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@ -12,36 +12,41 @@ Saudi Arabia was a source of funding for the [[Contras|Contra]] war that supplem
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The Saudi contributions to the Contra war were part of Oliver North's network of third-party funding sources that included private donors, foreign governments, and drug trafficking proceeds. When Congress passed the [[Boland Amendment]] cutting off military aid to the Contras, the administration turned to Saudi Arabia, Iran, and other sources to keep the war funded. The combination of Saudi money, Iranian arms sales proceeds, and cocaine trafficking revenue created a multi-source funding pipeline that operated outside congressional oversight.[^2]
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Walsh recorded that Saudi Arabia donated $32 million between July 1984 and March 1985, and that [[Taiwan]] contributed $2 million in September 1985 and February 1986.[^3] The congressional committees wrote that a Middle Eastern country had contributed $32 million before North's memorandum to McFarlane on third-country funding, and referred to the donor as "Country 2." McFarlane testified that he told President Ronald Reagan of the first contribution in June 1984 by a note in the President's briefing book, and that Reagan answered "Good, let's just make sure it stays that way."[^4] At the [[National Security Planning Group]] meeting of June 25, 1984, [[William J. Casey]] told the group that the CIA could "provide direct assistance to help the FDN get the money they need from third countries," and [[Robert McFarlane]] proposed that "there be no authority for anyone to seek third party support for the anti-Sandinistas until we have the information we need."[^5]
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### Saudi Nationals in American AI Companies
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On October 13, 2026 the Justice Department identified [[Abdulrahman Alfozan]], 35, as a Saudi national and an engineer at [[OpenAI]] who was charged with installing a recording device in an executive conference room in San Francisco.[^3] A post on X by the [[Smashi Business]] account on September 12, 2026 described him as "currently the only Saudi employee at OpenAI."[^4] On October 13, 2026 [[Scott Stedman]] wrote on X that Alfozan is a venture partner at [[RAED Ventures]], "which has received funding from Saudi government-backed entities," and that the firm also has a Saudi royal family member, [[Khalid bin Bader Al Saud]], as a venture partner.[^5]
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On October 13, 2026 the Justice Department identified [[Abdulrahman Alfozan]], 35, as a Saudi national and an engineer at [[OpenAI]] who was charged with installing a recording device in an executive conference room in San Francisco.[^6] A post on X by the [[Smashi Business]] account on September 12, 2026 described him as "currently the only Saudi employee at OpenAI."[^7] On October 13, 2026 [[Scott Stedman]] wrote on X that Alfozan is a venture partner at [[RAED Ventures]], "which has received funding from Saudi government-backed entities," and that the firm also has a Saudi royal family member, [[Khalid bin Bader Al Saud]], as a venture partner.[^8]
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### Technology Competitions and Youth Programs
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In 2017 a national institution called the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP) was established. Its 2018 homepage places it "under the umbrella of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee."[^6] The federation ran the Hajj Hackathon, which Arab News reported in August 2018 as "the largest Hajj Hackathon for cyber security, programming and drones," an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.[^7] In 2020 it ran the Homathon, an online hackathon held April 19 to 25, with a total prize pool of $85,000.[^8] Abdulrahman Alfozan's LinkedIn profile lists first place in the Homathon.[^9] In October 2022 it co-organized the Tuwaiq Drone Challenge with the German Dronemasters Academy.[^10] Tuwaiq Academy, launched in August 2019 as an alliance between the federation and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, runs its bootcamps.[^11]
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In 2017 a national institution called the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP) was established. Its 2018 homepage places it "under the umbrella of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee."[^9] The federation ran the Hajj Hackathon, which Arab News reported in August 2018 as "the largest Hajj Hackathon for cyber security, programming and drones," an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.[^10] In 2020 it ran the Homathon, an online hackathon held April 19 to 25, with a total prize pool of $85,000.[^11] Abdulrahman Alfozan's LinkedIn profile lists first place in the Homathon.[^12] In October 2022 it co-organized the Tuwaiq Drone Challenge with the German Dronemasters Academy.[^13] Tuwaiq Academy, launched in August 2019 as an alliance between the federation and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, runs its bootcamps.[^14]
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The federation's chairman in April 2018 was [[Saud al-Qahtani]], identified as "Adviser at the Royal Court."[^7] Qahtani was fired as royal court adviser on October 20, 2018, in a royal order reported by Saudi state media, and the United States Treasury designated him on November 15, 2018 over the killing of [[Jamal Khashoggi]].[^12][^13]
