Posted on 07/17/2006 12:34:54 PM PDT by LSUfan
(AXcess News) New York - While many US government officials are deeply concerned over Iran's nuclear program, according to recent reports, investigations by the FBI and the Justice Department revealed last May that the Lebanon-based terrorist group, Hezbollah, may be plotting attacks. These attacks may be launched by their sleeper cells in New York and several other US cities.
According to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Jewish organization B'nai B'rith, Hezbollah's largest headquarters outside of the Middle East is located in Toronto.
In a story on Fox News, law-enforcement and intelligence officials were quoted as saying that though there is no imminent threat of any attacks, security has been stepped up after the reports of a meeting between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and leaders of Hezbollah and other terror groups during his recent visit to Syria.
The Iranian Mission to the United Nations in New York City is being kept under surveillance by federal and local intelligence officers, according to Fox. The New York City Police Department possesses one of the largest intelligence divisions in the world.
Hezbollah, or God's Party, grew out of the Lebanese civil war in the early 1980s and quickly became the region's leading radical Islamic movement. Their primary goal was to drive Israeli and American troops out of Lebanon.
For many years, Hezbollah was synonymous with terror, suicide bombings and kidnappings. In 1983, militants who went on to join Hezbollah's ranks carried out a suicide bombing attack that killed 241 US marines in Beirut, which lead to President Ronald Reagan's withdrawal order for all US military peacekeepers.
In May 2000 -- due to the success of the party's military arm -- one of its main aims was achieved. Israel's military was forced to end almost 20 years of occupation in southern Labanon. Hezbollah now serves as an inspiration to Palestinian factions fighting to liberate more territory. The party has embraced the Palestinian cause and has said publicly that it is ready to open a second front against Israel in support of the intifada.
Hezbollah's political rhetoric's central theme is the total annihilation of the state of Israel. Its definition of Israeli occupation has also encompassed the idea that the whole of Palestine is occupied Muslim land and it has argued that Israel has no right to exist. Hezbollah's spiritual head Sheikh Fadlallah is close to Iranian government and is believed responsible for the vitriolic speeches of the Iranian president.
Hezbollah is funded, armed and trained by the Iranians and given free reign by Syria's ruling Ba'athist Party. Its international network, according to terrorism analysts, is believed to include at least 15,000 operatives in cells in the US, Canada, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, most of Western Europe, Indonesia, Malaysia, and throughout Africa. Western intelligence sources estimate Hezbollah's annual budget to be approximately $400 million, including almost $100 million annually from Iran.
Other sources of funding include Syria, charitable organizations, individual donations, legitimate business, and illegitimate businesses such as illegal arms trading, cigarette smuggling, currency counterfeiting, credit card fraud, theft, operating illegal telephone exchanges, and drug trafficking. Recently two men were convicted of running a criminal operation that helped to fund Hezbollah.
Hezbollah's growing international terrorist activity has raised concerns that the terrorist group may be emerging as a more serious threat than previously considered. Its global terrorist reach has serious policy implications for Democratic countries. However, there are international organizations that continue to insist that Hezbollah is a legitimate political party in Lebanon and that it does not warrant the designation of "terrorist group."
Remove their fingnails on pay-per-view. $19.95. Use the proceeds for the families of our fallen soldiers and for builing 10 more aircraft carrier groups.
I wouldn't doubt it at all. in addition to NYC proper, north jersey has a large muslim population which could serve to support such a cell.
Doesn't Iran have an international terrorist group? One that is meant to go around the world to lead terrorism in other countries? I remember hearing about that somewhere?
We need a map of all the terrorist groups and where they are coming from - this is getting confusing.
Hezbollah
Hamas
Islam
Al-Quidia (sp)
bttt
Yeah!
Their name is 'Hezbollah'.
High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. also
2006israelwar or WOT
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Suspected? The tunnel plan busted in the late 90s was a Hizbullah cell.
Bingo, sleeper cells already in the US.
What? The found the NY Times offices?
I am shocked!
Shocked, I tell you!
In other breaking news...
Water is wet.
Bears play in the woods
Dynamite is not a common household chemical.
And when we catch bin Laden, we should tattoo a great Bald Eagle on his back, dye his beard red white and blue, and put him in a cage on display on top of the new Freedom Tower, with a pig for a roommate.
There has been a Hezbollah presence in the outer boroughs of NYC since the Lebanese civil war started. They were, up until 9/11 given wide latitude in their actions, and given only slightly more concern and monitoring by federal authorities than any other immigrant organized crime synidicate.
Don't believe the hysteria of this article personally.
Profiling is DISCRIMINATION!!!!
Remember not to profile the differences between strychnine and saccharine, that is discrimination also!
Unfortunately the NYT is not about to give up the whereabouts of their "undercover reporters" but it would be nice if this weren't kept more leak proof than our own nuclear secrets.
Unfortunately, that is the bane of the 'good guy'. We all *know* it will happen... but we can't act as the aggressor until it happens... or we then become the 'bad guy'.
The good guy always has to endure that first punch.
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