Amir of Qatar Donates $1 Million For Attack Victims' Families

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2001 -- Amir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar provided the Defense Department $1 million today to be used to assist families of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon.

The amir, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met in a Washington hotel. A defense official noted the amir had also donated $1 million each to funds for the families of fallen firefighters and police officers during an earlier trip to New York City.

Remarking through an interpreter that he "was delighted to meet with old friends," the amir also told Wolfowitz and Myers that he "regretted very much" the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the New York World Trade Center.

"But, we are fully confident that the United States will overcome this problem," he added.

The defense official said the amir's meeting had been scheduled with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld before the Sept. 11 attacks. Rumsfeld, called away this week for a Middle East trip, asked Wolfowitz to take his place.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz (left) meets with Amir Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, of Qatar in Washington on Oct. 5, 2001. The Amir presented a $1 million check to Wolfowitz to be used to assist families of victims of the September 11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. DoD photo by Helene C. Stikkel. (Click photo for screen-resolution image; high-resolution image available.)

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