Washington Warns of Attempts to Finance Terrorism via Lebanon's Banks
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing Daniel Glaser reportedly warned during a short visit to Beirut from attempts to involve Lebanese banks in money laundering operations to finance terrorism.
According to al-Akhbar newspaper published on Wednesday, Glaser, who met with Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and a delegation from the Lebanese Association of Banks, said that funds to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) from some Gulf countries could pass through Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey.
He pointed out that “banks in Lebanon could be used to reach the global banking sector,” sources told al-Akhbar newspaper.
The U.S. official also discussed measures that would reduce the flow of illicit money, which could be used to fund terrorist organizations and operations.
For his part, head of the Association of Banks in Lebanon Francois Bassil stressed Lebanon's keenness to combat money laundering and the funding of terrorism.
Glaser, according to a statement issued by the U.S. embassy in Beirut on Tuesday, encouraged Lebanese authorities and financial institutions to continue their work to combat the threat of illicit financing and prevent attempts to evade U.S. and international financial sanctions from Iran and Syria, in particular.
He also met with Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Minister of Finance Ali Hassan Khalil, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jebran Bassil and Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq.
He reiterated the U.S. commitment to work with Lebanon to continue protecting Lebanon’s financial system from abuse by terrorism threats.
H.K.
G.K.
18 March 2015, 08:06
47
But hizbollah's money that goes through and is in Lebanese banks is not of concern to the USA.
18 March 2015, 13:37
62
The US knows full well who is funding ISIS and the likes, but are doing nothing about it.
http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2015/february/19/gen-wesley-clark-isis-got-started-with-funding-from-our-closest-allies/
If you want to do something about ISIS you can start by stopping its funding at the source, stop arming and training them, but in any case, stop trying to use Lebanese banks as a scapegoat, or using the pretext of terrorism to wrench more control on our financial institutions.
18 March 2015, 13:40
52
More about US funding of terrorist groups, through proxies:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/15/world/asia/cia-funds-found-their-way-into-al-qaeda-coffers.html
18 March 2015, 16:23
21
(2) Winds of change. The security onus will shift from Hezbollah to the Lebanese State's Army thus will force one way or the other Hezbollah to move from a militia to a political party. Right now the US is working on a carrot and stick system, pulling Hezbollah off its blacklist, but provided. Those who yesterday rejoiced should think further, the time is not for rejoicing but more so for contemplation and meditation, what awaits Hezbollah as of now means that it will be put on the chopping block of political deals and counter deals, those who always seemed to have entertained the idea that Hezbollah will be removed militarily may have to recalculate, it seems that the political solution may rule the day as of now onwards and here Hezbollah will be deprived of all excuses to continue its armed presence. Let us wait as of now to see how these changes will start, but it's more like Lebanese Army in the anscendency and Hezbollah in the descendency.
18 March 2015, 16:24
21
(1). Winds of change are now beginning to be felt in Lebanon. First, the US has achieved most of its objectives in the Middle East, Daesh will be "gradually" defeated as will Boko Haram. The Lebanese Army will receive all the weapons promised it between now and the 3 years to come, planes included. In Israel, whoever wins will have to toe a line of dialog instead of war, thus the gradual reduction of Hezbollah's role and its need to cling to the excuse of Israeli threat. The Iran Nuclear file will reach a compromise mutual agreement between the US, its allies on the one hand and Iran, thus sanctions will be lifted soon after. Iran will compromise on many issues, nuclear, its role in the M.E and Hezbollah will be included in the deal, this starting with the US striking it off its terrorist list, but Hezbollah will continue to see its assets worldwide under threats.
18 March 2015, 17:34
13
the day you ll add the assad regime to your list of enemies THEN Lebanon will not be divided... till then cheering and defending a regime that harmed Lebanon as much if not more than israel will make M8ers antilebanese people and worth no respect whatsoever....
