Free Republic

Blood Money Former Exec: American Company Paid Terrorist Group to Protect Overseas Interests By Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz April 16 — Before his company sent him overseas, Allan Laird, a former Denver-based mining executive, had never heard of Abu Sayyaf. As Laird quickly learned when he arrived in the Philippines, Abu Sayyaf is one of the world's most-feared terrorist organizations, closely connected to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network. 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...

<p>LITTLETON, Colorado (AP) -- The Justice Department is investigating claims that a now-defunct mining company illegally paid terrorist groups at least $1.7 million for protection and security in the Philippines.</p> <p>Allan Laird, a former project manager for Echo Bay Mines, said he contacted the Department of Homeland Security last year and provided documents and a statement he says prove the nature of the payments -- some of which he believes were used to buy weapons.</p>