US Treasury Targets Hizballah Network in Africa

by Rhonda J Mangus | May 27, 2009 at 06:26 pm
482 views | 36 Recommendations | 14 comments

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US Treasury Targets Hizballah Network in Africa | Photo 02

US Treasury Targets Hizballah Network in Africa | Photo 02

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US Department of the Treasury targeted Kassim Tajideen and Abd Al Menhem Qubaysi, under E. O. 13224, an Executive Order signed by former President G. W. Bush on September 23, 2001, in response to the September 11, 2001 attack on New York City. E.O. 13224 authorizes, in part, the US government to designate and block assets of foriegn individuals and entities that commit, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism.


Kassim Tajideen is an important financial contributor to Hizballah who operates a network of businesses in Lebanon and Africa. He has contributed tens of millions of dollars to Hizballah and has sent funds to Hizballah through his brother, a Hizballah commander in Lebanon. In addition, Kassim Tajideen and his brothers run cover companies for Hizballah in Africa. In 2003, Tajideen was arrested in Belgium in connection with fraud, money laundering, and diamond smuggling.

 

Abd Al Menhem Qubaysi is a Cote d'Ivoire-based Hizballah supporter and is the personal representative of Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. Qubaysi communicates with Hizballah leaders and has hosted senior Hizballah officials traveling to Cote d'Ivoire and other parts of Africa to raise money for Hizballah. Qubaysi plays a visible role in Hizballah activities in Cote d'Ivoire, including speaking at Hizballah fundraising events and sponsoring meetings with high-ranking members of the terrorist organization.

Qubaysi also helped establish an official Hizballah foundation in Cote d'Ivoire which has been used to recruit new members for Hizballah's military ranks in Lebanon.


Background on the Lebanon-based terrorist group can be read here.

The Annex to Executive Order 12947 of January 23, 1995 listed Hizballah as a Specially Designated Terrorist (SDT). The Department of State designated Hizballah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in 1997.  On October 31, 2001, Hizballah was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224.

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1
Amy Judd

Interesting - I hadn't heard of this story at all.

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Rhonda J Mangus

Thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation, Amy. What I find interesting is that in just under two weeks, Lebanese will go to the polls to elect a new parliament -- I don't believe in coincidence:).



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Amy Judd

You're right, there is no such thing as coincidence when it comes to matters like that for sure.

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Rhonda J Mangus

I agree:).  Interesting video:  Lebanon's Hariri rules out deal with Hezbollah - 26 May 09.





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Babel-Fish
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration moved Wednesday to impose financial sanctions on two men accused of providing financial support to the Hezbollah terror group.

The Treasury Department's action covers Kassim Tajideen, who operates a network of businesses in Lebanon and Africa, and Abd al Menhem Qubaysi, whose base of operation is Cote d' Ivoire in Western Africa.

Any bank accounts of other financial assets found in the United States that belong to the men must be frozen. Americans also are prohibited from doing business with them.

The department alleges that Tajideen has contributed "tens of millions of dollars" to Hezbollah and has sent money to the group through his brother, who is a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon. The department also alleges that Tajideen and his brothers run "cover companies" for Hezbollah in Africa. In 2003, Tajideen was arrested in Belgium in connection with fraud, money laundering and diamond smuggling, the department said
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Rhonda J Mangus

Babel-Fish, thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation. Thank you for the additional information as well. I'm curious, what do you think about this matter. Thanks!


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Babel-Fish

As you may of guessed I am trying to research Kassim Tajideen to get a background picture, its something I like to do before commenting.

Internet wize Kassim Tajideen has a very low profile and I can not as yet find a political connection to see if he is tied up in his governments political issues. Seemingly other than a connection to the Belgium Trade and Industry Minister, one meeting, there is hardly any evidence connecting him to the up and coming elections.

But of course he is one of the Lebonese elite capitalist and sure to have his finger in the pie. Possibly this will lead to a pre-election scandal. .  

