Thinking Points

Targeting A Terror Support Network

N T Lihou — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:55:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of the Treasury targeted the support network of the Sri Lanka-based designated terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by designating the U.S.-based Tamil Foundation under Executive Order 13224. Executive Order 13224 targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.

"The LTTE, like other terrorist groups, has relied on so-called charities to raise funds and advance its violent aims," said Adam J. Szubin, Director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. "We will continue to aggressively target attempts by any terrorist group to hide behind charities, front companies, or name changes to propagate terror against innocents around the world."

The head of the Tamil Foundation is also president of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in the United States. The TRO was named a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224 on November 15, 2007. Over the course of many years, the Tamil Foundation and the TRO have co-mingled funds and carried out coordinated financial actions. Additional information links the Tamil Foundation to the TRO through a matching gift program. The common leadership of the TRO and the Tamil Foundation has facilitated these activities.

The TRO is a charitable organization that acts as a front to facilitate fundraising and procurement for the LTTE. Prior to its designation, Sri Lanka-based TRO operated offices in seventeen other countries worldwide, including the United States. In the U.S., TRO has raised funds for the LTTE through a network of individual representatives. According to sources within the organization, TRO is the preferred means for sending funds from the United States to the LTTE in Sri Lanka.

The LTTE is a terrorist group that seeks an independent state in northeastern Sri Lanka, where most of Sri Lanka's minority ethnic Tamil population lives. For over two decades, the LTTE has employed conventional, guerrilla, and terror tactics in a civil war that has claimed over 60,000 lives. The U.S. Department of State designated the LTTE a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) on October 8, 1997. On November 2, 2001, the U.S. Department of State named the LTTE an SDGT under E.O. 13224.

Under E.O. 13224, any assets the Tamil Foundation has under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the Tamil Foundation.

Identifying Information:
TAMIL FOUNDATION
Address: 517 E. Oldtown Road, Cumberland, MD 21502
Tax ID number: 52-1699409

International Drug Network Named

N T Lihou — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:23:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated 26 companies and 14 individuals tied to Peruvian drug kingpin Fernando Zevallos Gonzales. This financial network, based in Peru, Panama and the British Virgin Islands, is now subject to financial sanctions pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act ("Kingpin Act").

"Our action demonstrates the importance of following the changing networks of major drug kingpins, like Fernando Zevallos," said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin. "This designation identifies additional front companies and supports the Peruvian authorities' ongoing efforts to shut down the Fernando Zevallos criminal organization."

Fernando Zevallos Gonzales, currently imprisoned in Peru, has been a major figure in Peruvian narcotics trafficking activities since 1980. On June 1, 2004, President Bush named Fernando Zevallos Gonzales as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker pursuant to the Kingpin Act. At the same time, OFAC blocked, pending investigation, six companies and six individuals, including the Peruvian airline Aerocontinente S.A. On November 10, 2004, OFAC formally designated Aerocontinente S.A., which subsequently changed its name to Nuevo Continente S.A. Finally, on July 27, 2007, Fernando Zevallos Gonzales was indicted on money laundering and multiple violations of the Kingpin Act in the Southern District of Florida.

Despite Fernando Zevallos Gonzales's imprisonment, the OFAC sanctions investigation found that his financial network has continued to function under the leadership of key family members and close business associates. Key Fernando Zevallos family members designated today include his sisters Lupe Maritza Zevallos Gonzales, Sara Marilyn Zevallos Gonzales, Maria del Rosario Zevallos Gonzales, and Milagros Angelina Zevallos Gonzales; his brother Winston Ricardo Zevallos Gonzales; and his mother, Sara Maria Gonzales Garbancho de Zevallos. Key business associates designated today are Maximo Zadi Desme Hurtado, John Ivan Mejia Magnani, Ricardo Hernandez San Martin, Jose Manuel Mejia Regalado, Enrique Canaval Landazuri, Luis Miguel Carrillo Rodriguez, Percy Dangello Aranibar Castellanos, and Jorge Portilla Barraza.

The financial network designated today principally consists of aviation and travel companies in Peru, including four air transportation service companies - Aviandina S.A.C., Lasa Peru S.A.C., Vuela Peru S.A.C, and Transportes Aereos Unidos Selva Amazonica S.A.; three travel agencies - Peru Global Tours S.A.C., Oriente Tours S.R.L., and Representaciones Oriente Tours S.R.L. In addition, two aviation cleaning service companies - Lucero Import S.A.C. and Peru Total Market E.I.R.L., and two printing press companies - Editora Transparencia S.A. and Empresa Editora Continente Press S.A. were designated. Finally, the OFAC investigation targeted key offshore companies in Panama - Bellosom Enterprise Inc. and Blissey Panama Inc. and the British Virgin Islands - La Crosse Group Inc. that supported the Fernando Zevallos financial network.

This action is part of ongoing efforts under the Kingpin Act to apply financial measures against significant foreign narcotics traffickers worldwide. Including today's action, 580 entities and individuals associated with 75 drug kingpins have been designated pursuant to the Kingpin Act since June 2000.

The designation would not have been possible without key support from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division.

The action freezes any assets the designated individuals may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from conducting financial or commercial transactions involving those assets. Penalties for violations of the Kingpin Act range from civil penalties of up to $1,075,000 per violation to more severe criminal penalties. Criminal penalties for corporate officers may include up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $5 million. Criminal fines for corporations may reach $10 million. Other individuals face up to 10 years in prison for criminal violations of the Kingpin Act and fines pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code.

Kurdish Party Named As Terrorists

N T Lihou — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:35:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), a Kurdish group operating in the border region between Iraq and Iran, under Executive Order 13224 for being controlled by the terrorist group Kongra-Gel (KGK, aka the Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK).

"With today's action, we are exposing PJAK's terrorist ties to the KGK and supporting Turkey's efforts to protect its citizens from attack," said Stuart Levey, Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

Designated in December 2002 under E.O. 13224, KGK has been involved for more than 20 years in targeting Turkish government security forces, local Turkish officials, and villagers who oppose the KGK in Turkey. Turkish authorities have confirmed or suspect that KGK is also responsible for dozens of bombings since 2004 in western Turkey.
The KGK leadership authorized certain Iranian-Kurdish KGK members to create a KGK splinter group that would portray itself as independent from but allied with KGK. PJAK was created to appeal to Iranian Kurds. KGK formally institutionalized PJAK in 2004 and selected five KGK members to serve as PJAK leaders, including Hajji Ahmadi, a KGK affiliate who became PJAK's General Secretary. KGK leaders also selected the members of PJAK's 40-person central committee. Although certain PJAK members objected to the KGK selecting their leaders, the KGK advised that PJAK had no choice.

As of April 2008, KGK leadership controlled PJAK and allocated personnel to the group. Separately, PJAK members have carried out their activities in accordance with orders received from KGK senior leaders. In one instance, PJAK's armed wing, the East Kurdistan Defense Forces, had been acting independently in Iran. KGK senior leaders immediately intervened, however, and recalled the responsible PJAK officials to northern Iraq.

Under E.O. 13224, any assets PJAK has under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with PJAK.

Identifying Information
FREE LIFE PARTY OF KURDISTAN
AKAs: Kurdistan Free Life Party; Party of Free Life of Kurdistan; Partiya Jiyana Azad a Kurdistane; PJAK; PEJAK; PEZHAK
Location: Qandil Mountain, Irbil Governorate, Iraq
Alt. Location: Razgah, Iran

Closing Guantanamo

N T Lihou — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:55:00 GMT

Before President Barack Obama was sworn in as the new President, his administration asked for a suspension of any trials at Gitmo for the next 120 days. His next move was to sign an executive order to close the facility within one year. During his campaign, President Obama reiterated time and time again that he would close down the base that housed some of the most notorious terrorist found on the battlefield.

The President faces many challenges in the days ahead as he contemplates how to close the base and more importantly how to deal with the detainees. Human Rights Group are already pushing that no prisoners be returned to home countries where they could possibly face torture. Families of 9/11 victims are outraged by the President's moves and call for justice. moving the trials to civilian court systems could mean the compromise of intelligence operations and the loss of human lives or the outright dismissal of charges.

President Obama has said that he would like Europe to absorb some of the prisoners and promised the United States would do its part. On that note, Representative Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat has said his district would be willing to take the prisoners. Analysis of this remark reveals that the current prisons in Murtha's district are full and new one would have to be constructed, meaning more money and jobs for his constituents.

Here is what the German editorials have to say about Gitmo:

The Financial Times Deutschland writes:

"Barack Obama made many promises during his campaign for president, most of them aimed at Americans, but one promise was directed at the wider world: The prison at Guantanamo, which had become a symbol for a violation of human rights, would be closed. There may be no other question that has united Europeans, Asians and Africans so readily as the judgment that the Guantanamo prison represents a blemish on America's reputation."

"Support for the United States, an ally,will be credible only when Germany offers to accept potential 'instigators' who have committed no provable crime. This may even involve corralling police and constitutional protection powers to keep an eye on the former inmates. But Germany cannot avoid the investment if it takes its own commitment to human rights seriously."

The center-right Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes:

"Guantanamo, the prison in Cuba, stands for the dark days of the war against terrorism and a practice that contradicts America's legal foundations and traditions … (But) closing the prison will be less easy than many people have suspected over the last few months. One question is what to do with the roughly 60 inmates who are now ready for release. No nation has yet made a full-throated offer to take any of them in -- but the German foreign minister says Germany should. Why? Does he want to ingratiate himself to Obama? If these prisoners represent a security risk, they have nothing to seek in Germany; if they're innocent, why can't they stay in America?"

The center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung argues:

"It's a first step back toward the rule of law: Barack Obama has moved to halt the military trials in Guantanamo. The new US president needs to go further, though. The United States must put suspected terrorists before a proper criminal court. Prisoners against whom no crime can be proved need to go free. Then the prison at Guantanamo must close. This is the only way America can find its way back to the values that were betrayed under President Bush out of a mixture of hubris and fear. Then America will regain its preferred reputation as the land of democracy, freedom and justice."

"The international community must find answers to the question of what to do with the (cleared) Guantanamo prisoners. The current rules governing prisoners of war don't fit. They apply to combatants who fight for a given state. Al-Qaida militants are free radicals, and they pose not just legal, but also human rights problems."

"As long as there are no solutions, anyone who is not provably guilty must go free, even if he might be dangerous later. That is the price of the rule of law."

The conservative daily Die Welt writes:

"Obama's intention to close Guantanamo is right. The prison is not just condemned by critics around the world; even the American Supreme Court found the indefinite detention of 'foreign fighters' anti-constitutional. To distance himself from George W. Bush's policies it's been necessary for Obama … to close the prison, where a total of around 250 people remain. Many are apparently innocent. Some inmates, according to the Pentagon's own confession, have been tortured. But what seems overdue morally will run into legal problems, and will require from Obama his first show of strength."

"The president of the United States has responsibility for American prisoners. As long as Obama has made no formal request for help (as president), any offer to take in prisoners is just activism. But in the end the Europeans, who have long called for an end to Guantanamo, will have to shoulder some of the burden of its closure."

Finally, SPIEGEL ONLINE writes:

"No matter how the new government deals with the difficult legacy of the Bush team, it will have to find the delicate balance between the rule of law and the demands of a population whose soul is still deeply wounded by the terror attacks of 9/11. If it is too soft in its handling of the prisoners, the Obama administration will be damaged. At the same time, it is also being forced to work with investigative evidence that never would have been allowed in a trial that adhered to the rule of law. The fact that many of the defendants are now using their trials as a political stage will only serve to complicate the situation."

