M1A2U2
05-23-2004, 06:51 PM
This is for everyone who says there is no link between Iraq and 9/11.
Lawsuit ruling finds Iraq partly responsible for 9/11
By Richard Willing, USA TODAY
NEW YORK — A federal judge in New York City on Wednesday found Iraq among those liable for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and awarded nearly $104 million to the families of two men who died in the World Trade Center.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Harold Baer marked the first time that a court had pinned some blame for the attacks on Iraq.
"That in itself is significant," said James Beasley, an attorney who represented the families.
"There's a bunch of (other) cases in process just waiting to see if we could convince a court (of Iraq's complicity). So now the principle is established, and we can get the families the money that they need badly."
Collecting may prove difficult. On March 20, about $1.7 billion in Iraqi assets frozen since 1990 were transferred by President Bush to the U.S. Treasury to be used as a down payment on re-building postwar Iraq. Unless Bush relents, that money appears to be beyond the reach of the plaintiffs: the estates of business analyst George Smith and securities executive Timothy Soulas
It is not known whether the government that assumes power in Iraq will be willing or able to pay the claim.
Baer relied on testimony from former CIA director James Woolsey and from author Laurie Mylroie in determining that Iraq "provided material support" to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. He also cited Colin Powell's speech to the United Nations on Feb. 5 in which the secretary of State linked Iraq to Islamist terrorism.
The testimony, Baer wrote, "barely" established a link between al-Qaeda and Iraq but offered enough proof to persuade a "reasonable jury."
Beside Iraq, defendants included al-Qaeda, bin Laden, the Taliban and the former government of Afghanistan. None of the defendants responded to the lawsuit, but lawyers for the plaintiffs still had to prove Iraq was liable for damages.
The ruling provides ammunition for other plaintiffs pressing claims against Iraq.
In Washington, D.C., six widows and the mother of one victim of the Sept. 11 attacks are seeking class-action status in their lawsuit against Iraq.
In another Washington case, 17 Americans taken prisoner during the 1991 Persian Gulf War and 37 of their family members are seeking $910 million for mistreatment.
Separately, the federal government has set up a victims compensation fund to pay the families of victims of the terrorist attacks, provided they waive their right to sue American companies and government bodies. Recipients are permitted to file lawsuits against al-Qaeda and Iraq.
The fund is expected to disburse $4 billion. Initial awards have averaged about $1.75 million for each victim's family
Lawsuit ruling finds Iraq partly responsible for 9/11
By Richard Willing, USA TODAY
NEW YORK — A federal judge in New York City on Wednesday found Iraq among those liable for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and awarded nearly $104 million to the families of two men who died in the World Trade Center.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Harold Baer marked the first time that a court had pinned some blame for the attacks on Iraq.
"That in itself is significant," said James Beasley, an attorney who represented the families.
"There's a bunch of (other) cases in process just waiting to see if we could convince a court (of Iraq's complicity). So now the principle is established, and we can get the families the money that they need badly."
Collecting may prove difficult. On March 20, about $1.7 billion in Iraqi assets frozen since 1990 were transferred by President Bush to the U.S. Treasury to be used as a down payment on re-building postwar Iraq. Unless Bush relents, that money appears to be beyond the reach of the plaintiffs: the estates of business analyst George Smith and securities executive Timothy Soulas
It is not known whether the government that assumes power in Iraq will be willing or able to pay the claim.
Baer relied on testimony from former CIA director James Woolsey and from author Laurie Mylroie in determining that Iraq "provided material support" to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. He also cited Colin Powell's speech to the United Nations on Feb. 5 in which the secretary of State linked Iraq to Islamist terrorism.
The testimony, Baer wrote, "barely" established a link between al-Qaeda and Iraq but offered enough proof to persuade a "reasonable jury."
Beside Iraq, defendants included al-Qaeda, bin Laden, the Taliban and the former government of Afghanistan. None of the defendants responded to the lawsuit, but lawyers for the plaintiffs still had to prove Iraq was liable for damages.
The ruling provides ammunition for other plaintiffs pressing claims against Iraq.
In Washington, D.C., six widows and the mother of one victim of the Sept. 11 attacks are seeking class-action status in their lawsuit against Iraq.
In another Washington case, 17 Americans taken prisoner during the 1991 Persian Gulf War and 37 of their family members are seeking $910 million for mistreatment.
Separately, the federal government has set up a victims compensation fund to pay the families of victims of the terrorist attacks, provided they waive their right to sue American companies and government bodies. Recipients are permitted to file lawsuits against al-Qaeda and Iraq.
The fund is expected to disburse $4 billion. Initial awards have averaged about $1.75 million for each victim's family