More on the Saudi Amnesty

New York Times:

A Saudi-born Islamic militant, who was seen in a video tape with Osama bin Laden several years ago, turned himself in to the Saudi embassy in Teheran and was flown back to the Saudi Arabia, the official Saudi Press Agency and western news agencies reported today. Video footage shown on official Saudi television showed a bearded man identified as Khaled al-Harbi being carried off a small jet and placed into a wheelchair. Mr. Al-Harbi, who was also known as Abu Suleiman al-Makki, was dubbed the mystery dinner guest after he was seen sitting with Mr. bin Laden in a video tape released in December 2001, paying effusive tribute to the Qaeda leader and flattering him with news of Saudi clerics who he said had endorsed the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

I am still on the fence as to whether the Saudi Amnesty is the right thing to do. Sometimes you do have to wipe old debts clean and start fresh. On a more pragmatic vein if this yeilds actionable intelligence and a weakening of Al Qaeda that is definately a good thing.