"Tuesday's motion is a nice but largely symbolic act. It has been rightly praised around the world. But now Obama must prove that he is serious about the promises he made during the campaign. Even before his inauguration, this smart president understood it wouldn't be easy -- and he already began managing expectations. There is absolutely no chance that Guantanamo will close during his first 100 days in office, he said a few days ago. For now, he has 120 days to present his plan -- and it won't just be his supporters who are counting those days."

The Inter-Connected World Of Terrorists

N T Lihou — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:37:00 GMT

The study of terrorism has not been without its faulty conclusions and theories concerning the mechanics of terrorist operations. At one time, an over-paid psychologist put forth the theory on why terrorists took over airplanes. The psychologist theorized, after interviewing a number of these individuals, that they were all late walkers as children and held a deep psychological hatred for gravity. This hatred manifested itself in the form of terrorism targeting airplanes. The psychologist went on to theorize that people in the Middle East had inner ear development deficiencies which could be cured if the West were to start a program of zinc treatments. Thus terrorism could be ended with a vitamin!

Another current theory prevailing in the world of counter-terrorism is that ideologically opposed groups will not work together. This is almost a daily mantra proclaimed by those fighting on the front in Iraq. Sunni and Shia insurgent/terrorist groups will never work together. Has anyone paid attention to the fact that the Iranians (Shias) have had senior al-Qa'ida (Sunni) leadership under "house arrest" for years since 9/11? This house arrest is merely a way for the Iranians to monitor and have an open line of communication with the Sunni extremists. This relationship goes back to the 1990s when Iran hosted a "terrorist summit" between Shia and Sunni organizations. The goal was to stop the in-fighting and share intelligence and training while targeting the West. Usama bin Laden's third eldest son, Sa'ad, bridged communications between the Iranians Qods Force and Zawahiri after the 2008 US embassy attack in Yemen. When these groups run low on resources, money and people, they will work with anybody. It becomes survival at any cost and the enemy of my enemy is my friend becomes that much truer. Cooperation between threat elements must be taken seriously or we may miss the indicators of a larger, newer threat emerging.

We now find that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - FARC) and the Basque Homeland and Freedom group (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna - ETA) have been working together for years together. The Irish Republican Army has helped the ETA train the FARC on guerrilla tactics and explosives training. Documents found in France in 2008 demonstrate a(n) ETA-FARC relationship dating back to 2003. Ex-FARC members recount training by the ETA in Venezuela. This relationship also crossed into the criminal world with both groups supporting drug trafficking. Last year saw the revelation of connections between Hugo Chavez and the FARC with money being funneled to the organizations.

Another development in the world of inter-connected terrorism is the apparent relationship between Chavez and Iran. There has been for some time, a 'Hezbollah in Latin America' which wants to bring Khomeini style Islam to the western world. This is a development that must be watched carefully as Iran tries to spread its influence into the region. Hezbollah and Iran have already been charged with the bombing attack of a Jewish center in Argentina that killed 85 people.

Russia May Go To War Over The Artic

N T Lihou — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:13:00 GMT

The unspoiled natural resources of the Artic have many countries already expressing interest. The European Union, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland and the United States have drawn up plans for the region but Russia's plan calls for a more firmer statement of rights to the minerals. A Russian national plan will be unveiled this week that includes the wording that, "battle for raw materials will be waged with military means".

Russia is already looking to claim an additional 1 million square kilometers of Artic property. the hopes are this will add to Russian oil and natural gas reserves. the belief being touted by Russian scientists is that would mean an increase of 20% more resources.

The motherland will present evidence to back up its claims over this property. the problem facing Russia is that the previously mentioned countries are also making claims on certain parts of the property.The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea says any littoral state can lay claim to territory within 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) of its shoreline, and can develop any natural resources within that zone. The law, however, also stipulates that that distance can expand to some 350 miles (648 kilometers) if the littoral state can provide scientific proof than an undersea continental plate is a natural extension of its territory. However, if the United Nations does not properly recognize Russia's claim, it will withdraw from the UN convention on the Law of the Sea. Norway and Canada are already facing increased activity by Russian military as it sends strategic bombers and submarines to the area.

Analysis:
The new militaristic posture from Russia has gained enough attention, that NATO is now going to hold a meeting to discuss the security challenges of the artic region. This newly announced meeting is no doubt a subtle message by the West that they will answer military aggression with military aggression. Using a multinational organization like NATO alos offers a military capability to countires such as Norway, Iceland and Sweden who can't readily challenge the Russians.

One should not easily discount the stakes of the game that Russia plays when it comes to Resource Warfare. As this summer has shown Russia is very serious about its resources. The actions Russia used against Europe with the natural gas crisis and the foray into an OPEC-like natural gas organization shows that Russia is in the game for keeps. One needs to keep an eye on the veiled threats that now come out of Russia when they are eyeing such a rich prize in the Artic.

Terrorist Lessons for President Obama

N T Lihou — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:27:41 GMT

These are the pictures of the people who pay the price when governments become complacent. This photo is from the Almagor Terror victims Association and represent Israelis who were killed by terrorists. some of these terrorists may be offered to be let go in exchange for the kidnapped Israeli soldier Sahlit. We know that terrorist who are released by a government return terrorism again as evidenced by Lesson For The West About The Release Of Terrorists and Israel Releases Video Blasting Terrorist Samir Kuntar.

Now President Barack Obama faces these same questions as he tries to tackle the detainees in Gitmo.

Two former members of Gitmo may make the most compelling case for the President because the two star in a newly released al-Qa'ida propoganda video. al-Qa'ida in Yemen claims that a former Gitmo detainee, Said Ali al-Shihri, is now its number 2 man in command.

Said Ali al Shihri, former Guantánamo detainee and deputy leader of al Qaeda in Yemen. Photo from The SITE Institute.

Al-Shihri, was able to convince those in charge that Usama bin Laden had no business representing Islam, denying any links to terrorism and expressing an interest in rejoining his family in Saudi Arabia. al-Shiri participated in the September 2008 attack on the American embassy that killed 10 civilians.

Abu Hareth Muhammad al Awfi is another former Gitmo detainee, 333, that returned to his terrorist ways and is reported as an AQAP field commander. al Wafi also said that he loved Americans but returned to AQ as soon as he was released. Muhammad also said that the Saudi proram of reconciliation could not be trusted and that the jailed jihadis should turn away from the Saudis. al Awfi finished his statement withcalls on Saudi security forces to trun away from the government and stop protecting foreign embassies.

Abu Hareth Muhammad al Awfi. Photo from The Site Institute

Analysis:
While the President works quickly to show that he will fulfill his campaign promises, the release of terrorists should be done with caution and not based on politics. DOD announced that 18 detainees have returned to terrorist actions while 41 more are suspected. Let's hope at the end of the Obama administration that we don't have a photo of victims due to the release of terrorists under his watch.

Sixteen Foreign Nationals and Corporations Indicted on Charges of Illegally Exporting Potential Military and Explosives Components to Iran

N T Lihou — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:07:00 GMT

A federal grand jury in Miami, FL, has returned a Superseding Indictment charging eight individuals and eight corporations in connection with their participation in conspiracies to export U.S.-manufactured commodities to prohibited entities and to Iran. The defendants are named in a thirteen (13) count Indictment that includes charges of conspiracy, violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the United States Iran Embargo, and making false statements to federal agencies in connection with the export of thousands of U.S. goods to Iran.

The Superseding Indictment alleges that the defendants purchased, and then illegally exported to ultimate buyers in Iran, numerous "dual use" commodities. "Dual-use" commodities are goods and technologies that have commercial application, but could also be used to further the military or nuclear potential of other nations and could be detrimental to the foreign policy or national security of the United States. In this regard, the Superseding Indictment alleges that the defendants caused the export of 120 field-programmable gate arrays, more than 5000 integrated circuits of varying types, approximately 345 Global Positioning Systems ("GPS"), 12,000 Microchip brand micro-controllers, and a Field Communicator. All of these items have potential military applications, including as components in the construction of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The charges announced are the result of an extensive inter-agency investigation into the use of U.S.-made goods in the construction of IEDs and other explosive devices used against Coalition Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Charged in the Superseding Indictment are: Ali Akbar Yahya, an Iranian national and naturalized British citizen; F.N. Yaghmaei, a/k/a " Farrokh Nia Yaghmaei," an Iranian national; Mayrow General Trading, Atlinx Electronics, Micatic General Trading, Madjico Micro Electronics, a/k/a "MME," and Al-Faris, all Dubai-based businesses; Neda Industrial Group, an Iran-based business; Bahman Ghandi, a/k/a "Brian Ghandi," an Iranian national; Farshid Gillardian, a/k/a "Isaac Gillardian," a/k/a "Isaac Gill," an Iranian national and a naturalized British citizen; Kaam Chee Mun, a/k/a "Brian Kaam," a resident of Malaysia; Djamshid Nezhad, a/k/a "Reza," a resident of Germany; Ahmad Rahzad, a/k/a "Saeb Karim," an Iranian national; Majid Seif, a/k/a "Mark Ong,"a/k/a "Matti Chong," an Iranian national residing in Malaysia; and Eco Biochem Sdn BHD and Vast Solution Sdn BHD, Malaysian businesses.

The defendants are charged with purchasing and causing the export of U.S. goods to Iran through middle countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, England, Germany, and Singapore. More specifically, the charges in the Indictment are as follows:

Count 1 of the Superseding Indictment charges defendants Yahya, Yaghmaei, Mayrow General Trading, Atlinx Electronics, Micatic General Trading, Majidco Micro Electronics, Al-Faris, and Neda Industrial Group with conspiracy to export goods to Iran and to defraud the United States, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Title 50, United States Code, Sections 1702 and 1705(a), the United States Iran Embargo, and the Export Administration Regulations, and Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
Counts 2 through 5 charge defendants Yahya, Yaghmaei, Micatic, and Mayrow with exporting U.S. goods from the United States to Iran, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the United States Iran Embargo.
Counts 6 through 8 charge defendants Yahya, Yaghmaei, Majidco, Micatic, and Mayrow with making false statements in federally mandated shipping documents regarding the ultimate destination and use of the goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2).
Count 9 charges defendants Yahya, Mayrow, Al-Faris, Ghandi, Gillardian, Mun, Nezhad, Rahzad, Seif, Eco Biochem, and Vast Solution with conspiracy to export goods to Iran, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Title 50 United States Code, Sections 1702 and 1705(a), the United States Iran Embargo, and the Export Administration Regulations, and to defraud the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
Counts 10 and 11 charge defendants Al-Faris, Seif, and Vast Solution with exporting U.S. goods from the United States to Iran, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the United States Iran Embargo.
Counts 12 and 13 charge defendant Seif with making false statements by misrepresenting the ultimate destination and use of the goods on Federal Form BS-711 Statement By Ultimate Consignee and Purchaser, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2).

U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta stated, "The dual use items that the defendants illegally exported to Iran have military applications, including the making of improvised explosive devices. I urge any domestic supplier who may have unwittingly helped the defendants, or others like them, to come forth and report the matter to federal law enforcement. We cannot profit at the expense of our soldiers’ safety abroad. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to investigate this matter as additional information is uncovered."

