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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

[HOLD UNTIL AFTER HOUSE VOTES]

The U.S. Senate voted 97-1 [washingtonpost.com] to override President Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which would allow victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to sue Saudi Arabia. The lone dissenting vote was Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), who has "always had the president's back":

In a letter Monday to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Tex.) and ranking member Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter warned that allowing the bill to become law risked "damaging our close and effective cooperation with other countries" and "could ultimately have a chilling effect on our own counter-terrorism efforts." Thornberry and Smith both circulated letters among members in the last few days, urging them to vote against overriding the veto. CIA Director John O. Brennan also warned of the 9/11 bill's "grave implications for the national security of the United States" in a statement Wednesday.

[INSERT NEWS ABOUT THE HOUSE VOTE HERE]

See also: The Risks of Suing the Saudis for 9/11 [nytimes.com] by the New York Times Editorial Board and this article in the Saudi Gazette [saudigazette.com.sa].

Previously: President Obama to Veto Bill Allowing September 11 Victims to Sue Saudi Arabia [soylentnews.org]

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