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Rhonda J Mangus

"Why is it just now this guy that keeps a very low profile name has come out of the inteligent communities large hat." 

I have no idea but, as I mentioned to Amy, I don't believe that this is coincidence (and I am by no means an expert here). Definitely one to watch, I think. Thanks for getting back!



0
Paschen

We have as many Terrorist organizations as we have Countries and maybe even as many as we have political parties, fortunately though most are dormant.

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integrityforamerica

The worst of this will not be the money we can catch as it moves around but i am more concerned about the forensics process with the hidden money within legitimate corporations that are not keyed into these executive orders.  We have to stop the moving of terrorist money especially the money laundered in legitimate companies. (well i guess they are not legitimate humm)

www.integrityforamerica.org

www.twitter.com/integritynews

integrityforamerica.blogspot.com

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PIM of SPAIN

Terrorist can't be eliminated, wherever and whenever, because of the close cooperation between the Mafia and such groups. In Spain the ETA supplied the Mafia with drugs from Columbia against weapons supplied bij the mafia to specification. The two go hand in hand all over the world. And weapon suppliers -middleman- maintain the business flowing. No Executive Order can change that. Even high esteemed people charged with the execution of the E.O. are implicated as gang-members, as recently has been discovered in Mexico.

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jazzyzazzy

at least this is out in the open as paschen says there are many underground terrorist its the ones we dont know about that worry me most, if that makes sense.

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JoeSchmoe

If Hezbollah and its opposition party win during the election it will be through popular support not because of individuals financing the organization, whether it be 1 million or otherwise..  Hezbollah is ingrained into Lebanese society and most of the development that goes on in the poorer Shia neighbourhoods of Beirut and Lebanon for that matter is not done by the government, its done by them.. Hezbollah is much more than a 'terrorist organization'.. They build schools, hospitals, roads, houses for people that lost their own and much more.. They freed Lebanon from 22 years of Israeli occupation singlehandedly.. Lebanon's army is too weak to stand up to the Israeli army and as a result, Lebanon has no form of security besides the organization.. They're represented in the government lets not forget..

Yes they have done things in the past that are clearly acts of terrorism.. But looking at their recent history they havent.. And using the kidnapping of the soldiers as an example, there are many innocent Palestinians as well as Lebanese in Israeli prisons which are there without merit or charge, some which have been there for more than 2 decades.. The soldiers were kidnapped to trade for those people.. Whats to be done about them? What about Gaza? What about Qana 1 and 2..? Why do we always tend to turn a blind eye to these things, but are quick to point the finger of blame on matters which we, frankly, know nothing about.. The Shiia are the poor of Lebanon and thats something which is evident if you were to ever visit the place.. The north is much more affluent and rich, organized, educated.. The south is waiting for the wealth to be spread, and Hezbollah is fighting for that right.. Hariri Senior was close to agreeing a deal with Hezbollah before he was assassinated yet everyone blames his death on Syria and Hezbollah.. How does that make any sense? Why would they assassinate him when they were so close to agreeing a deal which would give them more political power in the government? People choose to ignore these facts and we shouldnt..

Over 50 spies have been caught in Lebanon in the past year, all working for Israel.. With so many spies in Lebanon and a few high profile assassinations, it would make perfect sense if our government was the one collaborating with Israel in order to stop the deal from going through and as a result putting great amounts of pressure on Hezbollah locally as well as internationally.. The spies are as high profile as they get, men with lots of political power and men who could easily get information on political figures.. Conspiracy theory? Maybe.. Coincidence..? I think not

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PIM of SPAIN

"Hezbollah is ingrained into Lebanese society and most of the development that goes on in the poorer Shia neighbourhoods of Beirut and Lebanon for that matter is not done by the government, its done by them.. Hezbollah is much more than a 'terrorist organization'.."



So does the Mafia, not only in Italy, wherever they think its beneficial for them. No free lunches whatsoever!

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Amy Judd
First Flagged at 7:01 PM, May 27, 2009 by Amy Judd
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