"This extensive, effective government effort has broken up a lethal international ring seeking to harm American and allied forces as well as innocent civilians by acquiring sensitive U.S. technology capable of producing improvised explosive devices (IED) similar to those being used in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Mario Mancuso, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security. "The Commerce Department remains firmly committed to protect our forces by prosecuting those who try to do them harm, and today’s action illustrates the broad scope of that endeavor."

Adam Szubin, Director of the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, added, "The U.S. Government is wielding a powerful array of authorities against Iran's proliferation supply chain. In concert with today's unsealed indictment against Iran's suppliers and middlemen, Treasury is levying sanctions against Iranian military end-users that procured goods from those named in today's indictment. Together, the actions of the Justice, Commerce, and Treasury Departments will expose Iran's proxies to the world and undermine its procurement activities."

Sharon Woods, Director of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, stated, "The illegal diversion of U.S. military technologies through deception, by domestic and foreign companies, poses a significant danger to America's soldiers on the battlefield. These illegally exported goods provided our enemies with necessary components to manufacture improvised explosive devices, designed to kill and maim U.S. troops and allies. The Pentagon's Defense Criminal Investigative Service and its investigative partners will continue to pursue and expose these hidden enemies to help protect our soldiers as we fight against global terrorism."

"The national security implications of this case cannot be underestimated," said Julie L. Myers, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE. "The export of dual use technology is controlled for good reason. In the wrong hands, these items could be used to harm our soldiers, our homeland, and our allies. Enforcing U.S. export laws is one of our top priorities, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who put our country at risk are brought to justice."

If convicted on the conspiracy charges, the defendants each face a statutory maximum sentence of up to five (5) years’ imprisonment. If convicted of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iran Embargo, the defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of up to twenty (20) years’ imprisonment. If convicted of making false statements, the defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of up to five (5) years’ imprisonment. In addition, the defendants face possible fines of up to $1 million.

Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Department of Commerce, which led this investigation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of Department of the Treasury, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigations, for their work on this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Damian.

Islamist Dawa Resides In Washington, D.C.

N T Lihou — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:37:00 GMT

The As-Sabiqun movement is an Islamic movement/organization under the leadership of founder Imam Abdul Alim Musa. It is based in Washington, D.C., and has branches in Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and Philadelphia. The goal of this organization is to promote Islam as a way of life over the way of life guaranteed by the United States Constitution. This organization follows the teaching of Hasan al-Banna, the Muslim Brotherhood Founder, and Sayyid Qutb, considered by most the father of the current extremist version of Islam. Qutb's book milstones is the cornerstone of the Islamists movement and blamed the West for the decline of the Muslims. This book also charged Muslims with the task of destroying the West in return for the blessing of Allah upon the Muslim people.

The organization was created by Imam Musa in the early 1990s, at the Masjid Al-Islam mosque in Philadelphia, PA. The name As-Sabiqun is approximately translated from Arabic as “the vanguard”. The inspiration for the name comes from the ayah (verse) in the Holy Qur’an (9:100):

“The vanguard (as-Sabiqun) of Islam—the first of those who forsook their homes, and of those who gave them aid, and also those who follow them in all good deeds—well-pleased is Allah with them, as are they with Him: For them hath He prepared Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever: that is the supreme Felicity.”

Ideologically, the group is influenced by the writings and life work of El-Hajj Malik Shabazz (Malcolm X), Maulana Mawdudi, Shaikh ‘Uthman dan Fodio, Hasan al-Banna, Sayyid Qutb, Kalim Siddiqui, Imam Khomeini, and others. The organization's leadership has delivered numerous speeches in the United States and abroad, contributing their analyses and efforts to solve contemporary problems in the Muslim world and in urban America. The paramount goal of the movement is the establishment of Islam as a complete way of life in America. This ultimate goal is predicated on the belief—shared by many Muslims worldwide—that Islam is fully capable of producing a working and just social, political, economic order. The group does not advocate participation in the American political process as an ideal method for advancing Islamic issues in the U.S.; instead, it believes in a strong and active outreach to the people of the U.S. (this is the Dawa). Nevertheless, Imam Musa has indicated a dedication to avoid what he calls an “absolutist” outlook on the advancement of Muslims. The As-Sabiqun philosophy stresses unity between the various Islamic organizations in the attainment of common goals. Cooperation on domestic social issues with like-minded non-Muslim groups is also encouraged, as long as Islamic ethics and morality are not compromised. Additionally, although As-Sabiqun is a Sunni movement, they have publicly voiced support for Shi’a movements and organizations such as the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran and Hizbullah. Imam Musa has repeatedly stressed that the tendency by some Muslims to focus on the differences between Sunni and Shi’a Islam at this juncture in history is counterproductive to the goals of the Islamic movement as a whole.

The group encourages social-political advancement concurrent with a program of spiritual and moral development according to the Qur’an and Sunnah (example) of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). Leadership stresses a do-for-self methodology to achieve independence and self-determination. The inspiration for this concept is based on the Qur’anic ayah: “Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls).” (13:11)

The group has a six-point plan of action which is implemented at each location where a branch of the movement is established:

Establishing a masjid (mosque) as a place to worship Allah (swt) in congregation and as a center of spiritual and moral training.
Calling the general society to Islam (da’wah).
Establishing a full-time school that raises children with a strong Islamic identity so they can, as future Islamic leaders (insha’Allah), effectively meet and deal with the challenges of growing up in the West.
Establishing businesses which could make the movement financially stable and independent.
Establishing geographical integrity by encouraging Muslims of the community to live in close proximity to the masjid.
Establishing social welfare institutions to respond to the need for spiritual and material assistance within the community as well as the general society.

Daily Islamic studies classes are offered at the various As-Sabiqun masajid (mosques) across the country on a variety of topics, including basic Islamic beliefs and practices, Qur’anic tafseer (commentary on the meanings of the Qur’an and their practical significance), fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence and law), the Islamic movement, and analysis of contemporary political events. New members of the group are encouraged to attend these classes as well as to individually familiarize themselves with the works of Islamic thinkers such as Maulana Mawdudi, Hasan al-Banna, Sayyid Qutb, Kalim Siddiqui, Shaikh ‘Uthman dan Fodio, and others. Special emphasis is placed on personal development and growth based on the Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (saw),and incorporating tightly knit family units within the overall community structure.

In addition to daily classes, each masjid also provides youth mentorship, marriage counseling, a prison outreach program, and employment assistance for ex-convicts. The As-Sabiqun branch in Los Angeles was instrumental in creating a free health clinic in cooperation with other Islamic groups. The headquarters branch in D.C. has developed scout programs for young members of the community.

Introduction to Islam

Fundamentals of Islam by Sayyid Abul A'la Mawdudi
Towards Understanding Islam by Abul A'la Mawdudi
Let Us Be Muslims by Sayyid Abul A'la Mawdudi
Milestones by Sayyid Qutb
The Life of Muhammad by Muhammad Husein Haykal, or same title by Abdul

Brotherhood/Leadership

Organization of Government Under the Holy Prophet (saw) by Dr. Muhammad Yasin Mazhar Siddiqui
Memoirs of Hasan al Banna Shaheed by N.M. Shaikh
Islamic Education and Hasan al Banna by Yusuf al Qardawi
A Short History of the Revivalist Movement in Islam by Abul A'la Mawdudi
Selected Writings of Hasan al-Banna Shaheed by S.A. Qureshi
Problems Faced By the Da'wah and the Da'iyah by Fathi Yakan
Priorities of the Islamic Movement in the Coming Phase by Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi
Stages of Islamic Revolution by Kalim Siddiqui
In Pursuit of the Power of Islam: Major Writings of Kalim Siddiqui ed. by Zafar Bangash
Methodology of Education Adopted by the Muslim Brotherhood by Dr. Ali Abdel- Hameed Mahmoud

Imam Musa Biography

Imam Abdul Alim Musa was born in Arkansas but grew up in Oakland, California during the 1960s—a time of intense social upheaval which produced groups like the Black Panthers and offshoots of the Nation of Islam. While being a supporter of the community’s revolutionary sentiment, Imam Musa became an active and very successful drug-dealer. His “street” background helps explain part of his appeal to inner-city youths and ex-convicts, with whom he can identify through personal experiences. After evading the authorities for several years, Imam Musa was forced to leave the U.S. He traveled to various countries in Africa, Europe, and Central and South America, at one time becoming a leading cocaine-exporter in Colombia, an experience that led him to discover the direct involvement of the CIA in cocaine and heroine importation to the U.S. In Algeria, he came in contact with several exiled Black Panther leaders such as Eldridge Cleaver and Pete O'Neal, as well as many prominent figures active in the decolonization struggles of African countries. After returning to the U.S., he turned himself in and was sent to prison. While incarcerated, Imam Musa accepted traditional Islam before his release.

For many years after his release, the Imam continued his studies of Islam and was a keen observer of the political and social events taking place in the Muslim world. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, in a move that was rare for Sunni Muslims, Imam Musa publicly expressed his support for the Islamic Republic and its leader Imam Khomeini. Since the early 1980s, he made several visits to Iran as a representative of Muslims in the United States and a supporter of the Islamic revival. He made connections with a wide array of Muslim leaders during the decade—both Sunni and Shi’a—and stressed that unity was a primary objective for the Islamic movement’s success. After searching for leadership for several years without success, he took it upon himself to create an organization—the As-Sabiqun movement—that was capable of supporting the unique needs of Muslims living in the U.S. while simultaneously incorporating an international outlook and agenda. His methodology draws heavily on the writings of Malcolm X, Maulana Mawdudi, Shaikh ‘Uthman dan Fodio, Hasan al-Banna, Sayyid Qutb, Kalim Siddiqui, and Imam Khomeini. The movement has spread across the U.S. and is extremely popular among college students and African-American youth.

Excerpts from a Newsletter entitiled "Paradigm Shift" Dec 2006:

Over the last several decades, history has propelled the Islamic movement in the direction of improvement, expansion, correction, and reconditioning. This rejuvenated global Islamic consciousness is aided by a high tide reflected in the areas of common goals, sincere coordinated efforts, and the imminence of an emerging system or structure.

In our analysis, some of the important steps that have led us to today’s paradigm shift are as follows:
1. Islamic Revolution in Iran (1979) and its survival
2. Defeat of the Soviet Union by the mujahideen in Afghanistan (1979-1989)
3. Formation of Hizbullāh, the leading group in the Islamic Resistance of Lebanon (1985)
4. Gulf War (1991)
5. September 11, 2001
6. U.S. invasion of Afghanistan (2001)
7. U.S. invasion of Iraq (2003)
8. Defeat of the Zionist invasion of Lebanon by Hizbullāh (2006)

Today, the majority of Muslims worldwide believe that the United States government, along with Israeli and Saudi intelligence operatives, is responsible for designing and executing the attack on the World Trade Center which took place on September 11, 2001. Reasons are obvious, even to the political novice. This attack, blamed on Muslims worldwide, provided the necessary justification for global arrogance—made up of imperialistic nations—to declare open warfare on peace-loving Muslims across the world, and to garner support for a pre-conceived agenda of expanding and solidifying a position of global political and military prominence. With radio waves, TV screens, and newspapers blasting indignation at the attack, the U.S. was enabled to invade Afghanistan. Within a few weeks’ time, it subdued the Taliban. Militarily, what the Soviets were unable to do in ten years, the U.S. had seemingly done in an instant.