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The federation's chairman in April 2018 was [[Saud al-Qahtani]], identified as "Adviser at the Royal Court."[^10] Qahtani was fired as royal court adviser on October 20, 2018, in a royal order reported by Saudi state media, and the United States Treasury designated him on November 15, 2018 over the killing of [[Jamal Khashoggi]].[^15][^16]
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### Twitter Espionage Prosecution
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In November 2019 the United States charged two former Twitter employees, [[Ahmad Abouammo]] and [[Ali Alzabarah]], and a Saudi intermediary, [[Ahmed Almutairi]], with acting as agents of the kingdom without notice to the Attorney General, in the [[Twitter Saudi espionage case]]. The complaint alleges that Abouammo and Alzabarah obtained nonpublic account data on Twitter users critical of the Saudi government for officials of the kingdom, including an official whom the Ninth Circuit identifies as Bader Binasaker, a close associate of [[Mohammed bin Salman]] ([[Bader al-Asaker]]).[^14] Abouammo was convicted in August 2022 and sentenced to 42 months in prison; the Ninth Circuit affirmed the convictions on December 4, 2024 and vacated the sentence, and on June 26, 2025 he was resentenced to time served.[^15][^16] On June 11, 2026 the Supreme Court unanimously reversed the judgment on the venue of the falsification count, holding that the trial for that count belonged in Seattle, and remanded the case.[^17]
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In November 2019 the United States charged two former Twitter employees, [[Ahmad Abouammo]] and [[Ali Alzabarah]], and a Saudi intermediary, [[Ahmed Almutairi]], with acting as agents of the kingdom without notice to the Attorney General, in the [[Twitter Saudi espionage case]]. The complaint alleges that Abouammo and Alzabarah obtained nonpublic account data on Twitter users critical of the Saudi government for officials of the kingdom, including an official whom the Ninth Circuit identifies as Bader Binasaker, a close associate of [[Mohammed bin Salman]] ([[Bader al-Asaker]]).[^17] Abouammo was convicted in August 2022 and sentenced to 42 months in prison; the Ninth Circuit affirmed the convictions on December 4, 2024 and vacated the sentence, and on June 26, 2025 he was resentenced to time served.[^18][^19] On June 11, 2026 the Supreme Court unanimously reversed the judgment on the venue of the falsification count, holding that the trial for that count belonged in Seattle, and remanded the case.[^20]
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### Footnotes
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[^1]: Webb, Gary. *Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion.* Seven Stories Press, 1998. Ch. 16.
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[^2]: Webb, Gary. *Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion.* Seven Stories Press, 1998. Ch. 16.
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[^3]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, "Saudi National Arrested for Installing Surreptitious Audio Recording Device at OpenAI," October 13, 2026, press release 26-1173. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/saudi-national-arrested-installing-surreptitious-audio-recording-device-openai
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[^4]: Smashi Business, post on X, September 12, 2026. https://x.com/smashibusiness/status/2098758379091153118
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[^5]: Scott Stedman, post on X, October 13, 2026. https://x.com/scottstedman/status/2110102749526573398
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[^6]: Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, English homepage, captured July 11, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180711041742/https://safcsp.org.sa/en
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[^7]: Arab News, "Saudi-based Hajj Hackathon makes it to the Guinness Book of Records," August 2, 2018. https://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/saudi-based-hajj-hackathon-makes-it-to-the-guinness-book-of-records-1350066
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[^8]: Ajel (English), "SAFCSP launches Homathon Challenge Contest," undated, covering the launch in mid-April 2020. https://english.ajel.sa/news/safcsp-launches-homathon-challenge-contest
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[^9]: Abdulrahman Alfozan, LinkedIn profile, viewed October 13, 2026. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfozan
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[^10]: Arab News, "Tuwaiq Drone Challenge hosts battle for innovative solutions," October 2022. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2177326
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[^11]: Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Endowments Company, "Tuwaiq Academy," English page, retrieved October 13, 2026. https://pnu.edu.sa/en/Departments/Endowments/Pages/TuwaiqAcademy.aspx
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[^12]: Al Jazeera, "Who is Saud al-Qahtani, the fired Saudi royal court adviser?," October 20, 2018. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/saud-al-qahtani-fired-saudi-royal-court-adviser-181020125449478.html
