NEW YORK – The majority of Americans believe that Saudi Arabia and Egypt are not reliable allies of the United States in the war against terrorism, a new poll has found.
Respondents were asked: “Do you think Saudi Arabia is a reliable and trustworthy ally of America in the war against terrorism?” 68.1% said no; only 12.8% said yes. The rest had no opinion.
Respondents were also asked: “Do you think Egypt is a reliable and trustworthy ally of America in the war against terrorism?” 50.1% said no; only 22.5% said yes. The rest had no opinion.
The poll was conducted on July 14 -15 by McLaughlin and Associates, for the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA). A scientifically-selected sample of 1,000 Americans were polled.
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said: “These results make it clear that Americans understand that Egypt and Saudi Arabia are not their real friends in the war against terror. This sends a message to the administration that it should reconsider whether the U.S. should be continuing to send $2.2-billion in aid to Egypt; and it underlines the need for stronger U.S. action against Egypt’s allowing weapons to be sent to terrorists in Gaza, as well as against Saudi Arabian support for Palestinian Arab suicide bombers, and Saudi sponsorship of extremist Wahabbi mosques that spread anti-American hatred around the world. We must also take action against the vicious anti-American hatred spread by the government-controlled newspapers and television in Egypt. The majority of Americans recognize that in the war against terrorism, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are on the wrong side.”
The poll results will give added impetus to the Saudi Arabia Accountability Act, new legislation that the ZOA has helped initiate. The bill, S.1888 / HR 3643, would impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia unless the Saudis halt stop funding terrorist groups and fully cooperate with U.S. efforts against terrorism. The sanctions would include halting U.S. military aid to Saudi Arabia and restricting the travel of Saudi diplomats within the United States.
The current sponsors in the Senate are Specter (R-PA), Bayh (D-IN), Boxer (D-CA), Bunning (R-KY), Collins (R-ME), Feingold (D-WI), B. Graham (D-FL), L. Graham (R-SC), Johnson (D-SD), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Murray (D-WA), Reid (D-NV), Schumer (D-NY), and Wyden (D-OR).
In the House, the sponsors are Allen (D-ME), Andrews (D-NJ), Berkley (D-NV), Bishop (D-GA), Cardoza (D-CA), Crowley (D-NY), J. Davis (R-VA), Deutsch (D-FL), Emanuel (D-IL), Evans (D-IL), Ferguson (R-NJ), Foley (R-FL), Frank (D-MA), Frost (D-TX), Garrett (R-NJ), Hill (D-IN), Hoeffel (D-PA), Israel (D-NY), Lowey (D-NY), Maloney (D-NY), Markey (D-MA), Matsui (D-CA), McCarthy (D-NY), McNulty (D-NY), Nadler (D-NY), Owens (D-NY), Pallone (D-NJ), Rothman (D-NJ), Rush (D-IL), Sandlin (D-TX), Musgrave (R-CO), Renzi, (R-AZ), Smith (R-NJ), Strickland (D-OH), Tauscher (D-CA), Waxman (D-CA), Weiner (D-NY), Wexler (D-FL), and Wolf (R-VA).