In today’s world, great revolution and change come from the most unexpected places, i.e., the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the halting of U.S. aggression in Iraq, the great victory of Hizbullāh over Zionism, and the list is bound to continue.

We believe that in Somalia, Palestine, and everywhere else on the map, Islam will rise—and surprise—the world (insha’Allāh).

Always cherish the intention of jihād and the desire for martyrdom in the way of Allah and actually prepare yourself for that.

Excerpts from a Newsletter entitiled "As-Sabiqun is on the Move!!!" Dec 1996:

We are currently in another phase of Islamic struggle. This phase is one of communitybuilding and institutional construction. We believe that in order for Islam to grow, develop, and prosper in America, we must take the offensive in laying the groundwork and making preparation for calling America to Islam. At this time, we are working to build a strong infrastructure capable of launching this needed offensive. Our concerns are presently focused on four major areas: 1) masājid, 2) schools, 3)businesses, and 4) geographical integrity.

In the absence of an Islamic government, the masjid (especially in foreign societies) should become our focal point of action. In fact, the collectivity of masājid in many of our countries has proven to be the greatest source of opposition against anti-Islamic laws and policies and against those who wish to obstruct the establishment of an Islamic society. Similar to what has taken place throughout Muslim history, as outlined above, the masājid that we establish shall act, insha’Allāh, as fortresses against general societal pollution. They will serve as a place to collect the Muslims, organize them, and direct our human and material resources towards the cause of Allah (swt).

The second pillar in our structure is Islamic education. We have bore witness to the pollution of a non-believing society and the harm it has caused to our adult population. We can only imagine how much more dangerous it must be for our children. Therefore, Islamic education is of foremost importance to us. For the past seven years, we have been operating a full-time school in Oakland, CA. Insha’Allāh, our next targets for this project are Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, PA.

Most Islamic movements or organizations are dependent upon rich governments, wealthy individuals, and/or assistance from organizations who, in the future, may exercise control over their direction and freedom of action. For this reason, we have striven to support ourselves and all of our activities independently.

For us, geographical integrity means that after establishing a masjid, we should consolidate our efforts by living in close proximity to it. As we move closer to the locale of the masjid, we become a concentrated, single-minded people. As this process continues, we become a community within a community, a city within a city, a nation within a nation—an Ummah determining and directing its own affairs.

Final goal. Harness the power and resources of the West for Islam. Establish the system of Islamic governance known as Khilāfah, or the Caliphate, patterned after the leadership exemplified by Prophet Muhammad (saw).

Call others to Islam. Familiarize your leadership with your activities, and never undertake any action without first consulting your leadership. Keep yourself in constant spiritual and physical contact with your community and always consider yourself a soldier in the barracks awaiting a command.

Excerpts from a Newsletter entitiled "Bay’ah: Oath of Allegiance" Mar 1996:

The office of Khalīfah is a great threat to colonial powers. International disunity is reflected in the so-called Muslim “nation-states” who, along with their Western masters, cannot agree on anything regarding Islam except their need to unify against their most dangerous threat: Islamic unity. The last thing these “nation-states” and their masters want is the revival of the universal Islamic principle of jamā’ah. Already, the discipline which flows from the fountain of our belief manifests itself in our regular practice of Islam. For example, Salāt is a form of training which we faithfully undertake five times a day. Another example is Sawm (fasting), which trains us to incorporate in our lives the willingness to control our nafs so that our desires (to eat, to engage in sexual activity, to fill our minds with the mundane, etc.) and our energies are instead placed in the service of Islam. One of the highest levels of discipline is hearing and obeying the amīr, imām, or (in times past and in the future, insha’Allāh) the Khalīfah. This requirement is at odds with the Western ideal of the “supremacy of the individual,” whose “good” is often in direct conflict with Allah and with the good of the community. The cult of individualism is, however, a wonderful tool for the forces of kufr, whose good is obtained through allegiance and attachment to the things of this material world. It is no wonder, then, that our enemies invariably tie the tag of “terrorist” and “fundamentalist” to
those who are disciplined enough to reject individualism; those who instead gather in groups and make Salāt, who fast together, and of course, those who further foster discipline and jamā’ah by being involved in Islamic movement. In short, the enemies of Islam have declared their enemy to be all Muslims who wish to practice Islam in its full sense.

In conclusion, bay’ah is for all believers, for all times, in all places, and under all conditions. We exist in a non-Islamic society, with little resources and few dependable institutions, and so we have plenty of work to do. Let us spend our efforts in the building of these institutions. If we are without leadership then we must seek it out, support it, develop it, guard and protect it. The great mission of Iqāmatul-Deen (establishment of the Deen of Islam) cannot be carried on by scattered individuals. It must be taken up by a jamā’at—a group or party. This jamā’at must have leadership. In order to oversee the collection, distribution, and administration of resources of the Ummah, both human and material, there must be a structured organization. Over recent centuries, the lack of planning, organization, and general principles of management has been a major thorn in the side of the Muslim Ummah. Bay’ah is an Islamic principle that is needed today more than ever. We should be cautious of those who encourage us to avoid bay’ah and give the excuse that since we don’t have a state or territory, there is no need for this principle. This view leaves us with only one alternative: to wander from one masjid to another, to float from one gathering of Muslims to another without any
commitment or focus.

Because of human failure, bay’ah has been misused and abused, but misuse does not nullify the value that this crucial principle of Islam carries. As we mature as an Islamic community and as an Ummah, we will, insha’Allāh, better handle our responsibilities and duties to Allah and to each other and avoid the past misuse of bay’ah. From the Hijrah of the Prophet (saw) up to the present, the organizing principle in Islamic movements has been bay’ah. The Sokoto Khilāfah in northern Nigeria under the leadership of Uthmān dan Fodio, Ikhwān al-Muslimeen under Hasan al-Banna, and Jamā’at Islāmī under Maulana Mawdudi all have developed through the act of bay’ah. Here in the West, it is not
necessary for someone to float in on a flying carpet to give us the “okay” for bay’ah. We must strive to establish—first locally, then nationally—a system of governance patterned after the leadership exemplified by the Prophet (saw). Insha’Allāh, we will work towards and contribute to the re-establishment of international Khilāfah.

Foster Islamic wealth in general by encouraging and helping Islamic economic institutions. Be careful about your money; don’t let it fall into un-Islamic hands regardless of the circumstances. Eat and wear products of Islamic enterprises.

Excerpts from a Newsletter entitiled "A Call to Organized Struggle " Nov 1995:

“Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion—the one that He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: ‘They will worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me.’ If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked. So establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and obey the Messenger; that ye may receive mercy. Never think thou that the Unbelievers are going to frustrate (Allah’s Plan) on earth: Their abode is the Fire—and it is indeed an evil refuge!” (al Nūr, 24:55-57)

At the end of this century, we find the Muslim Ummah around the world struggling to recover from colonialism and/or neo-colonialism. Simultaneously, in the West, we find large number of people embracing Islam as a way of life. These converts (or reverts) come with a strong
commitment to work in the cause of Allah because they understand that Islam, and only Islam, brings both personal and global salvation.
This movement toward Islam has not gone unnoticed by the opponents of Islam—our opponents—who seek to stem the tide of Islamic
awakening in the West by diverting potential Muslims away from true īmān (belief) to true kufr (unbelief). They have adopted as their primary strategy the building up of kufr through their various information outlets while simultaneously playing down true Islam with either blatant distortions or silence. It now becomes incumbent upon believers to launch a genuine Islamic movement, capable of challenging Western society at its very roots—UNBELIEF (KUFR)!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
AS-SĀBIQŪN RESOLUTION
OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Safar 8, 1416 AH (July 4, 1995)

We could have begun this historic document with such world-famous and often honored statements as “We the people in order to form a more perfect union do ordain to establish...,” the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America, or perhaps “When in the course of human events...,” from the Declaration of Independence. As Muslims, however, we are constrained from offering such earthbound and man-created covenants. Far from proclaiming what “we” as humans can assert, we acknowledge and turn for help to Allah (swt). We understand that Allah (swt) and Allah (swt) alone is in charge of the course of human events. As Muslims, we have the responsibility of resolving to do His will in accordance with His revelation, using the methodology of His final Messenger—Prophet Muhammad (saw). This, then, is our “Declaration of Independence.” By statement of the following Resolutions, we declare our independence from man-made concepts:

1. We resolve to take Sūrah al Nisā’, āyah 59 as the guiding principle of our actions:
“O ye who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.” (4:59)

2. We resolve to work with each other and to guard and support each other.

3. We resolve to establish Islamic homes, wherein Islamic etiquette, as outlined in the Qur'ān and Hadīth, will be in full force and effect.

4. We resolve to adopt the attitude of optimism in times of distress as exemplified by the Prophets and Messengers.

5. We resolve to maintain continuous struggles with our nafs, greed, envy, and arrogance.

6. We resolve to exercise a regular program of self-improvement by incorporating new knowledge and practicing self-control and self-discipline. We are committed to developing ourselves physically, mentally, and Islamically.

7. We resolve to work toward total economic independence.

8. We resolve to work with other communities (movements), whether they are local, national, or international, toward the end of harnessing the power of Muslims and their resources for the purpose of reestablishing the system of governance known as Khilāfah, or the Caliphate, patterned after the leadership exemplified by Prophet Muhammad (saw).

9. We resolve to utilize all the tools of Islam to develop an analysis and plan of action to totally and completely obliterate the hold of jāhiliyyah and enable Islam to take complete control of our lives, and ultimately, the lives of all human beings on Earth.

10. We resolve to shape the ideas, beliefs, and moral viewpoints of the people into an Islamic mold. Toward this end we will, insha'Allāh, develop the comprehensive educational system that is necessary to inform, inspire, and direct the society toward Islamic revolution (or evolution).

11. We resolve to make Islam a living force by challenging and breaking the hold of social and political forces seeking to suppress and destroy Islam.

The undersigned hereby acknowledge and agree with the Resolutions noted above. As such, the signatories hereby submit themselves and their
families to the program outlined above.

Human Rights Abuse: The Underbelly of Saudi Arabia and Islam

N T Lihou — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:00:00 GMT

Saudi Arabia promotes itself to be the jewel of the Middle East and home of the most important place to those who follow the religion of Islam. The country holds itself up as a beacon of the way Islam should be practiced and claims it can be done without the radical elements which seem to connect the religion and terrorism. Although it can be argued that the militant extremist version that Usama bin Laden purports has its roots deep in the Saudi Arabia government sanctioned version of Wahabism. However, when one examines the practice of "perfect Islam" in Saudi, one finds some very disturbing facts about the way "others" are treated under this religion.

People from third world countries flock to Saudi for the promise of a better life but typically fall into "modern slavery" where the price of living outweighs the pay. The downward spiral begins when the women go through worker recruitment agencies which charge for the job in another country. The employer may also levy charges on top of the recruiting fee for hiring the worker and then charge for room and board. This deadly cycle creates a mountain of debt which can never be repaid and keeps that person enslaved to the employer. The outlook is even worse for migrant domestic workers (almost two million are women) who are not guaranteed overtime pay or a weekly rest day. The accusations of physical and sexual abuse run rampant but when taken to court, a Saudi court, the victims often get a double dose of abuse. The employers accuse the worker of witchcraft or moral crimes which can then bring a sentence of 60 to 490 lashes and up to 10 years of imprisonment. 24 Filipino guest workers were sentenced in 1996 to 200 lashes for "homosexual behavior".

