[Ruth A.]

Laird said he also soon discovered the company for whom he formerly worked, Echo Bay, was regularly paying Abu Sayyaf and other terror groups in the Philippines in exchange for protection of its gold-mining operations. Laird calls the practice "corporate support of terrorism."

I call it extortion. Another disgruntled ex-employee comes forth.

[spetznaz]

Disgruntled or not the main focal point is that EchoStar may be paying Abu Sayyaf, and whether the reason for the payments stem from extortion or if the execs just want cheap protection it goes against US business law (any company incorporated in the US is not allowed to engage in any payment practice that would not be legal in the US, even if the company is overseas).

Hence it really wouldn't matter squat if the employee was a disgruntled Joe who had his pension snatched away ....if what he says is true it is true. And the company is in the wrong.