Why are you defending Prince Ahmed now? Why not when Posner first came out with the story last Fall?

In our culture, values such as honor and pride are very important. So while the family was sickened by the allegations, we didn’t feel it was up to us to have to prove his innocence. We just hoped it would go away. But obviously, with all the attention paid to Unger’s book, it hasn’t.

What do you want? What needs to occur to clear Prince Ahmed’s name?

We want the truth to be told. We want it acknowledged and an end put to this. And in the future, we hope that authors will not consider including weakly attributed information.

As reported in Unger’s book, Prince Ahmed left the country shortly after 9/11.

Yes, he did. But as has been widely reported throughout the media, the 9/11 Commission looked at the departure of Saudi nationals from the U.S. after 9/11 and has officially stated there was no problem with it. It’s a non-story.

What did Prince Ahmed think of the American people?

He was educated in America and he loved America and the American people. He was not the least bit political. He was a businessman who loved horses and loved his wife and five children. There is absolutely no evidence nor motivation for Prince Ahmed to have been involved in any way with Al-Qaeda. Even Posner, the source of this whole conspiracy theory, admitted that Ahmed was very pro-American.

Gerald Posner (and Unger) claim they got their information about Zubaydah’s interrogation from two reliable US government sources. Do you have government or other sources willing to contradict their account?

Vince Cannistraro is a 27-year veteran of the CIA and the former head of counterterrorism. He has stated publicly that Posner’s account is blatantly false and that perhaps Posner’s sources used him as a means to an end.

Saudi Arabia claimed that Prince Ahmed died of a heart attack in his bed shortly after he returned home. He was only 43. Did he have any health problems he was being treated for?

He had a pre-existing condition, one he had received treatment for in a U.S. hospital. Ultimately, he died from complications related to treatment for this condition.

In his book, Posner claims that all, except for one, of the men fingered by Zubaydah eventually ended up dead. Don’t you see how some would interpret that as more than a coincidence, as some sort of conspiracy? Especially, given the circumstances of their deaths.

That’s how conspiracy theories get started. You connect a series of dots that on the surface seem to add up to something. But there are explanations for all of the deaths Posner thinks are somehow related. And the facts behind their deaths are not the least bit conspiratorial. It’s somewhat ironic because Posner made a living debunking conspiracy theories and then he turns around and creates one with less compelling evidence than the ones he has sought to dispel.

Why do think government sources contacted Posner with these explosive allegations? What agenda would they have had?

There are some in the U.S. who want to harm US-Saudi relations and are giving things to journalists all the time. Posner was likely used by those with this agenda. Even the former head of the CIA’s counterterrorism unit, Vince Cannistraro, has indicated that’s probably what happened.

What kind of man was Prince Ahmed? Who were his friends?

Prince Ahmed was a family man, a gentleman, and a successful businessman. He had many American friends, especially in horse racing. He was even the godfather to the daughter of one of his thoroughbred trainers.

Does the prince’s family have plans to release their own book to counter Posner’s and Ungers?

Not at this time. But we are exploring other ways to remember him for who he really was rather than as the subject of some wild conspiracy theory.

Has the family attempted to speak with each author and meet with them personally?

No. We have no reason or desire to speak with someone who is so careless with the truth and with someone’s name and reputation. This is about one man, his family and the pursuit of truth. It’s not about any individual personality.