U.S. House Moves to Block Hizbullah Funding
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
U.S. lawmakers voted Tuesday to thwart efforts to fund Hizbullah by punishing banks and other financial organizations that help the funneling of money to the group.
The House of Representatives voted unanimously to broaden financial sector sanctions on Hizbullah and allow the U.S. Treasury more power to "relentlessly" pursue foreign banks, including central banks, that do business with the group that Washington designated a foreign terrorist organization in 1995.
The Senate would need to pass the legislation before President Barack Obama signs it into law. The bill has yet to be placed on the Senate calendar.
"This bill builds on the existing sanctions regime by placing Hizbullah's sources of financing under additional scrutiny, particularly those resources outside of Lebanon," House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Ed Royce said shortly before the vote.
And the U.S. sanctions would help reduce Hizbullah's global reach, he said.
"We must be focused on some 5,000 Hizbullah fighters in Syria, massive international drug and money laundering operations, and the terrorist organization’s acquisition of advanced missile systems," Royce added.
The bill would target what it says are Hizbullah's criminal activities by calling on Obama to label the group a narcotics trafficking organization, with lawmakers warning of the groups systematic use of narcotics trafficking networks as a fundraising tool.
The measure would also label Hizbullah a transnational criminal organization, compelling the administration to take action to counter the group's engagement in money laundering and trafficking in counterfeit goods.
Hizbullah strongly backs the Islamic militant wing of Hamas in its bloody two-week war with Israel.
On July 10 the U.S. Treasury blacklisted the Stars Group Holding, a Beirut-based network of companies accused of helping Hizbullah procure military equipment.
In 2011 Treasury sanctioned the Lebanese Canadian Bank, accusing it of laundering hundreds of millions of dollars from a narcotics network. The bank, which has since been dissolved, paid a fine of $102 million to U.S. authorities in 2013 to avoid prosecution.
23 July 2014, 10:20
123
they actually did. this is just for show, because they love to hear themselves talk and shower the world with their self-righteous preaches
23 July 2014, 11:18
14
Too bad for the delegation that had plans to visit the monuments in the US this year!!!
23 July 2014, 11:55
27
thank you hizbushaitan for destroying what is left of my country: the banking system.
23 July 2014, 14:21
22
watch the slow death of the lebanese pasderan... at the end they all bark and the USA do what they want.
23 July 2014, 16:20
13
It's hilarious when it's been proven that Hezbollah used banks to launder drug money (Lebanese Canadian Bank), yet people still argue that they are a "resistance," or in Binary Flamethrower's words "pro-Lebanon." What is pro-Lebanon about laundering drug money? So they can maintain their telecoms and fly drones over Israel? The United States has every right to blacklist Hezbollah, and anyone who conducts business with them should be incarcerated. You do remember that Lebanese Canadian bank was shut down, right? Isn't that proof that they are a "narcotics trafficking organisation" as this bill suggests?
23 July 2014, 17:21
11
No Southern, I'm gonna spew my hate on you and Binary. And tell me, what's wrong with being Hezbollah's enemy? What's wrong with not laundering drug money? What's wrong with not dealing drugs? And yes my opinion does count, because I think as objectively as I possibly can. I don't go with what my parents and schools taught me. I read articles and forums, and I develop my own honest opinion.
23 July 2014, 17:24
11
What about you, Southern? You believe what your parents taught you, that Hezbollah is defending the state and can do so by any means possible? Were you taught that all who oppose Hezbollah are enemies of the state? Were you taught that Muslims who have views different from those of Hezbollah are takfiri? Were you taught that Lebanon is Iran's "first line of defence against Israel"?
23 July 2014, 17:30
01
And before you call me an American-Zionist-takfiri, I am American, and have lived in Lebanon. I've seen both sides of the world. But I don't defend America blindly, I don't agree with all their policies, which brings me up to this policy: you can defend Bashar all you want, and you can say America is supporting the takfiri. But here's the truth buddy: America is the only reason Bashar is still alive.
23 July 2014, 17:32
01
To the US, Israel's security (which the Assad's have ensured over the years) comes before a democratic revolution. The US will continue to let thousands of Syrians die if it means Assad can ensure Israel's security. His overthrow is gonna lead to attacks against Israel which is what the US does not want. And me, being not only American but also Lebanese, am against this policy of keeping Bashar in power.
23 July 2014, 17:35
01
Syria teaches (or taught, as all the schools have been destroyed) students that Lebanon is part of Syria. If you, Southern, are truly Lebanese, wouldn't that bother you? Wouldn't it bother you if someone who disrespected your country by claiming you're part of another country? Or is the "axis of the resistance" your priority?
24 July 2014, 01:13
10
the us only permits and funds al qaida, isis, the muslim brotherhood terrorist organization and other islamist slime. of course im not advocating permitting hezbo to get money from US, but make it neutral and ban al qaida (well the us should stop funding them) so its fair.
24 July 2014, 01:45
00
The US funded al-Qaeda in the 1980s to kick the Soviets out of Afghanistan. When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia rejected al-Qaeda's support and instead allowed Americans to deploy in Saudi. This is when al-Qaeda turned against America. Today, the US supports Saudi, and Saudi funds the terrorists, but that doesn't mean the US is funding the terrorists. Saudi Arabia, with all its petrodollars, can fund terrorists free of US influence.
24 July 2014, 01:48
00
Bin Laden was banished from Saudi Arabia, his citizenship was revoked, remember Kanaan? And what about 9/11? You really think that America would support al-Qaeda, after the War on Terror? The US wants Bashar to stay in power because he ensure's Israel's security. With that being said, why would they support al-Qaeda, who's trying to get rid of him?
25 July 2014, 00:51
00
HIZBULLAH is not tererst obama is tererst israel is tererst america is tererst
25 July 2014, 00:55
00
HIZbullah is no tererst who killing children in gaza they are tererst obama is terrst israel is terst america is terrst
