Saudis use vets as pawns to fight JASTA
The government of Saudi Arabia doesn’t much like the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) because it makes them liable for the events that occurred in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia on September 11, 2001. So, according to some military veterans and the New York Post, the Saudis are using veterans to lobby Congress on their behalf and many of those veterans aren’t aware of the fact that they’re lobbying for the Saudis.
Vets complain they’re not only being misled but openly lied to. During one recent trip, an organizer denied any “Saudi involvement” in sponsoring the trip, even though federal filings show the organizer has a $100,000 contract with the Saudis and is a registered foreign agent for the kingdom.
In their recruiting pitch to vets, the Saudi lobbyists, who pose as veteran advocates, claim that JASTA exposes them as well as “150,000 [US] military personnel stationed in over 150 countries” to “retaliatory lawsuits” in foreign courts — even though international law experts note that JASTA deals only with the immunity of foreign states, and poses little if any risk to individuals.
[…]
Former [Marine Sergeant Timothy Cord, who served in Iraq] said the trip leader, Jason E. Johns, shot down any concerns about Mideast sponsorship as soon as the vets arrived in DC. “He stood up the first night to announce that ‘there are rumors going around about Saudi involvement, and they absolutely aren’t [involved].’?”
Johns’ bio describes him as president of No Man Left Behind Veterans Advocacy Group. But federal records also list him as a registered Saudi agent making $100,000 to mobilize vets to lobby against JASTA. The primary registrant on his disclosure form is Qorvis MSLGROUP, the Saudi government’s top PR firm in Washington.
The Saudi government pays for transportation to and around the nation’s capitol as well as footing the $560/night bill at Trump International Hotel, meals and drinks. In return, veterans are expected to “storm” Congress and convince members to weaken the bill in favor of Saudi government interests, all the while veterans aren’t told the story of who is providing for their trip to the halls of Congress.
Category: Veterans in the news
No surprise at all. How very clever of them, too.
Some gift horses you need to look in the mouth. There may be a viper’s tongue inside.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
Sure there is. I’m offering free sardine and peanut butter sandwiches on pickle sliced lengthwise. Today only.
Maybe it was too early for that. I can hear a dew gags from here.
Even that kind of
barf-inspiring mess“tasty” lunch isn’t really free. Someone, somewhere, had to pay for the ingredients.“There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch” (Heinlein Acronym: TANSTAAFL) is indeed correct. While it may be “free” to the recipient, someone previously paid for it in one way or another.
And if anyone takes 2/17 Air Cav up on his offer above, I predict you’ll pay for it later, too. (smile)
How about the guy who has to have his shoes shined and cleaned because I just hurled all over them thanks to your post?
MSG Eric. Had I a liquid in my mouth, I would have painted the walls with it, thanks to that. I appreciate the laugh.
It’s all good, I’d just order mine with a hold on the sardines…or have them on the side…
Only if the sardines are in yellow mustard sauce….looks more pleasing to the palette with the brown peanut butter and green pickles.
Mmmmmmm…….God how I love home cookin’.
“…Johns’ bio describes him as president of No Man Left Behind Veterans Advocacy Group. But federal records also list him as a registered Saudi agent making $100,000 to mobilize vets to lobby against JASTA..”
IMHO there is a special place IN HELL for people who sell their souls like that and it’s right alongside the place reserved for entities like Pelosi, Sharpton and many others.
To borrow from Meatloaf (way out of context) “I would do anything……but I won’t do that”.
And Reid, don’t forget that POS Harry Reid.
“Qorvis MSLGROUP works with the Saudi Embassy to affirm the importance of the Saudi/U.S. relationship. Since 2001, Qorvis MSLGROUPhas implemented a multifold campaign; including, media relations, advertising, government relations, grassroots action, and social and digital media. The overall objectives are to reach out to the media with factual information and provide access to Saudi officials; promote Saudi Arabia as an ally in the war on terrorism; meet with key law makers on the Hill, as well as within the administration, to emphasize Saudi Arabia as a strategic ally; and educate the American people about Saudi Arabia and the region.”
Madison Avenue on steroids. Anything for a buck.
Spot on 2/17. They have made a handsome sum betraying fellow Americans with fake stories and Elephant toe nail bull-shit.
They need a good old fashion IRS visit, followed by Justice Dept.
Whores…but that’s showing disrespect for the oldest profession
There’s got to be a joke in there using keywords, “prostitute”, “bang”, “buck”.
What the Qovis MSLGROUP needs is someone who can write their copy using correct punctuation, consistent tense, and good grammar. For a mega-PR company that quoted summary truly sucks ass.
typical gov-speak though. Why use one word when ten will do?
