http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/terroristfinancing/ en-us Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:30:41 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2411546/posts Occasionally, I like to write editorials and opinion pieces to keep my writing skills up and take my frustrations with government policy at the same time.I doubt this will ever run in a newspaper, but I've decided to share it anyhow. Piracy: The Threats and Possible Solutions Part I: The Threat We all remember the times when we were kids. We remember raising the jolly roger, wearing an eye patch, and having a parrot on our shoulder. Normally we would have our parents play the role of victim as we plundered fake gold coins as we, and our friends, would... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2411546/posts#comment Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:30:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2411130/posts Osama Bin Laden's terrorist organization has become increasingly reliant on organized crime, including cocaine smuggling, human trafficking and kidnapping, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Friday in Manhattan's federal court. The charges filed against three alleged al-Qaeda associates by the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan is the latest chilling evidence of a convergence between terrorism and organized crime. Oumar Issa, Harouna Touré and Idriss Abelrahman were snatched in Ghana on Wednesday by a Drug Enforcement Administration sting and shipped to New York, where they arrived on Friday to face charges of conspiracy to commit acts of narco-terrorism and providing material support... Forbes Magazine http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2411130/posts#comment Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:56:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402507/posts A parcel of land here that sold for $12,000 two years ago now costs more than $20,000. The price of a nice pair of men's shoes has gone up from $20 to $50. The reason: pirates. The influx of millions of dollars in ransoms has changed life in this coastal Muslim community, driving prices up and creating a schism between the pirate haves and have-nots. As piracy ramps up again with the end of the monsoon season, the lifestyle of the pirates _ big houses, fast cars and easy drugs _ is decried by both religious leaders and ordinary villagers.... Billings Gazette http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402507/posts#comment Tue, 8 Dec 2009 01:37:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2390564/posts MOGADISHU, Somalia — As a Spanish warship looked on, a $3.3 million ransom was delivered by boat Tuesday and Somali pirates freed a Spanish trawler and its 36 crew members. Spain's prime minister did little to deny paying off the hijackers — one reason the lucrative attacks are on the rise. "The government did what it had to do," Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told a news conference in Madrid. "The important thing is that the sailors will be back with us. The first obligation of a country, of the government of a state, is to save the lives... The Associated Press (hosted on Google) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2390564/posts#comment Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:06:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2361020/posts Note: The following text is a quote: www.mnc-i.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RELEASE No. 20091011-05 October 11, 2009 Iraqi SWAT arrests 2006 sniper suspect Multi-National Corps-Iraq PAO RAMADI, Iraq - Elements of the Ramadi and Habbaniyah Iraq Special Weapons and Tactics teams, with U.S. Special Operations advisors, arrested an individual who is a suspect involved in multiple sniper shootings throughout Anbar Province Oct. 9 near Ramadi. The Magistrate Court of Ar Ramadi issued a warrant for Abd al-Qadir Afan Qafe’s arrest after his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of an Iraqi Army Soldier in 2006 and the shooting of a... MNIF-IRAQ.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2361020/posts#comment Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:54:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2336157/posts "The liquid bomb plot 'terror banker' still walking free in London as Yard chief accuses U.S. of rushing investigation" By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Last updated at 2:26 PM on 08th September 2009 SNIPPET: "And it also emerged today that a suspected key figure in the plot is still at large in Britain despite being pinpointed as an Al Qaeda financier with links both to the airline plan and the 21/7 bombers." SNIPPET: "Intelligence sources in the UK have indicated it was surveillance of Mohammed Al Ghabra, 29, who first led them to the airline plotters. He is suspected of being... DAILY MAIL.co.uk http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2336157/posts#comment Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:06:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2315562/posts The Law: Terrorists have had lots to celebrate recently as court rulings from Bangkok to Madrid wiped out years of work to stop them and raised doubts about treating the war on terror as a law-enforcement action.Last Friday, a U.S. federal judge ordered the release of Sheik Mohammed al-Moayad, a Yemeni cleric convicted in 2005 of financing Hamas and trying to bankroll al-Qaida by as much as $20 million. Al-Moayad had been sentenced to 75 years, but based on claims of improperly admitted evidence, a judge ordered him freed. Now set for deportation, he will likely kill again. Then on... IBD Editorials http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2315562/posts#comment Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:33:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2295902/posts SOMALI pirates fired in the air in jubilation after receiving a $1.8 million ransom in exchange for the release of a German-owned vessel and its 11-member crew. Somali sea gangs, operating in the strategic shipping lanes linking Asia and Europe, have made millions of dollars in ransom from hijacking vessels in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. "We have taken a $1.8 million ransom and released the German ship," pirate Ahmed said from a lair in the town of Eyl on the Somali coast. The 146-metre MV Victoria, an Antigua and Barbuda-flagged cargo vessel, was hijacked by eight pirates... The Daily Telegraph (article from Reuters) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2295902/posts#comment Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:39:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2259403/posts Note: The following text is a quote: Federal Judge