Free Republic

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) warned Iran against escalating the conflict in Israel after Hamas launched an unprecedented, deadly attack on the nation more than a week ago. “I just got off the phone with the Israelis. Their goal is to destroy Hamas in the south and try to save as many innocent Palestinians as possible to prevent escalation north from Hezbollah,” Graham said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “Here’s my message. If Hezbollah, which is a proxy of Iran, launches a massive attack on Israel, I would consider that a threat to the State of Israel, existential in nature.” “I...

In recent years, Hezbollah has stepped up its activities beyond Lebanon’s borders. This uptick has been clearest in the Middle East—in Iraq, Yemen, and especially Syria—but plots have also been thwarted in South America, Asia, Europe, and now, possibly, the United States. Reports of Hezbollah activity in North America are not new, though such reporting tends to focus on the group’s fundraising, money laundering, procurement, or other logistical activities from Vancouver to Miami. But last month, the criminal prosecution and conviction in New York of the Hezbollah operative Ali Kourani revealed disturbing new information about the extent of Hezbollah’s operations...

Treasury Targets Major Money Laundering Network Linked to Drug Trafficker Ayman Joumaa and a Key Hizballah Supporter in South America 6/27/2012 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated four individuals and three entities involved in laundering the proceeds of narcotics trafficking for drug kingpin Ayman Joumaa. Treasury also designated a Colombia-based individual under its terrorism authority, Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, for directing Hizballah’s fundraising activities in the Americas. This individual was previously designated under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) for his role in narcotics-related money laundering. Today’s designations further expose Ayman Joumaa’s network as...

Al-Qaeda Draws New Recruits Via Internet Al-Qaeda is using the Internet to recruit vulnerable young people to its terrorist network, according to a programme aired on Saudi Arabian TV late on Tuesday. Umm Osama, the founder of al-Qaeda's first women-only website, al-Khansa, joined several others on the programme to discuss how they renounced jihadist ideology. Among those who sought a response to this question was an imam from the Medina mosque, Saleh Ibn Awad al-Mudamsi, and the father of a young al-Qaeda suspect held in an Iraqi prison. Read More Qaeda Targets U.S. Oil Interests in North Africa U.S....

The Siniora Syndrome Jed Babbin Thu Aug 3, 8:30 AM ET In 1973, when a bank robbery turned into a six-day siege, several employees of the Kreditbanken in Stockholm, Sweden were held hostage under threat of death. At some point in those six long days, the psychological pressure so badly twisted some of the hostages' minds that they believed the robbers were protecting them from the police. This emotional pathology became known as the Stockholm Syndrome. Nations have psyches too. And when nations are held captive they can also fall prey to that same emotional disorder. At the national level...

US Defends IDF Actions, Europe and Russia Criticize Thursday, July 13, 2006 / 17 Tammuz 5766 European countries and Russia denounced Israel’s retaliation in Lebanon as disproportionate Thursday. The US, meanwhile, is defending Israel’s right to combat terrorism. The European Union, Russia, France and Italy all had criticism of the extent of Israel’s operations. France’s foreign minister came out clearly against Israel’s actions. “The Israeli invasion is a disproportional act of war with negative consequences," Philippe Douste-Blazy told France's Europe-1 radio. "The unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon must be preserved," he added. Spain condemned the kidnappings while calling on Israel to show...