If you are a foreigner in Saudi Arabia, you cannot own a business or land and typically you work for a Saudi business owner who can take away your work visa at a moments notice. The workers cannot legally leave the country, travel outside the city of their employment, change jobs or get an exit visa without obtaining the written permission of their sponsors. There are many cases where Saudis have refused to pay workers and keep them locked up when they are not working.

Take the case of Nour Miyati, an Indonesian domestic worker, who lost her fingers due to gangrene in 2005 after she was locked up by her employer and then sentenced to 79 lashes by a court in Riyadh for accusing him of abuse. - Amnesty International

Seven members of a Saudi family who employed four Indonesian women as domestic workers severely beat them after accusing them of practicing “black magic” on the family’s teenage son. Siti Tarwiyah Slamet, 32, and Susmiyati Abdul Fulan, 28, died from their injuries. Ruminih Surtim, 25, and Tari Tarsim, 27, are receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of Riyadh Medical Complex. - Human Rights Watch

Siti Mujiati, an Indonesian domestic worker, was not allowed to return to Indonesia for 6 years and 8 months and never received any pay for all the years of service. - Human Rights Watch

Haima G., a Filipino domestic worker was brought into the bedroom of her employer and raped over and over again. She told the woman of the house and was then locked away until she escaped and hid in her embassy for 9 months. She was then told she was going to be deported after an unsuccessful attempt at a trial against her former employer. - Human Rights Watch

Ponnamma S., Sri Lankan domestic worker was physically abused for nearly 18 months every time pay was mentioned. - Human Rights Watch

Masad Mohamed Abou Wafi el-Gawhari, an Egyptian, was found guilty of stealing 259,000 Saudi riyal from his guarantor. When Masad asked his guarantor, Saudi Fuhad bin Aoud al-Rashidi, to let him go back to Egypt, the man kept stalling and when Masad insisted, his guarantor accused him of robbing him. - EgyptSearch.com

Rizana Nafeek a 17 year old Sri Lankan domestic worker was sentenced to death by a Saudi court for murdering a baby in her care. Nafeek described the incident as an accident, but did not have access to legal or consular assistance during the trial, and alleged she was forced to confess. - World Report 2008

Even more disturbing is to hear the abuse from the victim's own mouth:

"She beat me until my whole body burned. She beat me almost every day.... She would beat my head against the stove until it was swollen. She threw a knife at me but I dodged it. I had a big black bruise on my arm where she had beaten my arm with a cooking spoon, she beat me until the spoon broke into two pieces. This behavior began from the first week I arrived. It was the lady employer, the man was good…. She would scream, “I hope you die! I hope your family dies! I hope you become deformed!” She never paid me for 10 months. I thought if I don’t escape, I will die." —Wati S., Indonesian domestic worker, Human Rights Watch

“They treated me like a dog, not like a human being. The whole family treated me like this….Everything [had to be] separate for me. I was not allowed to be with them. Even my clothes couldn’t be put in the washing machine. I had to hand wash them separately. I had to use separate forks and spoons.” Nur A., an Indonesian migrant, Human Rights Watch.

These are not isolated cases, the embassies of the migrant workers receive thousands of complaints a year. Our own government recognizes the problem. US Department of State, Trafficking in Persons Report 2007 - "The Government of Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so. The government continues to lack adequate anti-trafficking laws, and, despite evidence of widespread
trafficking abuses, did not report any criminal prosecutions, convictions, or prison sentences for trafficking crimes committed
against foreign domestic workers."

Ed Husein the author of The Islamist, writes about his travels to Saudi and seeing the rows of houses, made from corrugated metal slapped together, where the third class citizens lived. These were people who were followers of Islam but because they were not Saudi or Arab were treated with as much respect as a dog. Husein is deeply affected by his eye-opening experience and how it revealed the hypocricsy of Saudis being a perfect example of Islam.

Analysis:
The King of Saudi Arabia has an anti-human trafficking law that is awaiting his approval. The law was submitted by religious scholars who say that under Sharia Law that legal human trafficking should be criminalized. While everyone waits to see what the King will do, the real question is can Saudi change a way of life and bigotry that plagues it? How long will the international community turn a blind eye to the suffering of its citizens before calling for change? An even bigger question for Americans, is why does our government turn a blind eye to a government that does nothing to stop human trafficking and modern slavery? Why do we continue to be an enabler of human rights violaters and abusers?

How can we change our image in the world when the people know we don't really stand for freedom and the pursuit of happiness? How can we ever really have an effective foreign policy when people are abused in every way imaginable and we shake hands with those same abusive governments and call them friends? These are some of the root causes for the animosity that the world feels towards us. Let's hope we can actually address this issue.

Burma Military Junta Finances Halted

N T Lihou — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:20:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced financial sanctions against family members of regime leaders and key additional individuals and businesses that are part of the financial network of Tay Za, a Burmese business tycoon and arms dealer with close ties to Burma's military junta.

"We are tightening financial sanctions against Tay Za, an arms dealer and financial henchman of Burma's repressive junta," said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin. "The President has made clear that we will continue to take action against the military junta and those who prop it up so long as human rights violations continue and democracy is suppressed."

The action targets the Htoo Group of Companies, which carries out key projects on behalf of the Burmese junta, including the purchase of military equipment and aircraft for the Burmese military.

Among the individuals named today is Aung Thet Mann, a director of Tay Za's Htoo Group of Companies. Aung Thet Mann is the son of General Thura Shwe Mann, a senior official in the Burmese government and a member of the State Peace and Development Council. Tay Za has used his business relationship with Aung Thet Mann to win favorable business contracts from the Burmese junta. OFAC also designated Thiha, Tay Za's brother and business partner, and U Kyaw Thein, a director of Tay Za's business ventures in Singapore.

The companies designated include Myanmar Avia Export Company Ltd., a company Tay Za has used to purchase helicopters and aircraft on behalf of the Burmese regime; Ayer Shwe Wah Company Limited, an enterprise for which Aung Thet Mann serves as a director; and Pavo Aircraft Leasing Pte. Ltd. in Singapore.

Four spouses of senior Burmese government officials have also been named - Khin Lay Thet, the wife of General Thura Shwe Mann; Myint Myint Ko, the wife of Construction Minister Saw Tun; Tin Lin Myint, the wife of Lieutenant-General Ye Myint; and Myint Myint Soe, the wife of Foreign Affairs Minister Nyan Win.

These actions were taken pursuant to Executive Order 13448, which authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to designate senior regime officials, human rights violators in Burma, persons engaged in public corruption in Burma, financial and material supporters of the Government of Burma, and spouses and dependent children of previously designated individuals. Tay Za was named along with five of his companies by President George W. Bush in the Annex to E.O. 13448 of October 18, 2007.

This designation freezes any assets the designees may have subject to U.S. jurisdiction, and prohibits all financial and commercial transactions by any U.S. person with the designated companies and individuals. It also puts the world on notice about the financial operations of key junta associates and their companies.

Identifying Information:

WIN AUNG
AKA: AUNG, Dagon Win; AUNG, U Win
DOB: circa 1953
Nationality Burma;
Companies: Dagon International Limited; c/o Dagon Timber Limited

ZAW ZAW
AKA: ZAW, U Zaw
DOB: 22 Oct 1966
Citizen: Burma
Nationality: Burma
Passport #: 828461 (Burma) issued 18 May 2006 expires 17 May 2009
Companies: c/o Hotel Max; c/o Max Myanmar Group of Companies; c/o Max Singapore International Pte. Ltd.

DAGON INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
AKA: DAGON INTERNATIONAL; DAGON INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Address: Dagon Centre, 6th Floor, 262-264 Pyay Road, Myayingone, Sanchaung Township, Yangon, Burma

DAGON TIMBER LIMITED
AKA: DAGON TIMBER
ADDRESS: Dagon Centre, 262-264 Pyay Road, Myaynigone, Yangon, Burma

ESPACE AVENIR EXECUTIVE SERVICED APARTMENT
AKA: ESPACE AVENIR)
Address: No. 523, Pyay Road, Kamaryut Township, Yangon, Burma

G A ARDMORE PTE. LTD.
Address: 101 Cecil Street, 08-08 Tong Eng Building, Singapore 069533, Singapore; 3 Shenton Way, 10-01 Shenton House, Singapore 068805, Singapore

G A CAPITAL PTE. LTD.
Address: 101 Cecil Street, 08-08 Tong Eng Building, Singapore 069533, Singapore

G A FOODSTUFFS PTE. LTD.
Address: 101 Cecil Street, 08-08 Tong Eng Building, Singapore 069533, Singapore

G A LAND PTE. LTD.
Address: 1 Scotts Road, 21-07/08 Shaw House, Singapore 228208, Singapore

G A RESORT PTE. LTD.
Address:1 Scotts Road, 21-07 Shaw House, Singapore 228208, Singapore; 3 Shenton Way, 10-01 Shenton House, Singapore 068805, Singapore

G A SENTOSA PTE. LTD.
Address: 101 Cecil Street, 08-08 Tong Eng Building, Singapore 069533, Singapore

G A TREASURE PTE. LTD.
Address: 3 Shenton Way, 10-01 Shenton House, Singapore 068805, Singapore

G A WHITEHOUSE PTE. LTD.
Address: 3 Shenton Way, 10-01 Shenton House, Singapore 068805, Singapore

GOLDEN AARON PTE. LTD.
Address: 3 Shenton Way, 10-01, Shenton House, Signapore 068805, Singapore; 101 Cecil Street, 08-08 Tong Eng Building, Singapore 069533, Singapore

HOTEL MAX
AKA: HOTEL CHAUNG THA BEACH RESORT
Address: No. 1 Ywama Curve, Ba Yint Naung Road, Block-2, Hlaing Township, Yangon, Burma

MAX (MYANMAR) CONSTRUCTION CO.
Address: 1 Ywama Curve, Bayint Naung Road, Ward (2), Hlaing Township, Yangon, Burma

MAX MYANMAR GEMS AND JEWELLERY CO., LTD.
Address: 1 Ywama Curve, Bayint Naung Road, Ward (2), Hlaing Township, Yangon, Burma

MAX MYANMAR GROUP OF COMPANIES
AKA: MAX MYANMAR; MAX MYANMAR CO.; MAX MYANMAR COMPANY LIMITED; MAX MYANMAR GROUP
Address: No. 1 Ywama Curve, Ba Yint Naung Road, Ward (2), Hlaing Township, Yangon, Burma

MAX MYANMAR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Address:, 1 Ywama Curve, Bayint Naung Road, Ward (2), Hlaing Township, Yangon, Burma

MAX MYANMAR SERVICES CO., LTD.
Address: 1 Ywama Curve, Bayint Naung Road, Ward (2), Hlaing Township, Yangon, Burma

MAX MYANMAR TRADING CO.
Address: LTD., 1 Ywama Curve, Bayint Naung Road, Ward (2), Hlaing Township, Yangon, Burma

MAX SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL PTE. LTD.
Address: 3 Shenton Way, #24-02, Shenton House 068805, Singapore

MYANMAR IVANHOE COPPER COMPANY LIMITED
AKA: MICCL; MONYWA JVCO; MYANMAR IVANHOE COPPER CO. LTD.
Address: 70 (I) Bo Chein Street, Pyay Road, Hlaing Township, Yangon, Burma; Monywa, Sagaing Division, Burma; 70 (I) Bo Chein Street, 6.5 miles Pyay Road, Yangon , Burma

ROYAL KUMUDRA HOTEL
Address: No. 1 Ywama Curve, Ba Yint Naung Road, Block (2), Hlaing Township, Rangoon, Burma; No. 9 Hotel Zone, Nay Pyi Taw, Burma

SENTOSA TREASURE PTE. LTD.
Address: 3 Shenton Way, 10-01 Shenton House, Singapore 068805, Singapore[JADE] [BURMA}

Hezbollah Support Network Targeted By Treasury Department

N T Lihou — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:44:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of the Treasury continues the fight against terrorism by exposing the people, businesses and fronts connected to terrorism, drug cartels and rogue nations. The Department designated the Waad Project, a Hezbollah-run construction firm, under Executive Order 13224 (E.O. 13224), which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.

