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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Suing Saudi Arabia: What could go wrong?

    Fifteen years after the attacks of September 11, the families of victims still want authorization to sue Saudi Arabia -- even though there's no "smoking gun." In this election year, they got what they wanted when bipartisan majorities of Congress yesterday overrode a veto by President Obama.

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    By Warren Olney • Sep 30, 2016 • 1 min read

    Fifteen years after the attacks of September 11, the families of victims still want authorization to sue Saudi Arabia -- even though there's no "smoking gun." In this election year, they got what they wanted when bipartisan majorities of Congress yesterday overrode a veto by President Obama. But almost before the voting was over, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan was among those openly voicing second thoughts. Was the President right after all, warning of unintended consequences for Americans overseas? Can the new law be changed — once the election is over?

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Is Suing Saudi Arabia for 9/11 a good idea?
    1. 1:52Duterte, citing Hitler, says he'd kill millions of drug addicts
    2. 8:34Suing Saudi Arabia: What could go wrong?You’re reading this
    3. 42:43Gary Johnson: The danger and the appeal
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Paul von Zielbauer

      Co-founder of Geezer magazine, former producer for To the Point and Which Way LA?; former reporter for the New York Times

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan George

      Director of Content, News

    • KCRW placeholder

      Alexander Bolton

      The Hill

    • KCRW placeholder

      Terry Strada

      9/11 Families & Survivors United for Justice against Terrorism

    • KCRW placeholder

      Brad Sherman

      California congressman (D-Sherman Oaks)

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Is Suing Saudi Arabia for 9/11 a good idea?
    1. 1:52Duterte, citing Hitler, says he'd kill millions of drug addicts
    2. 8:34Suing Saudi Arabia: What could go wrong?You’re reading this
    3. 42:43Gary Johnson: The danger and the appeal
    Back to To the Point