http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/296862-obama-vetoes-9-11-bill President Obama on Friday vetoed legislation that would allow families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia in U.S courts, setting up a high-stakes showdown with Congress. “I recognize that there is nothing that could ever erase the grief the 9/11 families have endured," Obama wrote in his veto message. "Enacting JASTA into law, however would neither protect Americans from terrorist attacks nor improve the effectiveness of our response to such attacks." Obama’s move opens up the possibility that lawmakers could override his veto for the first time with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Republican and Democratic leaders have said they are committed to holding an override vote, and the bill’s drafters say they have the support to force the bill to become law. The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) unanimously passed through both chambers by voice vote. But the timing of the president’s veto is designed to erode congressional support for the bill and put off a politically damaging override vote until after the November elections.
From a national standpoint of not wanting to piss off the Saudis, sure. Not so much from the standpoint of the families who were damaged through the loss of loved ones by the attacks.
I don't give 2 shits about the Saudis and I hate the continued sucking of their dicks by both parties. Saudi Arabia is a few years away from civil war and we're going to get drawn into it. Why I don't think this is a very good idea is because we're a country that tends to pull some shit around the world. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes he drone bomb the wrong person. Do we really want an Afghani goat farmer suing the USA for $10mill because we scared his best goat? We allowing our citizens to sue other countries is only going to invite other countries to sue us. At least our courts will be fair, do you really trust Iraqi, Syrian, and Afghani courts to be fair and just?
Good points. I have no idea about international law on this subject Does the ability of the goat farmer to sue the USA depend upon what we do, or don't do, in this case?
The measure "would upset longstanding international principles regarding sovereign immunity, putting in place rules that, if applied globally, could have serious implications for U.S. national interests," the White House said Friday in a three-page veto message to the Senate. The statement didn’t cite Saudi Arabia by name. ... House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry of Texas said in a letter to fellow Republicans that he opposes a veto override. "My primary concern is that this bill increases the risk posed to American military and intelligence personnel, diplomats and others serving our country around the world" because it may lead to legal action against them in foreign courts, Thornberry said. http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/a...audi-9-11-legislation-opening-override-battle
Why shouldn't we get sued in foreign courts? If we're dropping bombs in undeclared war, it's illegal.