"The Waad Project is another example of Hezbollah's use of deceptive tactics to support its military and terrorist apparatus," said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey.

Hezbollah established the Waad Project, in part, because Jihad al-Bina--Hezbollah's main construction company--had difficulty receiving funds from donors following its designation under E.O. 13224 by the Treasury Department on February 20, 2007. Hezbollah Secretary General Hasan Nasrallah publicly endorsed the Waad Project in May 2007.

Hezballah has used the Waad Project to rebuild its command headquarters in Beirut's southern suburbs, which was destroyed in the summer 2006 conflict with Israel. The Waad Project has built Hezbollah's underground weapons storage facilities and parts of the group's military infrastructure in Lebanon. Additionally, the Waad Project's website has provided telephone numbers for those wishing to donate aid to Hezbollah, Jihad al-Bina, and the Hezbollah-controlled Martyrs Association, an organization named as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in July 2007 for providing financial support to Hezbollah.

The Waad Project has tried to hide its affiliation with Hezbollah, just as Jihad al-Bina used deceptive means to seek funding projects from international development organizations. Additionally, the general manager of the Waad Project has stated that donors to the Waad Project have wished to remain anonymous because Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and they preferred not to be identified due to the risks of dealings with a terrorist group.

Under E.O. 13224, any assets held by the Waad Project under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the Waad Project.

Identifier Information
WAAD PROJECT
AKAs: Wa'id Company; Wa'ed Organization; Waad Waed; Wa'd Project; Al-Waad Al-Sadiq; Waad Company; Waad for Rebuilding the Southern Suburb;
`Mashura Waad Laadat Al-Aamar; Waad Project for Reconstruction; Wa'ad As Sadi
Telephone No.: 009613679153; 009613380223; 03889402; 03669916
Location: Harat Hurayk, Lebanon; Beirut, Lebanon

Analysis:
Only by exposing the support network of terrorists will we be able to actually damage the terrorist organization. As history and current events show us, there seems to be an abundance of individuals who will step up to be the "action" (the one who carries out the attack) terrorist. These are the ones who challenge our armed forces overseas and who law enforcment are now dealing with on an almost daily basis. The problem doesn't seem to be catching the "action" terrorists. Identifying and targeting the more elusive support network emerges as a new priority. These are the ones behind the scenes who just move on to supporting other "action" terrorists and carrying out more attacks. The Treasury Deprtment should be applauded for its effort in understanding the complexities of terrorism and taking action against the support networks.

Tackling The Somalia Pirates

N T Lihou — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:39:00 GMT

The United States military announced the formation of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 for the purposes of conducting counterpiracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. The mandate of a counterpiracy mission comes from the United Nations. Nations who are not authorized to conduct counterpiracy operation will continue to work with CTF150. The concentration on a counterpiracy mission comes on the heels of an increase in naval vessels being pirated. The trend of piracy in the Somalia region began to rise in August of 2008 and continues at a high tempo at this date.

CTF 151 is also working on the framework for the capture, detention and prosecution of pirates. Within the next few weeks a country will be named that will have the authority to prosecute the pirates.

CTF 151 is headed up by Vice Admiral William Gortney and his Deputy Commander, British Commodore Tim Lowe. The CTF is a result of 14 countries that are working through or in the coalition. Russia and China also are working in the region as independent actors. CTF 151 still communicates with Russia and China in an effort of information sharing to hamper piracy operations. The two aforementioned countries have been concentrating on escort operations of its countries vessels allowing CTF 151 to monitor other naval vessels in the region. An even bigger surprise is the participation of UAE which is sending vessels to work with CTF 151. It is expected that many of the 14 nations will have naval vessels deployed to the area before the end of next year.

Analysis: The perception of a counterpiracy mission brings to mind that the main focus of CTF151 will be to “hunt” the pirates. As in any counter mission, the real objective is to act as a deterrent and disrupt the operational cycle of the threat. The CTF has made headway in its counterpiracy mission by sharing “best practices” and real-time data between the civilian and military sectors. A major impact for the pirates will come when the prosecution authority is finalized. This will presumably mean that the pirates will be jailed instead of continuing to behave without fear of being held accountable.

Currently, reports indicate that there is no connection between the pirates and the terrorist factions in Somalia. However, given the lucrative nature of the money being made by piracy, one can speculate that cash-strapped terrorist organizations may look at developing this ability. The real challenge facing CTF 151 is what ability and authority it will have to pursue pirates when they make it back to operational bases on shore.

Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters

N T Lihou — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:06:00 GMT

The following individuals and companies are all tied to the infamous nuclear smuggling network led by Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan. The United States Government determined on January 9, 2009 that foreign persons have engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery. The following foreign persons' property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13382:

Identifying Information:

SELIM ALGUADIS
DOB: 27 May 1944
POB: Turkey
Nationality: Turkey
Passport#: 585843 (Turkey) issued 11 November 1999 in Istanbul
Background Information: According to Input Solutions, in 2004 Turkish businessman Selim Alguadis claimed to have no knowledge of supplying sophisticated electrical goods to Libya. Alguadis was cited in a public report from the Malaysian inspector-general of police into the Malaysian end of a Pakistani-led clandestine network that supplied Libya, Iran and North Korea with nuclear weapons technologies, designs and expertise. He had, the report alleged, "supplied electrical cabinets and power supplier-voltage regulators to Libya." Selim says he did meet with Abdul Qadeer Khan but "the relationship has been purely social" and Abu Tahir. Tahir was named as the network's CFO and main money launderer.

SHANSUL BAHRIN BIN RUKIBAN
Nationality: Malaysia

KURSAD ZAFER CIRE
AKA: KURSAT ZAFER
DOB: 30 August 1967
POB: Germany
Nationality: Turkey
Passport #: 778456 (Turkey) issued 14 May 1997 in Istanbul expired 13 May 2007

MUHAMMAD FAROOQ
DOB: 12 March 1949
Nationality: Pakistan
Passport #: S122252 (Pakistan)

DANIEL GEIGES
DOB: 25 January 1938
POB: Lachen, Switzerland
Nationality: Switzerland
Passport #: 8071366 (Switzerland)

PAUL NICHOLAS GRIFFIN
DOB: 16 February 1964
Nationality: United Kingdom

PETER GRIFFIN
DOB: 9 September 1935
POB: Oxford, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom
Passport #: B401584 (United Kingdom) issued 28 September 1989 in Newport, Gwent, expired 28 September 1999; Passport B109455 (United Kingdom) issued 3 October 1979

ABDUL QADEER KHAN
AKA: HAYDAR ZAMAN
DOB: 27 April 1936
POB: Bhopal, India
Nationality: Pakistan
Passport #: D000428 (Pakistan)

GOTTHARD LERCH
DOB: 21 December 1942
POB: Germany
Nationality: German
Passport #: 3545767791D (Germany) issued 7 August 1998 at General Consulate, Zurich expired 6 August 2008; alt. Passport 3545767791 (Germany)
ADDRESS: Kreuzbergstrasse 4, 9472 Grabs, St. Gallen Canton, Switzerland

BUHARY SEYED ABU TAHIR
AKA: Bukhari Sayed Abu Tahir
DOB: 17 April 1959
POB: Chennai, India
Nationality: Sri Lanka
Passport #: M2068357 (Sri Lanka) issued 4 September 2001 in Colombo expired September 2006; M1754102 (Sri Lanka) issued 16 March 1999 expired 16 March 2004

GERHARD WISSER
DOB: 2 July 1939
POB: Lohne, Germany
Nationality: German
Passport #: 3139001443 (Germany)

SHAH HAKIM SHAHNAZIM ZAIN
Nationality: Malaysia

EKA ELEKTRONIK KONTROL ALETLERI SANAYI VE TICARET A.S., Turkey

ETI ELEKTROTEKNIK SANAYI VE TICARET A.S., Turkey

TRADEFIN ENGINEERING, South Africa

Along these same lines, the United States government took action against a network of WMD supporters connected to North Korea.

"Proliferators depend on access to the international financial and commercial systems to support their dangerous trade," said Stuart Levey, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. "Our action today exposes a North Korean procurement channel, and we urge governments and companies worldwide to cut this channel off entirely."
Alex H.T. Tsai (Tsai) has been designated for providing, or attempting to provide, financial, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID), which was identified as a proliferator by President George W. Bush in the June 2005 Annex to Executive Order 13382.

Identifying Information:

ALEX H.T. TSAI
AKA: Hsein Tai Tsai
DOB: August 8, 1945
POB: Tainan, Taiwan
Passport #: 131134049 (Taiwan)
Background Information: Tsai has been supplying goods associated with weapons production capabilities to KOMID and its subordinates since the late 1990s, and he has been involved in shipping items to North Korea that could be used to support North Korea's advanced weapons program. On June 19, 2008, Tsai was indicted by Taiwan's Taipei District Prosecutors Office for forging shipping invoices and illegally shipping restricted materials to North Korea.

LU-CHI SU
AKA: Lu-Chi Tsai Su
DOB: February 7 1950
Alt DOB: November 1950
POB: Yun Lin Hsien, Taiwan
Passport #: 210215095 (Taiwan)
Background Information: Alex H.T. Tsai's wife, Lu-chi Su, has also been designated pursuant to Executive Order 13382 for acting or purporting to act on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Trans Merits Co. Ltd. Lu-chi Su is an officer in Global Interface Company Inc. and Trans Merits Co. Ltd. and is directly involved in the companies' operations.

GLOBAL INTERFACE COMPANY INC.
Formerly Known As: Trans Scientific Corp.
Address: 9F-1, No. 22, Hsin Yi Rd., Sec. 2, Taipei, Taiwan
Alt. Address: 1st Floor, No. 49, Lane 280, Kuang Fu S. Road, Taipei, Taiwan
Business Registration Document Number: 12873346 (Taiwan)
Background Information: Global Interface Company Inc. has been designated for being owned or controlled by Tsai, who is a shareholder of the company and acts as its president. Tsai is also the general manager of Trans Merits Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Global Interface Company Inc. that has been designated for being owned or controlled by Global Interface Company Inc.

TRANS MERITS CO. LTD.
Address: 1F, NO. 49, Lane 280, Kuang Fu S. Road, Taipei, Taiwan
Business Registration Document Number: 16316976 (Taiwan)

Targeting The al-Qa'ida "House Guests" Of The Iranians

N T Lihou — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:55:00 GMT

Iran continues to pull the strings on worldwide terrorism with the continuous "house arrest" of senior al-Qa'ida terrorists. The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated four al-Qa’ida associates under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.

