that we have to continue to root out.  The financial aspect is very important when it comes to that, and we have made great progress and we welcome today the announcements that Saudi Arabia has made. 

So we have said that for some time, and the Saudis now are being very up-front and public about the steps that they're taking.  And so we'll continue to do that and we'll utilize mechanisms like a joint working group that will meet, for instance, in January here in Washington to keep that cooperation going, to look for areas of improvement, to share additional information.  It's an all-encompassing effort.

QUESTION:  One of the things that they seem to be looking for is more of like a point -- I don't know if you want to call it a point person, or a point group to deal with these financial issues because they say that it's too all over the place, that the right hand isn't talking to the left hand; that there needs to be one person or one team in the US government that deals with Saudi Arabia on these financial transactions. 

Do you see this group as fulfilling that function?

MR. REEKER:  I think we will continue to talk to the Saudis about that as we work with this.  We welcome, as I said, this enhanced mechanism that the Saudis have talked about publicly today in terms of monitoring, controlling financial flows out of Saudi Arabia.  And we think that those oversights will be essential to reducing or impeding the support for terrorism originating in Saudi Arabia. 

As we go on with this and with our discussions and with our very close cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the evolution of additional formalized structures is something that I wouldn't want to speculate on.  But it's a very solid cooperation, and that's what we have received from Saudi Arabia and what we expect to continue receiving in the future.

QUESTION:  One more, if I may.

MR. REEKER:  And then we'll try to get to someone else.

QUESTION:  They talked a lot about quotes by anonymous officials and leaks of things that they're not hearing directly from the US Government and they feel that there is, whether it be people inside the government or inside the Congress that are launching a campaign of misinformation, of disinformation and lies. 

Do you see that the government is, and does this displease you, that publicly that the government is talking with one voice and then anonymous officials are saying things against the Saudis, critical of the Saudis that you haven't been saying?

MR. REEKER:  Well, there is no way for me to try to comment on what some anonymous official has been saying.  I have to take your word for it when these things appear in the media.  What we can do, and what I try to do and Ambassador Boucher does and certainly Secretary Powell has done as well, is speak to you, and speak through you to the public to make clear our views.  And our view has been all along that Saudi Arabia has been very cooperative in terms of the war on terrorism prior to, and certainly since, September 11.  Secretary Powell has made quite clear that you cannot indict an entire government or an entire nation on the basis of actions or behavior of some of that nation's worst individual citizens. 

And so what we have to do is keep focused on our real goal.  And that's what we do.  And we try to come out here and speak publicly, answer your questions on a daily basis.  And so the other chatter in the background, I can't really comment on.  I can't offer a view on anonymous sources.  I can certainly take your word for it as people write stories. 

But instead, what I think is important is to focus on the facts, focus on what we're saying in terms of our President, in terms of our Secretary of State and other senior officials in talking about this.  We have real challenges ahead of us, and I think the Saudis made that very clear today, as well.  Nobody is under-playing the challenges we face on the financial side and any other aspects in the war on terrorism.  But working together with Saudi Arabia and so many other countries within the Gulf region, and all around the world, is going to be key to rooting out and ultimately eliminating terrorism.  But it's going to take time and it's going to take effort. 

So we prefer to focus, and we do that in our government-to-government discussions as well, on the matters at hand, on doing our jobs and trying to be as forthcoming as we can publicly about our views on these matters.  And as for the other anonymous remarks, I just can't try to address them.

Charlie.

QUESTION:  Phil, on the same general subject, the meeting in January, the task force.  Maybe you know -- and if you don't know, could you take the question -- will the subject of the Khobar Towers investigation be part of the subject matter that that joint task force will --

MR. REEKER:  Happy to ask the question.  This isn't particularly the building in which to do it, but since our Coordinator for Counterterrorism will be leading that, happy to ask that.  I don't that the agenda has been set since the exact date hasn't been set yet either.

QUESTION:  Okay.

QUESTION:  Phil can I quick, just very quickly?

MR. REEKER:  Always.  Very quickly

QUESTION:  The White House said exactly what you said last week --

MR. REEKER:  Hey, that's good.

QUESTION:  Yeah, but except they had one addendum that you haven't uttered yet. 

MR. REEKER:  Try me.

QUESTION:  They could do more.  Ari Fleischer said the President thinks the solid cooperation, blah blah blah blah, but we think the Saudis could do more, more in stemming the flow of funds.

MR. REEKER:  I think we always think everybody could do more and we're always trying to do more.  We're always looking at additional ways, additional opportunities, to stop the flow of funds to terrorism, to root out terrorism, to share information about terrorist groups, to arrest terrorists.  And you've seen action in that regard all around the world numbering in the hundreds and thousands. 

Today's announcement by Saudi Arabia is something that we welcomed.  They have enhanced mechanisms that they've spoken about publicly, and that's good.  We'll always look to do more, not just with Saudi Arabia, but within our own country and with others around the world.  And wherever we can help other countries in their efforts to fight terrorism and support this global coalition, the President has been quite clear that we stand ready to do so.

We'll come back to you.  Nick.

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QUESTION:  When was the Joint Working Committee formed?  Is it recently? 

MR. REEKER:  I'd have to go back and get the exact details on that.  It's a good question and I just forgot to remind myself.  One of your colleagues might know, but I'll be happy to look and let you know. 

Eli.