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[^13]: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Press Release sm547, November 15, 2018. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm547
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[^14]: Criminal complaint and affidavit of FBI Special Agent Letitia Wu, United States v. Abouammo, No. 3:19-mj-71824-MAG (N.D. Cal., filed November 5, 2019). https://justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1215836/download
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[^15]: United States v. Abouammo, 122 F.4th 1072, No. 22-10348 (9th Cir. Dec. 4, 2024). https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2024/12/04/22-10348.pdf
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[^16]: Minute entry for resentencing (Dkt. 484, June 26, 2025), United States v. Abouammo, No. 3:19-cr-00621-EMC (N.D. Cal.). https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.351689/gov.uscourts.cand.351689.484.0.pdf
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[^17]: Abouammo v. United States, 608 U.S. 597, No. 25-5146 (U.S. June 11, 2026). https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/608us2r46_2c8f.pdf
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[^3]: Lawrence E. Walsh, *Final Report of the Independent Counsel for Iran/Contra Matters* (1993), vol. I, ch. 14. https://irp.fas.org/offdocs/walsh/chap_14.htm
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[^4]: Walsh, vol. I, ch. 1, n. 10; Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair, H. Rept. 100-433 and S. Rept. 100-216 (1987), majority views, ch. 26, p. 404.
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[^5]: National Security Planning Group minutes, June 25, 1984, National Security Archive, EBB 210, document 2 (IC 00463), pp. 5 and 14. https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB210/2-NSPG%20minutes%206-25-84%20(IC%2000463).pdf
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[^6]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, "Saudi National Arrested for Installing Surreptitious Audio Recording Device at OpenAI," October 13, 2026, press release 26-1173. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/saudi-national-arrested-installing-surreptitious-audio-recording-device-openai
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[^7]: Smashi Business, post on X, September 12, 2026. https://x.com/smashibusiness/status/2098758379091153118
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[^8]: Scott Stedman, post on X, October 13, 2026. https://x.com/scottstedman/status/2110102749526573398
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[^9]: Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, English homepage, captured July 11, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180711041742/https://safcsp.org.sa/en
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[^10]: Arab News, "Saudi-based Hajj Hackathon makes it to the Guinness Book of Records," August 2, 2018. https://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/saudi-based-hajj-hackathon-makes-it-to-the-guinness-book-of-records-1350066
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[^11]: Ajel (English), "SAFCSP launches Homathon Challenge Contest," undated, covering the launch in mid-April 2020. https://english.ajel.sa/news/safcsp-launches-homathon-challenge-contest
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[^12]: Abdulrahman Alfozan, LinkedIn profile, viewed October 13, 2026. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfozan
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[^13]: Arab News, "Tuwaiq Drone Challenge hosts battle for innovative solutions," October 2022. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2177326
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[^14]: Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Endowments Company, "Tuwaiq Academy," English page, retrieved October 13, 2026. https://pnu.edu.sa/en/Departments/Endowments/Pages/TuwaiqAcademy.aspx
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[^15]: Al Jazeera, "Who is Saud al-Qahtani, the fired Saudi royal court adviser?," October 20, 2018. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/saud-al-qahtani-fired-saudi-royal-court-adviser-181020125449478.html
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[^16]: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Press Release sm547, November 15, 2018. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm547
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[^17]: Criminal complaint and affidavit of FBI Special Agent Letitia Wu, United States v. Abouammo, No. 3:19-mj-71824-MAG (N.D. Cal., filed November 5, 2019). https://justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1215836/download
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[^18]: United States v. Abouammo, 122 F.4th 1072, No. 22-10348 (9th Cir. Dec. 4, 2024). https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2024/12/04/22-10348.pdf
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[^19]: Minute entry for resentencing (Dkt. 484, June 26, 2025), United States v. Abouammo, No. 3:19-cr-00621-EMC (N.D. Cal.). https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.351689/gov.uscourts.cand.351689.484.0.pdf
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[^20]: Abouammo v. United States, 608 U.S. 597, No. 25-5146 (U.S. June 11, 2026). https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/608us2r46_2c8f.pdf
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