Next week’s U.S. Open is the first in Boston since 1988 and also the first since 9/11 when 15 of the 19 hackers were from Saudi Arabia, as was ringleader Osama bin Laden. As most know by now, the hijackers had multiple problematic ties to the government, with much of the information only coming out thanks to the persistence of victim families. And of the terrorists at Al Qaeda, like like LIV Golf, enjoyed Saudi funding.
Two flights hijacked on that awful day from Boston’s Logan Airport eventually flew into the World Trade Center, killing thousands.
With all of this horror in mind, families of 9/11 victims have sent a letter to Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Kevin Na expressing outrage for participating in the new Saudi-backed LIV Golf league, reports the New York Post’s Brian Wacker.
“As a freedom-loving American, I am grateful to have the freedom of choice where I work and who I work for, and I respect your right as well,” wrote Terry Strada, the organization’s national chair and a mother of three whose husband, Tom, was on the 104th floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center during the attacks. “As a 9/11 widow, I feel compelled to help you understand the level of depravity the Kingdom engaged in when it knowingly sent government agents here to establish the support network needed for those hijackers.
“As you may know, Osama bin Laden and 15 of the 19 September 11 hijackers were Saudis. It was the Saudis who cultivated and spread the evil, hate-filled Islamist ideology that inspired the violent jihadists to carry out the deadly 9/11 attacks. And, most egregiously, it is the Kingdom that has spent 20 years in denial: lying about their activities, and cowardly dodging the responsibility they bear. Yet these are your partners, and much to our disappointment, you appear pleased to be in business with them.
“Given Saudi Arabia’s role in the death of our loved ones and those injured on 9/11—your fellow Americans—we are angered that you are so willing to help the Saudis cover up this history in their request for ‘respectability.’ When you partner with the Saudis, you become complicit with their whitewash, and help give them the reputational cover they so desperately crave—and are willing to pay handsomely to manufacture. The Saudis do not care about the deep-rooted sportsmanship of golf or its origins as a gentleman’s game built upon core values of mutual respect and personal integrity. They care about using professional golf to whitewash their reputation, and they are paying you to help them do it.”