QUESTION:  Sorry I'm late, but two questions on Saudis.  One, of the things that Mr. Jubeir said today was that there are charities that have been investigated that he knew of no direct links between these charities and terror.  I don't know if you've answered that.  If you've already done so, I'm sorry.  And --

MR. REEKER:  What's the question?

QUESTION:  Well, my question is does the US share that assessment that there have been no direct links between various charities and --

MR. REEKER:  I am not in a position, Eli, to share intelligence information or other things.  We are working very closely with Saudi Arabia on these matters.  We welcome the things they discussed today. 

And as I said, you did miss it but I'll repeat it once more for your benefit:  We think that the comprehensive monitoring of these charities is going to be very important to ensure that the well-intentioned donations are used for their intended purpose and not to finance or abet terrorists.  And clearly, the types of things they discussed today can be used to prevent those who would assist terrorists from using legitimate charitable organizations and charitable generosity of Saudi citizens as a cover for illicit activities. 

And so I just can't address any specific single one, but generally I have talked about our support for these efforts.

QUESTION:  I'm not asking a specific question.  I'm saying Mr. Al-Jubeir made a statement that there were no direct links between any Saudi-based charities and terror groups.  Does the State Department agree with that statement? 

MR. REEKER:  I don't have any information, Eli, to share with you on the basis of our intelligence --

QUESTION:  Can you take it as a question?

MR. REEKER:  No, we cannot.  We have discussed that many times before.  We are not going to try to delve into intelligence matters one way or the other on the basis of views.  So to provide you an answer one way or the other would do just that, and so those are the types of things as part of our efforts that I can't do, but I can certainly reiterate the general points that we have.

QUESTION:  And I don't know if this has also been announced, and just one more, but there has been a lot of discussion, and particularly in that press conference, about supposedly the need for proof or the need for more proof from the United States in names that have been handed over to the Saudi authorities.  There has been very little said on the record on this issue.  I don't know if you can clarify that or is that also in the realm of intelligence or --

MR. REEKER:  I am not quite sure what you would want me to clarify. 

QUESTION:  I'm saying that as -- has the US in their discussions with the Saudis handed over names of people that they believe there was a high enough bar for them to take action on and the Saudis said no, come back to them and said no, you know, you --

MR. REEKER:  Again, without trying to get into the specifics our intelligence sharing or information sharing or law enforcement efforts of this, which would undermine and defeat the entire purpose of it, we continue to have a very solid cooperation with Saudi Arabia on counterterrorism efforts, including in the financial sphere. 

We have seen these announcements today and these improved oversights of financial transactions as essential to reducing and impeding the financial support for terrorism originating in Saudi Arabia.  And that is a continuing effort.  But we have welcomed that and we will continue to share information in both directions in this effort, along with information from and to other countries in that region and around the world. 

QUESTION:  So you can't say anything about whether or not the US has actually presented names, as there's a dispute over the level of proof about --

MR. REEKER:  Eli, again, I'm not going to get into that type of detail.  We have an ongoing solid cooperation with Saudi Arabia on these matters and I am just not in a position to share with you from here the types of detail about that, other than to reiterate once again what the President has, what the Secretary of State has, is that we are pleased with the continued cooperation that we have had from Saudi Arabia and we expect to continue, and we are welcoming today's announcements, the public announcements by Saudi authorities.

QUESTION:  Phil, just one more.  When we ask you these questions -- and I'll stop, okay? -- and you are saying that you can't discuss it because of intelligence reasons, and then reporters go and they talk to people on background, the Saudis dismiss all this stuffy by saying this is nonsense leaks from people who are low down in the bureaucracy.  So when we ask these questions on the record and you don't give us an answer on the record --

MR. REEKER:  Eli, we had a lengthy discussion with your colleague before you came quite tardy to the briefing and we discussed the concept of leaks and anonymous officials.  And I am afraid I can't address that.  I can talk to you about what we do talk to you about every day.  I can point you to the statements of our President and Secretary Powell and other senior officials who speak on the record without benefit of any anonymity and talk to you about these things, but I can also describe for you the limits of where we are going to share stuff publicly because we have to keep in mind the integrity of our efforts in terms of intelligence, in terms of other information sharing, in terms of ongoing investigations, in terms of law enforcement efforts aimed at rooting these things out. 

And so we try to balance that and share with you as much as possible and make clear our views in moving forward on this and how important it is to us, and how important we believe it is to other countries.  And they have spoken to that, as well. 

QUESTION:  Phil, maybe we can get a yes or -- I can get a yes-or-no answer to this question --

MR. REEKER:  Doubtful.  (Laughter.)

QUESTION:  When you say, though, that the news steps that they have announced today are essential to cracking down and stemming the terrorism, doesn't that imply that what they were doing before was somehow lacking?

MR. REEKER:  I think we have talked about, as Barry pointed out, the fact that we can always do more.

QUESTION:  I knew it was too much to ask.

MR. REEKER:  No, I am not going to try to give you yes-or-no answers because, again, the importance is in the context, and trying to answer questions in a yes or no fashion takes away the context of something.  We can always do more and we have welcomed the steps that the Saudis have talked about publicly today, which we feel is doing more.  We are always looking to do more, as well.

QUESTION:  Right.  Except that your use of the word "essential" implies that beforehand they weren't doing it. 

MR. REEKER:  I don't think it does imply that.  I'll stick with the word "essential" because we think it is very essential.  They had been doing many things.  They are going more things.  They have talked about that today.  And we have welcomed that and will continue to work on this jointly and, of course, with many other countries and international organizations. 

Anything else on this subject? 

(No response.)

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Thank you.