After 9/11, U.S. Gave Even More Student Visas To Saudis

By Garrett Haake and Robert Windrem
NBC News

Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, the Saudi student arrested Thursday on charges that he planned to build bombs for terror attacks inside the United States, was granted a U.S. student visa after qualifying for a generous scholarship sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, according to the indictment against him.

Aldawsari was one of more than 10,000 Saudi students granted student visas in 2008, an NBC News analysis of the visa program shows.

Indeed, the number of Saudi students approved for entry into the United States has jumped more than fourfold since 15 young Saudis helped carry out the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. At the same time, visas granted to other Middle East nations dropped often precipitously or remained at the same level.

The analysis shows that 26,744 Saudi students received US F-1 and F-2 visas in 2010, up from 6,836 in 2001. The numbers have steadily increased as the Kingdom has provided financing for students, believing the students' exposure to the U.S. and its education system would help US-Saudi relations.

While overall non-immigrant visas from Saudi has dropped during the period from 2001 to 2010, the education visas have skyrocketed, in large part, say U.S.officials, because of the King Abdullah Scholarship program which sponsored Aldawsari.

Aldawsari is the only recipient of the scholarship known to have been accused of terrorism.

The King Abdullah Program annually sponsors thousands of Saudi students. It generously "provides the means to best world universities to pursue studies that lead to degrees (bachelors, masters and doctorate) and medical fellowships."

Administered through the Ministry of Higher Education, it is one of the most generous programs anywhere. According to the program's website, King Abdullah Scholarships provide financial support for scholarship recipients. Among the privileges it offers are the following:

* Monthly stipend
* Full tuition and fees paid directly to the educational institution
* Cost of attending conferences, symposia and workshops
* Expenses for scientific trips
* Allowances for books and clothes
* Financial support for spouse and dependents
* Medical insurance

Aldawsari referred to the program as the "Traitor of the Two Holy Places Scholarship," a play on the Saudi king's most revered title, "Protector of the Two Holy Places." The FBI says he chose the program because, unlike other Saudi scholarships, it would allow him to go directly to the U.S. without having to first study in college-level programs in Saudi Arabia.

A review of State Department records show that Saudi students got far more visas than others from the region. Students from the United Arab Emirates, for example, received a total of 1,233 student visas in 2010, compared with 1,246 in 2001. Yemeni students received 279 visas in 2010, compared with 376.

Pakistani students had the most precipitous drop, declining from 3,880 in 2001 to 1,093 visas in 2010, a drop of 72 percent. Pakistani officials complain that the drop has dramatically hurt U.S.-Pakistani relations, because those seeking visas are the children of the most affluent and pro-U.S. Pakistanis.

Comment:

If just one terrorist gets into the country this way (and he did), it's one too many. Insane, isn't it? They destroy a chunk of this country, yet we're still letting them in. Not only shouldn't we be letting them in, but those that are already here should be expelled as enemies of the state.

It makes me wonder if in addition to his scholarship fund for his people, if King Abdullah doesn't have a secret "scholarship" fund for American officials, if you get my meaning. I'm sure he does.

Unfortunately, America is pathetically protected by the same officials who make the rules, and accept payola for making exceptions to those rules. A few bucks here (a few bucks by the standards of the wealthy, that is), a phone tap there, and anything you want is yours - if you have the money and influence.

Now I'm not saying there were no corrupt officials in National Socialist Germany. There were indeed a few. But most of these traitors were exposed and dealt with in the most severe manner (involving a cigarette and a blindfold).

Comrades, this is one of the reasons this country is dying. Perhaps it deserves to die. But in it's place we can build a better country. One where the welfare of the White Working Class comes first. As discouraging as it can be at times, we must keep going and never give up hope.

NOTE- I cannot and will not be more specific as to the time and location of our California event on this blog, nor will I mention it again until AFTER it's over. If any out-of-state Party comrade is going to be in Central California during April and would like to attend, contact me by email or snail mail. Check the sidebar on the right in the "About Me" section for my addresses. If you make a firm commitment to attend, I will send you the details.