Hands Downs Sentences in Holy Land Foundation Case Holy Land Foundation and Leaders Convicted on Providing Material Support to Hamas Terrorist Organization Today, in federal court in Dallas, U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis sentenced the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) and five of its leaders following their convictions by a federal jury in November 2008 on charges of providing material support to Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization. "Today's sentences mark the culmination of many years of painstaking investigative and prosecutorial work at the federal, state and... US DOJ.gov/opa - Press Release http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2259403/posts#comment Wed, 27 May 2009 23:27:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2252364/posts "MI5 linked to arrest of Britons in Syria Spy agency investigated woman accused by Damascus of sending UK money to al-Qaida offshoot, says Labour peer" SNIPPET: "Relatives of Maryam Kallis and Yasser Ahmed say they have not been told the reasons for their arrests two months ago and are concerned they may be suffering severe mistreatment. The Syrian embassy in London has alleged that Kallis received funds from an individual "who resides in the UK" and conveyed them to "a terrorist network related to al-Qaida". The assertion suggests that the individual would have been investigated by MI5." SNIPPET: "Kallis, 36,... GUARDIAN.co.uk http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2252364/posts#comment Sat, 16 May 2009 21:12:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2248686/posts The Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean are directed to their targets by a "consultant" team in London, according to European military intelligence. Pirate groups have "well-placed informers" in London who are in regular contact with control centres in Somalia where decisions on which vessels to attack are made. These London-based "consultants" help the pirates select targets, providing information on the ships' cargoes and courses. In at least one case the pirates have remained in contact with their London informants from the hijacked ship, according to one targeted shipping company. The pirates' information network extends to... Guardian News and Media Limited http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2248686/posts#comment Mon, 11 May 2009 19:02:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2225935/posts SNIPPET: "The NEFA Foundation has obtained and translated a new post from online jihadi discussion forums about how to finance jihad-related websites without being "ensnared" in a trap by law enforcement: ..." COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2225935/posts#comment Thu, 9 Apr 2009 23:15:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2222652/posts Thousands of emeralds are pouring onto world gem markets from the Swat valley in Pakistan, sold to fund the Taliban's jihad against the West.Militants have begun reopening lucrative emerald mines which had been closed by the government, since they took full control of the poor but picturesque region in the north of the country under a controversial peace deal last month. They are using revenue from the sale of the emeralds to help finance attacks on Nato forces in neighbouring Afghanistan, and to support their drive to extend harsh sharia, including public whippings and summary executions, into more regions of... The Telegraph http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2222652/posts#comment Sun, 5 Apr 2009 08:54:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2213263/posts Earlier this month, the United Kingdom announced that it is reopening dialogue with the political wing of Hezbollah. Unlike the United States, the United Kingdom has only banned Hezbollah's terrorist (External Security Organization) and military wings. The ban on the terrorist wing came in 2000, while the ban on the military wing only came in June 2008 in response to Hezbollah's "providing active support to militants in Iraq who are responsible for attacks both on coalition forces and on Iraqi civilians, including providing training in the use of deadly roadside bombs," for plots to kidnap British security workers in Iraq,... WASHINGTON INSTITUTE.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2213263/posts#comment Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:15:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2200310/posts The United States plans to offer more than $900 million to help rebuild Gaza after Israel’s offensive operation and to strengthen the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, U.S. officials said on Monday. The money, which requires U.S. congressional approval, will be distributed through the seemingly dysfunctional and inefficient United Nations and other bodies and not via the Radical Islamist Group Hamas, which rules Gaza. Hamas seems to have a unique way to get to any money that comes into Gaza, doesn’t it? Ever since the outgoing Kadima government ended Operation Cast Lead in Gaza on January 20, the Palestinians have steadily stepped-up... American Daily Review http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2200310/posts#comment Fri, 6 Mar 2009 02:03:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2195152/posts In a stark departure from Bush administration policy, the Justice Department is preparing to charge the only alleged enemy combatant held on U.S. soil in the federal court system, ABC News has learned. U.S. officials said Ali Saleh Kahlah al Marri, a Qatari national whom FBI agents arrested in Illinois in December 2001, could face charges for allegedly providing material support to terrorists. One day before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, al Marri and his family legally entered the United States so he could begin a master's degree program at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. He had received a bachelor's... abcnews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2195152/posts#comment Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:55:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2180294/posts February 5, 2009 Note: the following text is a quote: http://baltimore.