: That’ll Teach You!  $116 Trillion Lawsuit Filed Against bin Laden

What a year of military action in Afghanistan couldn’t do, a group of relatives of 9/11 victims hope to with a massive civil lawsuit directed against various groups and individuals accused of supporting the attacks, including bin Laden himself (good luck collecting), the Taliban (do they even exist anymore?), the Saudi Binladen Group (one of the world’s largest construction companies, owned by the bin Laden family who disowned Osama many years ago), seven international banks, some Muslim charities (including the US-based Benevolence International), a few Saudi princes who were unlucky enough to get caught on tape paying off Al-Qaida so they wouldn’t hurt their businesses, and the government of Sudan. The lawsuit (.pdf), which is seeking $116 trillion (with a T), is being led by attorney Allan Gerson and is modeled after a suit he brought against Libya after the downing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988. “I think we can do it,” said Deena Burnett, whose husband was killed on hijacked Flight 93 over Pennsylvania. “It’s up to us to bankrupt the terrorists.” In response, the Saudi government noted that it had revoked bin Laden’s citizenship long ago and has cooperated closely with American authorities in the war on terrorism. The Bush administration, while mulling the role that Saudis have had in spreading extremism, reiterated its position that the Saudis are on our side – at least for now.

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.