"It is important that Iran give a public accounting of how it is meeting its international obligations to constrain al-Qa’ida," said Stuart Levey, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. "Global efforts to financially isolate al-Qa’ida have made it difficult for the core leadership to raise funds and sustain itself. Nevertheless, al-Qa’ida remains a very dangerous threat, and it is crucial to keep targeting the support lines of al-Qa’ida and its affiliates."

Under E.O. 13224, any assets held by these individuals under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the designees.

"Even though individual terrorist attacks are relatively inexpensive to carry out, it costs a great deal of money for al-Qa’ida to operate globally. These realities demand that we keep up the financial pressure against al-Qa’ida and like-minded terrorist organizations," Levey continued. "Designations have a far reaching impact, deterring would-be donors from providing financial support to terrorism and leaving al-Qa’ida leadership struggling to identify much-needed funding resources."

Identifying Information:

(Photo Source: NBC)
SA'AD BIN LADEN
AKAs: Sad Bin Laden; Sa'ad Muhammad Awad Abud; Muhammad Awad;
Muhammad 'Awad Adbud; Sa'ad Muhammad Baabood; Abdul Rahman Al-Kahtane; Bin Muhammad Awad Abbud
DOB: 1982
POB: Saudi Arabia
Nationality: Saudi Araibian
Passport #: 520951 (Sudan); 530951 (Sudan)
Background Information: Sa'ad bin Laden, the third oldest son of Usama bin Laden, has been involved in al-Qa’ida activities. Saad accompanied Osama on his exile to Sudan from 1991-96, and again moved with his father to Afghanistan. He is believed to be married. In late 2001, Sa'ad facilitated the travel of Usama bin Laden's family members from Afghanistan to Iran. Sa'ad made key decisions for al-Qa’ida and was part of a small group of al-Qa'ida members that was involved in managing the terrorist organization from Iran. Sa'ad bin Laden is said to play a major role planning the attack of a synagogue in Tunisia in April 2002. He was arrested by Iranian authorities in early 2003.

MUSTAFA HAMID
AKAs: Mustafa Muhammad `Atiya Hamid; Mustafa Atiya; Abu Walid al-Misri; Abu al-Walid al-Masri; Abu al-Walid; Hashim al-Makki
POB: Alexandria, Egypt
DOB: March 1945
Nationality: Egyptian / Pakistani
Background Information: Mustafa Hamid is a senior al-Qa’ida associate who served as a primary interlocutor between al-Qa’ida and the Government of Iran. Before the fall of the Taliban, Hamid served as an instructor at a terrorist camp near Jalalabad that trained in the use of explosives. Hamid is the father-in-law of senior al-Qa’ida military commander Sayf al-Adl. He formerly served as a correspondent for a satellite television station, at the request of senior al-Qa’ida leadership. While living in Iran, Hamid was harbored by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which served as Hamid's point of contact for communications between al-Qa’ida and Iran. In the mid-1990s, Mustafa Hamid reportedly negotiated a secret relationship between Usama Bin Laden and Iran, allowing many al-Qa’ida members safe transit through Iran to Afghanistan.

In the late 1990s, Mustafa Hamid passed communications between Usama bin Laden and the Government of Iran. When tensions were high between Iran and Afghanistan, Mustafa Hamid traveled multiple times from Kandahar to Tehran as an intermediary for the Taliban.

In late 2001, Mustafa Hamid was in Tehran delivering messages from the Taliban to the Government of Iran. Hamid also negotiated on behalf of al-Qa’ida in an attempt to relocate al-Qa’ida families to Iran. As part of this effort, senior al-Qa’ida member Abu Hafs, the Mauritanian, traveled with Hamid and two IRGC members to Tehran for meetings. Beginning in late 2001, the family of a senior al-Qa’ida military commander lived with Mustafa Hamid's family in Iran. Separately, in 2002 Mustafa Hamid facilitated contacts between the IRGC and another senior al-Qa’ida military commander. In mid-2003, Mustafa Hamid was arrested in Iran along with other al-Qa’ida members and associates.

MUHAMMAD RAB'A AL-SA YID AL-BAHTIYTI
AKAs: Muhammad Mahmud Rabi' al-Zayd al-Bahtiti; Muhammad Mahmud al-Bahtiti; Muhammad Rabi' al-Sa'id al-Hatiti; Muhammad Rabi' al-Bahtiti; Abu Dujana al-Masri
DOB:1971
P0B: Al-Sharqiyyah, Egypt
Nationality: Egyptian / Pakistani
Background Information: Muhammad Rab'a al-Sayid al-Bahtiyti is a senior member of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) and an al-Qa’ida operative. Bahtiyti has served as a trusted aide to his father-in-law Ayman al-Zawahiri.

In the mid-1990s, Bahtiyti served on an al-Qa’ida military committee and provided military training that included urban warfare tactics for al-Qa’ida members. Bahtiyti drafted training manuals for al-Qa’ida as well as a book on security that was used as a template for al-Qa’ida's surveillance operations.

In 1995, Bahtiyti reportedly was involved in the bombing of the Egyptian Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.

After September 11, 2001, Ayman al-Zawahiri instructed Bahtiyti to take al-Zawahiri's family to Iran. Bahtiyti reportedly traveled to Iran with al-Zawahiri's daughters, where he was subsequently responsible for them. In January 2003, while working from Iran, Bahtiyti arranged housing on behalf of al-Qa’ida. Bahtiyti reportedly was arrested by Iranian authorities in mid-2003.

ALI SALEH HUSAIN
AKAs: Abu Dahhak; 'Ali Salih Husayn al-Dhahak al-Tabuki; Ali Saleh Husain al-Tabuki; 'Ali Salih Husayn 'Ula'lah; 'Ali Salih Husayn; 'Ala'lah Dhahhak al-Tabuki; Abu Dhahak al-Yemeni
DOB: Circa 1970
POB: al-Hudaydah, Yemen
Nationality: Yemeni
Height: 5'9"
Background Information: Ali Saleh Husain is a senior al-Qa’ida associate who had close relations with Usama bin Laden. Husain was responsible for logistics pertaining to al-Qa’ida-affiliated fighters and acted as an interlocutor between al-Qa’ida and its Chechnya-based affiliates. Husain coordinated with Usama bin Laden on the training of fighters in terrorist camps in Afghanistan who were preparing to travel to Chechnya.

Circa early 2001, Husain reportedly arranged a meeting that included a senior al-Qa’ida operations chief to discuss operations planned against Israel. In April 2002, al-Qa’ida senior official Abu Zubaydah indicated that the responsibility for operational meetings for attacks against Israel had been handed over to Husain. Husain also was reportedly Abu Zubaydah's secondary point of contact for obtaining fraudulent passports.

In 2001 after the fall of the Taliban, Husain facilitated the move of al-Qa’ida-associated fighters, including an al-Qa’ida military commander, from Afghanistan to Iran. After leaving Afghanistan, Husain was responsible for smuggling al-Qa’ida members and associates via networks in Zahedan, Iran. In early 2002, Husain sent $20,000 to a senior al-Qa’ida lieutenant who had requested financial assistance. Husain was detained by the Government of Iran in early 2003.

Hamas Uses Turmoil To Kill Oppostion

N T Lihou — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 06:28:00 GMT

While under the Israeli offense, Hamas has conducted a rash of executions of Fatah members. The clash between Hamas and Fatah ended up with a number of high-ranking Fatah members being put under house arrest. While the world media focuses on the Gaza War, Hamas is using this time to do a little house cleaning.

Palestinian Media Watch tells us the following:

Hamas has murdered "dozens of Fatah members" in the Gaza Strip for merely violating the Hamas-imposed house arrest. According to the Palestinian daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida the atrocities, which also included shooting people in the legs, has created a backlash in the West Bank and caused "anger, which influenced the level of popular activities carried out in solidarity with the Gaza residents in the towns Ramallah and El-Bira."
Wafa A-Najar, Gaza resident who lives in the town El-Bira, said that her father was killed the day before yesterday and nine of her family members were injured by shooting by Hamas, among them were three small children and two young people in critical condition...
According to the family's story, a squad belonging to Hamas came to her family's house in [the] Sheikh Radwan [neighborhood] in Gaza and shot at the legs of young Badran A-Najar, claiming that he was violating the house arrest which was imposed on him, at the time when he was sitting with his cousins in front of the house...
Groups within the Fatah movement in the West Bank estimated that more than a hundred of its people in the Gaza Strip had been exposed to persecution, shooting, and liquidation." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (Fatah), Jan. 9, 2009]
Jamal Najar, popular Palestinian singer: "I express my condolences to my cousins, some of them were killed yesterday by the gangs of the anarchic [Hamas] security forces in the Gaza Strip... The father was killed right in front of his children, because he didn't stay at home, after they placed him under house arrest, he and everyone who belongs to Fatah." [PA TV (Fatah) Jan. 6, 2009]

Analysis:
The actions of Hamas against Fatah should come as no surprise since Hamas is a terrorist group that is seeing its leadership being decimated by the Israelis. Hamas has been weakened by the Israeli offensive and does not want to provide any opportunity for Fatah to reclaim power in Gaza. The terrorist group has been devastated by the Israeli attack but still wants to keep its foot on the throat of Fatah.

Analysis of the Usama Bin Laden Gaza Message 14 Jan 09

N T Lihou — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:27:00 GMT

Call to Jihad to stop the aggression against Gaza

A message from Sheikh Osama Bin Laden, may God protect him, to the Nation of Islam.

My dear Muslim nation, I am not the one who will stand in front of you these difficult days to announce words of denunciation or condemnation to what is going on to our people in Gaza as a curtain I hide behind but I stand in front of you today so I can say a righteous word that will help us with God's permission to restore the rights that were robbed from us.

Analysis Comment: Usama bin Laden (UBL) starts off the speech by saying he will not preach to the Nation of Islam about what is going on in Gaza. The main reason for this tactic is because the Palestinian people can partially blame their current situation on al-Qa'ida (AQ). UBL had the chance to take the organization from Afghanistan to Palestine but decided to take on the "far enemy" instead. These speeches along with others UBL and Zawahiri have released continue to push a message of connection to the Palestinian people. However, the truth remains that AQ has yet to commit any real effort in Palestine and use current events as a back drop for pushing its own agenda.

These deceptions continue even though the faces and the names have changed. In every capital today, there is a new Bremer, either openly or behind closed doors, and with him there is an Alawi who is following his orders, and another Sistani or Tantawi backed up by scholars and intellectuals who promote their agendas. All of these elements are enemies to our nation and I warn you about them because they are well known. What makes them different from the others is that the ruler allows them access to media outlets so they can speak to the masses and regularly deceive them while the true scholars are not allowed to conduct a Friday sermon in a small forgotten village. There is only one powerful means to restore Palestine and that is Jihad in the path of God, as we have said before.

Analysis Comment: Usama has never had a problem promoting his message but continues to say that he has no access to the media. Yet, every time a message is released it grabs headlines and is translated and published almost immediately. The underlying truth is that his message is repetitive and continues to bring up the same subjects without offering any real solutions. UBL continues the message to the Nation of Islam that the only way to solve problems is violence. This tactic was used extensively by Zarqawi and al-Qa’ida in Iraq (AQI) but has proven to be the turning point for the Sunni support. Sunnis who fought hard for AQI turned their back on the organization with its blatant disregard for Muslim lives. AQI is now almost non-existent and find themselves aligning with any group that can help them survive the backlash.

