“On September 24 [2001], President Bush held a press conference with [Secretary of State] Colin Powell and treasury secretary Paul O’Neill at which he announced the freezing of assets of 27 individuals or entities that may have been funneling money to terrorists…many of the named targets had been identified by [counterterrorism czar] Richard Clarke long before. Both Bush and Powell made a point of praising the Saudis. ‘As far as the Saudi Arabians go…they’ve been nothing but cooperative,’ Bush said. …But, in fact…Even after the attacks, Visa Express, the [Saudi Arabian visa] program that allowed three of the 9/11 hijackers to enter the United States without even having to stop by the consulate and which was described by a consular official as ‘an open-door policy for terrorists,’ was continued.”
– Craig Unger, House of Bush, House of Saud, Pages 260-261