Wonder how far the economy of DC would sink if all the lobbyists were thrown out?
Housing would get more affordable overnight.
This post really raises as many questions as it answers. How many veterans were chosen for this and how were they ‘recruited?’
What was the purported reason given for the trip?
If somebody called me up and said “hey, I want to fly you to Washington DC and put you up in a swank hotel for a few days” the first thing – the VERY FIRST THING – I’m going to say is “what’s the catch?”
Because NOBODY spends that kind of cash without wanting something in return.
That’s why I want to know more about the “Vets” who went (and are they even actually veterans? Posers LOVE to do shit like this.)
Seems to me they either knew or should have known that this was shady from the beginning, or they aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed.
It would be interesting to find out who and how they were recruited.
John McCain will hire Jason E. Johns(that name has to be fake) for his personal staff shortly.
As one of the veterans that attended this trip with these 4 veterans I find their entire claim to be questionable if not outright untrue.
Timothy Cord in a few pieces claims that he didn’t know what was going on. I find that odd since his brother was with him and certainly was aware. Also, they have come out on this at the behest of David Casler (by their own admission) because he is a “man of honor.” Casler himself attended this trip and unbeknownst to anyone is the plaintiff in an active lawsuit involving this law. His motivations for being against it now are clear to me. He could lose a chance at making a not insignificant amount of money if the law is changed.
The simple fact is, these guys took a trip to DC and claimed they had no idea why they were going? Either they are incredibly stupid and didn’t do their own research or they are lying. Unfortunately, after seeing much of their comments online, I’m convinced they are lying.
Lastly the statement that they were lied to right off the bat is simply a lie. They were informed that Quorvis was paying for the expenses and that they were completely free to say whatever they wished to Congress.
Oh and there were 44 individuals that were with us that week so this “testimony” really comes from a small fraction of the veterans who rightly oppose this law because of the actual effects it will have on our veteran community.
The Cord brothers may have been duped but it wasn’t by who they claim. Their fraud was committed by David Casler and sadly they are too stupid to realize it.
This painted a good picture for me.
Hello, I am a Saudi Arabian Prince and I have a huge business opportunity for you!
Fly to NY and you will be rewarded with thousands of dollars and I will ensure you stay at a premiere hotel. All will be explained to you once you arrive. Trust me, I am very rich!
Suddenly the claims than they flew across the country and had no idea what was going on seem to make even less sense…
I’d also like to mention that the New York Post Article that this author sourced her story from was source originally from a 9-11 truther website; the same type of people that were screaming that Bush did 9-11 and all that other jazz while we servicemen and women were out there fighting the war.
Well we were told that we were going to fly out and join a group of vets that were lobbying at the House and Senate. We’re not stupid. We were lied to by the guy that set up the trip. We were supposed to perform at Trump’s inauguration but it didn’t work out. This was the “make up” trip. You weren’t there. I was. My brother was. Fuck you if you think otherwise. I’m in a rock band. I’m not a politician. David Niffenegger was the one that lied initially. Jason Johns was the one that exposed the Saudi angle.
Wasn’t it the Saudis who, a few weeks ago, asked for US help when one of their warships was rammed and hit by rocket fire from some Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden?
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi-idUSKBN15E2KE
And I believe the USS Cole was there for a while, as well. Anyone besides me remember what happened to the USS Cole a while back?
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/02/03/uss-cole-patrolling-off-yemen-after-iran-backed-rebels-attack-saudi-ship.html
I’m afraid that in this day and age, there are way too many Vets that are willing to jump onto a cause before they do “any” research about it. I’ve talked to a few that were all fired up until they were questioned just who is behind something, and what does that person stand to gain? I’ve gotten jaded as I get older, and my standard lately has been to simply tell people that “I’m from Missouri” and let them figure out what I’m referring to. Some get it, some don’t (and no disrespect to the people that are truly from there).
There are approximately 22 million veterans in the USA. That means there is plenty of room for the ones who don’t ask dumb questions and realize too late they are being a dumbass and/or duped.
It would be great if this was the case though, the amount of information out there and the accessibility of it through the internet makes it easy for anyone to find a good portion of the truth in just about every situation.
My brother and I were flown out to hang with a group of vets visiting “the hill”. I’m not stupid. We started asking questions the minute we got there. I’m in a rock band, not a politician.
To hell with the saudi’s nationalize every holding they have in the US and keep it, that will compensate a little for the shyt they have pulled!!
Johns was reprimanded by MOPH for another issue.
He subsequently resigned and left MOPH.