My Muslim nation, you are capable of defeating the Zionist entity with your masses and your enormous resources that do not depend on the support of your rulers, and in spite of the fact that the majority of them are in collaboration with the Zionist Crusader alliance. I want to assure you, my nation, that this will be easy for you to do is we work on this seriously.

I want to remind you of two pieces of evidence that prove that you can defeat our enemy with very limited resources. The first is the major defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and its subsequent fall with the permission of Allah and with the help of the masses without any help from your governments' armies. Since then, the flag of the Soviet Union was snatched from the world, and has been trashed in the basket of forgetfulness, thanks be to God.

Analysis Comment: Another repetitive diatribe about the Soviet-Afghan war. Facts reveal that the native Afghan Mujahedeen with the help of American stinger missiles helped turn the tide of the war in favor of the Afghanistan people. Usama ran a camp for Saudis who would go to Afghanistan, receive training at the bin Laden camp and return to Saudi as "warriors." The UBL forces very rarely engaged in any combat operations and were seen by the Afghanistan forces as "Mujahedeen wanna-bees." UBL continues to refuse to talk about how his organization lost Afghanistan to Coalition Forces (CF) in a matter of weeks in 2001. While al-Qa'ida and the Taliban continue its harassment of CF and the government of Afghanistan, it is still a nomadic organization with no real home.

The second evidence is that after the fall of the Soviet Union, the American regime took advantage of the moment and tried to force its dominance and policies all over the world. The leaders of our region surrendered to them more and more despite its tyranny and its full support of the Zionist entity. Right then, a few of your own sons decided to wage Jihad against this sole power and confront the Hitler of the century, the rhinoceros of his time but we broke its horn even though he claims that he will bring the leaders of Jihad dead or alive so he can restore the pride of America and make them an example to follow but we have drawn his limit, killed his soldiers and targeted his people with God's permission America is faltering under the strikes of the Mujahedeen. They are bleeding manpower, politically and also financially. They are now drowning in the financial crisis so much that they are even begging from smaller nations in addition to bigger nations and therefore America is no longer feared by its enemies and not respected by its allies.

Analysis Comment: At one time UBL predicted the demise of America when the price of a barrel of oil would reach 121 dollars. Unfortunately, the short-sighted terrorist leader forgot that in the world economy, problems in America can have a ripple affect across the world. America did not crumble as UBL predicted and again his organization did not have the power to create the situation in the first place. A recent 60 Minutes piece revealed that oil prices were driven by a group of speculators more than any other factor.

The biggest loser when it comes to this American decline is the Zionist entity because they will lose the vital veins that support its life.
This quick and tremendous decline of the American might is one of the main reasons that the Israelis rushed their barbaric aggression on Gaza in a desperate attempt to take advantage of the last days of the Bush's term and the Neo-conservatives, this phase where they received more support than ever to attack Muslims everywhere and press on the American dominance in the region.

Analysis Comment: Israel revealed one of the main reasons for the launch of the attack was the continuous rocket attack by Hamas even though there was a cease fire in place. If UBL really cared about the Palestinian people he would have criticized Hamas for endangering the Palestinian people.

The forces of the White House are being smashed on the rock of the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan and are drowning in the swamps of Iraq. That is why the Israelis are rushing to annihilate their opponents in Gaza and replace them with Abbas and his so called authority so that he can protect their backs. That is why they carried out this horrible massacre before the end of Bush's term and before the American weakness becomes more apparent and the veto regime falls.

Analysis Comment: UBL does not want to face the reality that Iraq is almost a non-issue when it comes to American forces. The Iraqi government is now in charge of apprehending, arresting, detaining and prosecuting the insurgent / terrorist elements in its country. This came to fruition with the new security agreement that was implemented on 1 Jan 2009. The Iraqi people now control its destiny while CF now only provides requested support. Given the loss of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq claimed by AQI, the U.S. will withdraw based on Iraqi Government request and not any al-Qa'ida influence.

Here is Biden, the vice president elect saying that the crisis is bigger that they expected and that the American economy, all of it, is open to collapse. Even Alan Greenspan said that the Great Depression will look like a nice picnic when comparing it to the current situation.
The world will never go back to the way it was before and the United States will lose its stature as a super power when it comes to the financial system.

My Muslim nation, the Jihad of your sons against the Crusader-Zionist alliance is one of the main factors after the blessing of God, of the destructive results to our enemy and that is now showing after the seven years war. I would like to assure you, my dear nation that God had bestowed us with endurance that will allow us to keep on the course of Jihad for seven more years and another seven and another seven. Know that patience is the best weapon and faith is the best ammunition and the flag of Jihad will never fall down until Judgment Day
The question here is, will American be able to continue its war against us for more coming decades. The reports and the signs show us otherwise. There are reports that 75% of the American people are happy that the current president is leaving office because he dragged them in wars that they had nothing to do with and drowned them in a financial abyss that reached their ears. He has left his successor with a heavy inheritance. He has left him between two issues, the sweetest of them is still bitter. It is like someone swallowing a dagger with double edges. No matter how he moves, it will cut him.

The worst inheritance is when someone inherits a long guerilla war with a tough and patient enemy that is financed by divine loans so if he withdraws from the war, it would be a military defeat and if he continues the war, he will drown in the financial crisis. It is even worse when he inherited him two wars and not just one and he is incompetent in continuing them.

Analysis Comment: Now Usama finally reveals the real reason for the speech, AQ needs money. UBL mentions divine loans but the fact is that this money has to come from the people of the Nation of Islam. American Forces will pull out of Iraq having defeated the AQ push into the country. While there will be remnants in Iraq, it will never reach the tempo, power or size that AQI achieved with the Zarqawi leadership. One should realize that Zarqawi made tactical mistakes when he turned against the Sunni people with indiscriminate killings. The Sons of Iraq program and its success is a direct result of AQI operations. UBL and his organization can claim credit for those results.

We are on the course of opening more fronts, with God's permission, so what would be better my dear nation than putting your hand in the hands of your sons the Mujahedeen so we can continue Jihad against the enemies of the faith so we can continue bleeding them out in these two wars, these two open fronts in front of you against the crusader Zionist alliance and their agents in the region in Palestine Iraq, Afghanistan, and Waziristan and Islamic North Africa and in Somalia. Your duty is to support them in all means. I have the expertise of Jihad all thanks to God and I know the financial expenses so one businessman's donation is sufficient to help in any of these fronts.

Analysis Comment: AQ has no real authority over al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in Algeria or the Isalmists in Somalia. These second generation organizations use the name because of the media attention and as a recruitment tool but do not take orders from AQ or UBL. While the terrorist organizations may talk about a unified front, each one is interested in its own agenda and cannot afford to lend itself to other organizations’ goals. This is especially true of the Somalia Islamists if it has any connection to the pirates who seem to have a very lucrative ship hostage operation.

UBL the great jihad fighter was only ever in one direct conflict. This must be the experience required to be an expert in Jihad. Again the listeners are hit up for money as bin Laden tries to allay fears by pointing out that he knows how to run a business and any money donated will be safe. Of course, this is the real reason that UBL became so influential in Afghanistan and important to the Mujahedeen, his access to money. The asking for additional funds reveals a financial problem for AQ and UBL personally. The actions by the U.S. Treasury Department to shut down financial streams for terrorist organizations may have made more impacts than we have realized. While AQ points out financial problems in the U.S., its leader asks the people for a bailout!

German Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) Cell Named

N T Lihou — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:12:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated three members of a German Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) cell earlier this month under Executive Order 13224 (E.O. 13224), which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.

"We commend the vigilant and effective work of German authorities in apprehending this terrorist cell before it could carry out its brutal and horrifying attack plans," said Adam Szubin, director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. "In concert with this important law enforcement action, United Nations global sanctions provide a tool of unparalleled scope to disrupt the support lines of this and other al Qaida-affiliated cells."

On September 4, 2007, German authorities arrested three members of a German IJU cell--Fritz Martin Gelowicz, Daniel Martin Schneider, and Adem Yilmaz--on suspicion that they were preparing terrorist attacks on public places and possibly U.S. military facilities in Germany. German authorities had monitored the three for months and arrested them when they advanced the plot to the point of building explosive devices. The suspects had acquired 735 kilograms of 35 percent hydrogen peroxide--enough to produce approximately 550 kilograms of explosives--in order to build bombs.

German authorities also found military detonators, apparently intended for use in car bombs. Had the attacks occurred, estimates show the casualty toll could have far exceeded the 2004 train bombings in Madrid or the 2005 transport bombings in London.

Following the arrests, IJU leadership issued a statement confirming that Gelowicz, Schneider and Yilmaz had been operating under IJU direction in plotting the attacks. According to the statement, the terror plot was intended to hit U.S. and Uzbek targets in Germany.

Gelowicz reportedly played a key role in the Germany plot by purchasing the chemicals necessary for the attacks. In addition, Gelowicz allegedly was part of a group of IJU members who cased U.S. military facilities in Hanau, Germany in December 2006. Gelowicz and others reportedly were observed driving back and forth in front of the U.S. military base in Hanau.

The IJU, formerly known as the Islamic Jihad Group (IJG), is a terrorist organization that has coordinated multiple attacks in Central Asia, including the July 2004 bombings of the U.S. and Israeli Embassies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The IJG was added to the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee's Consolidated List of individuals and entities associated with Usama bin Ladin, al-Qa'ida and the Taliban on June 1, 2005 and Gelowicz, Schneider, and Yilmaz were added to the Consolidated List on October 27, 2008. The IJG was named a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to E.O. 13224 on May 25, 2005.

Under E.O. 13224, any assets these three individuals hold under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the designees.

Identifying Information

FRITZ MARTIN GELOWICZ
AKAs: Abdullah Gelowicz; Fritz Martin Abdullah Gelowicz; Fritz Martin Abdullah Gelowitz; Benzl; Robert Konars; Markus Gebert
DOB: September 1, 1979
Alt. DOB: April 10, 1979
POB: Munich, Germany
Alt. POB: Liege, Belgium
Citizenship: German
Personal ID Card: No. 7020783883
Passport: German, 7020069907
Address: Prison at Stuttgart-Stammheim, Germany
Former Address: Boefinger Weg 20, 89075 Ulm, Germany
Alt. Former Address: Eberhardstrasse 70, 89073 Ulm, Germany

DANIEL MARTIN SCHNEIDER
AKA: Martin Daniel Schneider
DOB: September 9, 1985
POB: Neunkirchen, Germany
Citizenship: German
Federal ID Card: No. 2318229333
Passport: German, 2318047793
Address: Prison at Schwalmstadt, Germany
Former Address:
Petrusstrasse 32
66125 Herrensohr Dudweiler
Saarbruecken, Germany
Alt. Former Address:
zum Gruehlingsstollen 1A
66299 Friedrichstahl, Germany
Alt. Former Address:
Rosenstrasse 2
66299 Friedrichstahl, Germany

ADEM YILMAZ
DOB: November 4, 1978
Alt. DOB: April 11, 1978
POB: Bayburt, Turkey
Citizenship: Turkish
Passport: Turkish, TR-P 614166
Alt Passport: Turkish, 0018850
Address: Prison at Weiterstadt, Germany
Former Address:
Sudliche Ringstrasse 133
63225 Langen, Germany