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/ba020509.htm PAKISTANI NATIONAL PLEADS GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY TO OPERATE AN UNLICENSED MONEY REMITTING BUSINESS Baltimore, Maryland - Imdad Ullah Ranjha, age 34, a Pakistani national residing in Glen Burnie, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to operate an unlicensed money remitting business, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. According to his guilty plea, Imdad Ranjha worked at Hamza, Inc., a money remitter business in the District of Columbia operated by co-defendant Saifullah Ranjha (S. Ranjha). A cooperating witness, acting at the direction of law... Baltimore.FBI.gov - DOJ Press Release http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2180294/posts#comment Sat, 7 Feb 2009 08:58:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2151336/posts NEFA Foundation: Fatah al-Islam Claims Death of Leader, Endorses Terror Financing Through Bank Robberies SNIPPET: "Fatah al-Islam was also specifically insistent on the legitimacy of committing bank robberies as a financing tactic: “we say, relying on Allah, that stealing money from the infidels, from the usurious banks and the institutions which belong to the infidel regimes and states, is a legal thing which Allah has permitted us to do. This money is being seized from them and instead directed towards jihad and the mujahideen in order to fulfill their needs, to buy equipment etc.” English translations of the communiques can... COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2151336/posts#comment Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:58:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140175/posts As far as illicit businesses with low risk and high rewards go, it doesn’t get much better than piracy on the high seas. The profit margins can easily surpass those of the cocaine trade. The risks? “There is no reason not to be a pirate,” according to U.S. Vice Admiral William Gortney, who commands the U.S. navy’s Fifth Fleet. “The vessel I’m trying to pirate, they won’t shoot at me. I’m going to get my money.” Even pirates who are intercepted have little to fear. “They won’t arrest me because there’s no place to try me.” Gortney’s assessment of piracy’s... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140175/posts#comment Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:22:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2099235/posts FBI Warns of Potential Terror Attacks The FBI and Department of Homeland Security today issued an analytical "note" to U.S. law-enforcement officials cautioning that al-Qaida terrorists have in the past expressed interest in attacking public buildings using a dozen suicide bombers each carrying 20 kilograms of explosives. Authors with the U.S. Office of Intelligence and Analysis added that they have "no credible or specific information that terrorists are planning operations against public buildings in the United States." The FBI and DHS analysts said they were releasing the note because "it is important for local authorities and building owners and... Previous Thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2099235/posts#comment Tue, 7 Oct 2008 02:27:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074223/posts BEIJING: The Chinese government has indicated it is not interested in investigating allegations that the Bank of China was involved in transferring millions of dollars to Hamas and Islamic Jihad for carrying out terrorist activities in Israel between 2004 and 2007.The allegations have been made in the form of lawsuits filed in US courts by a group of 100 Israelis including parents of a 4-year old boy killed in terrorist attack in 2004. The group has alleged that BOC put through dozens of wire transfers totalling several million dollars to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.Jiang Yu, spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign... Times of India http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074223/posts#comment Thu, 4 Sep 2008 02:40:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2034850/posts MANAMA (AFP) — Police in Bahrain said on Saturday one man was arrested and another freed on bail after they were accused of cooperating with and funding a foreign terrorist group, a reference to Al-Qaeda. One suspect had delivered funds "to a foreign group that uses terrorism to reach its aims" and that his beliefs "could affect security," according to a public prosecution statement. "The first suspect has admitted delivering money to that group abroad, while the second has denied it... Both suspects have been accused of cooperating with a terrorist group abroad and financing a terrorist group." AFP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2034850/posts#comment Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:05:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2018370/posts YouTube Videos Are Produced by Al Qaeda and Other Terror Organizations; Videos Show Attacks on U.S. Soldiers, Civilians WASHINGTON – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., Monday called on Google to remove Internet video content produced by terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda. The videos – readily available on YouTube –show assassinations, deaths of U.S. soldiers and civilians, weapons training, incendiary speeches by al-Qaeda leadership, and other material intended to encourage violence against the West. The videos are branded with Al-Qaeda logos – a practice detailed in a recent bipartisan Committee staff report entitled “Violent Islamist Extremism,... homeland security http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2018370/posts#comment Mon, 19 May 2008 23:49:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1963607/posts Is the U.S. Failing in Afghanistan? It was malice in wonderland at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday as Bush Administration envoys insisted things are getting better in Afghanistan, while angry lawmakers from both parties cited facts and figures showing just the opposite. Even the senior Republican on the panel, Senator Richard Lugar, found the Administration's claims wanting. "I'm not sure that we have a plan for Afghanistan," he said. Long seen as the "forgotten war" eclipsed by Iraq in U.S. priorities, Afghanistan is in the Washington spotlight this week with the release of three independent reports concluding... Previous Thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1963607/posts#comment Sat, 2 Feb 2008 02:55:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1974903/posts (IsraelNN.com) Rachel Ehrenfeld, Director of the American Center for Democracy, said at the Jerusalem Conference Tuesday that Saudi Arabian bankers are the main financiers of global terrorism. Corrupt “Sharia financing” banking practices - legal under Islamic law - are a fairly new phenomenon, Ehrenfeld said. They were first developed by the Muslim brotherhood in the 70s, following the financial power gained by Saudis during the oil boom. Ehrenfeld at Jerusalem Conference ”Saudis are using money in order to corrupt the West, to fund terrorism, and eventually to take over the West,” said Ehrenfeld. “For years, Saudi Arabia has been a... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1974903/posts#comment Sat, 23 Feb 2008 06:37:47 GMT