Posted on 07/18/2006 10:58:12 AM PDT by BigFinn
Did anyone else hear Tony Snow say during today's press conference that it is the LAW passed by Congress that anyone who is evacuated from a war zone has to reimburse the government for the costs incurred during the rescue? Tony Snow said they are just following the law.
Na, they won't, the MSM runs this country, as a matter of fact, they run the world.
Congress will scramble to change the law, what ever the MSM wants, they get.
In other words, she's one of us! A typical FReeper! ;-)
Exactly. Here's the truth from one of those "dual" citizens. When I became a US citizen, as far as the US is concerned, I am only a US citizen. Since the Lebanese government allows for dual citizenship, I am a dual citizen in the eyes of the Lebanese government. While I love Lebanon a whole lot of people who are there, I swore an oath to be loyal to the United States. The only problem Debbie and other Freepers have with me is that I come from Lebanon (vs any other immigrant group). Before anyone starts questioning the patriotism of naturalized US citizens, ask yourself the question about what kind of can of worms this might open. After all, I am more loyal to America than most 90% of the liberals. I for one want us to win the war on terror, unlike the New York Times, and most of the Democrat party!
If they come here, we will record biometric data on them, photo and fingerprints. Knowing that should deter the worst, and we may actually catch some wanted bad actors that way.
I don't know. It's been announced officially.
Embassy of the United States: Beirut - Lebanon: US Citizen Services
There are many Lebanese like you. My US. government professor in college was a Lebanese immigrant. He LOVED this country. He loved it so much he ran for office and served many terms in the State Legislature as a good conservative. His son is a salt of the earth country boy. Just as American as anyone.
But then again this is a rural area in a Red rural state...Not Dearborn MI.
On the other hand, we did have muslims with Al Queda ties to Bin Laden in the local college town....
Guess you can have all kinds of folks anywhere...
I surmised as much yesterday in another thread.
Seems obvious.
Actually most Arab Americans are Christians.
Fox News announced a bit ago that there are only about 7,000 Americans that want to evacuate. The rest want to stay on. Maybe "those" are the supporters?
LLS
"Bulldozer fodder."
Oh - I'm sorry. I thought you said you wanted to be EXCAVATED.
Maybe you'd like to spout that racist claptrap in the parking lot of St. George Cathedral, Wichita, KS sometime.
Most Arab Americans are Christian Arabs whose ancestors held out against the jihad since the 7th century, but who got sick of it and came here for a better life. Most of them are fabulously loyal to this country, and some have served with distinction in every war this country has fought since WW I.
FReeper jveritas who is doing such splendid work translating captured Iraqi documents is an Arab American and has probably done more to help with the war on terror than you, me and our entire extended families to the seventh degree combined.
Pedal your crap elsewhere.
Sorry if I sound peeved, but my bishop and metropolitan and a few of my favorite priests are Arab Americans and I take offense on their behalf.
Summertime and the living is easy. You're on welfare in the US, have a job in the underground economy, and love to visit the old homeland when schools' out.
One of my coworkers (a recently naturalized American, from India) ask me how there could be 25,000 Americans in Lebanon. I couldn't answer him.
I was certain that most of them couldn't be good people, but I couldn't begin to account for the numbers. While I don't know anything about this source, this explanation certainly rings true. That is, it's hard to come up with any other explanation.
I wish our government could just leave them there, and let Israel know that a bit of collateral would be OK.
Since 9/11, Hezbollah has been listed along with Al-Qaeda and Hamas as posing the most serious threat to the U.S. However, unlike Al-Qaeda, who is intent on carrying out attacks in the U.S., Hezbollah and Hamas have been viewed as less likely to do so. The U.S. represents a significant source of fundraising for Hezbollah and Hamas. In that context, Hezbollah and Hamas have not wanted to risk diminishing or losing their fundraising capabilities by alienating their U.S. supporters by carrying out terrorist acts in the U.S. In keeping with that strategy, they did not want to draw the attention to their activities in the U.S. that a terrorist act would generate.
Law enforcement and intelligence services are well aware of the Hezbollah presence and fundraising initiatives in the U.S. Since early 2002, there have been numerous criminal cases successfully prosecuted in the U.S. involving Hezbollah operatives and sympathizers. An internet search under “Hezbollah fundraising” delineates a number of media reports of such cases. The compelling question for law enforcement and intelligence services today is…will the fundraising strategy or mindset give way to a retaliatory posture which thereby would escalate the threat level in the U.S. and make us more susceptible to a domestic attack by Hezbollah? I defer to my former law enforcement and intelligence colleagues to answer this vexing question.
As we well know, Hezbollah is a radical Shia group that was formed in Lebanon. It is dedicated to the creation of an Iranian style Islamic republic in Lebanon. Hezbollah is anti-West and anti-Israel. It is closely aligned to Iran. Iran provides Hezbollah with substantial amounts of financial, training, weapons, explosives political, diplomatic and organizational aid. Syria also provides Hezbollah with support. Somewhere between one fifth to one half of Hezbollah’s operating budget comes from Iran and Syria. Other sources of funding include charitable organizations, individual donations, legitimate business, and illegitimate businesses such as illegal arms dealers, cigarette smuggling, currency and product counterfeiting, credit card fraud, product theft, operating illegal telephone exchanges, and drug trafficking.
Hezbollah primarily generates funding in the U.S. through a variety of criminal activities. They operate in close knit cell structures that seem more identifiable with organized crime than terrorism. The front line cell members not only raise money for Hezbollah, but they keep large portions of their illicit gains and tend to live more elaborate life styles. These operatives are not consistent with the typical terrorist ideologists. That’s why these operatives tend to be more identifiable with organized crime than terrorism. A core group of Hezbollah members are identifiable as ideologists and are more consistent with jihadists. Hezbollah cells in the U.S. are proficient in operating small businesses and using these businesses to sell legitimate and counterfeit goods. They conduct a variety of business and credit card scams, and have made considerable profits perpetrating cigarette smuggling schemes. Hezbollah cells are adept at invoicing schemes, import/export schemes and money laundering through structured deposits.
One of the most noteworthy criminal cases involving a Hezbollah cell in the U.S. was known as “Operation Smokescreen”, a cigarette smuggling, bank fraud and money laundering case. This case originated in North Carolina. Ultimately, 25 individuals were convicted to include Mohamad Youssef Hammoud, the main subject and cell leader. Hammoud was convicted of charges to include providing material support to a terrorist organization (Hezbollah). As a consequence, he was sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 155 years.
Law enforcement is currently assessing a business scheme involving Hezbollah cells in multiple jurisdictions in the U.S. The scheme may or may not involve criminal activity but invariably results in generating funds for Hezbollah. Schemes like this are reason for Hezbollah to continue its current track in the U.S. However, emerging developments in Lebanon concerning Hezbollah could trigger violent responses by Hezbollah operatives throughout the world, to include the U.S. http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/07/hezbollahfundraising_or_securi.php
I will state this bluntly - I am half lebanese and southern by the grace of God. Baptist too thank God. - you are ignorant.
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