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| Fifth Column |
| Exposing Terror Financing: Who is Treasury Protecting Under Its Veil of Secrecy? |
| 2008-07-29 |
| By Andrew Cochran It has been nearly seven years since the September 11th attacks, but the U.S. Treasury Department continues to shield critical information from the public about the financial activities of Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT). Treasury has evaded demands for improved disclosure of its investigations. The public has a right and a need to know the factual findings of these important investigations, such as the names of the terrorists and important details of their financial records. Such disclosures will allow the public, specifically financial institutions, to ensure that terrorists are unable to move money through the banking system. It will also allow victims of terrorism to obtain the necessary information to know who is responsible for their injuries and losses. Shielding these important facts from the public domain allows terrorists to exploit bureaucratic turf-battles to wage their deadly jihad. To date, Treasury has not publicly provided a sound reason for this secrecy. The time has come to change these policies. |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #7 "The public has a right and a need to know the factual findings of these important investigations," NO IT DOES NOT! THe public does not have a right to know intelligence data. sometimes you leave a big source running in place, especially a good one, that is trusted by the enemy, and completely unaware that he is compromised. Following the money is what treasury does. This is politicization of the process, and may cost the intelligence community valuable sources. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-07-29 21:27 |
| #6 Anomalies were found in increased short-sell contracts with brokers of tourist industry stocks - cruise companies, listed resorts, etc - prior to 9-11. Buyers sold same soon after the tragedy. While there was some initial disclosures, the story died. I endorse the offical position on 9-11, but I am concerned of areas of coverup. It is true that the Justice Dept submitted an Amicus brief in support of the position of the Saudi government - and private individuals in the Saud royal family - in the 9-11 lawsuit. Cui bono? |
| Posted by: Omuger Oppressor of the Veal Cutlets1477 2008-07-29 19:05 |
| #5 Saudi oil minister perhaps? |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-07-29 10:51 |
| #4 Most likely they are trying to keep their sources, means of detection and the amount of information they have secret. This is more important than wiretaps...choking their revenue stream will bring them to heel sooner.....as witness the number of AQ defectors complaining about low pay, lack of pay, etc., etc., |
| Posted by: James Carville 2008-07-29 10:46 |
| #3 The public has a right and a need to know Ok. It's Saudis---happy? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-07-29 10:07 |
| #2 gromky, you may be right but it also reveals methods and means. The NYT's would love to get that info so it could be passed on to the "public". |
| Posted by: tipover 2008-07-29 01:13 |
| #1 A sound reason? How about American friends of the Saudis would lose money? That's a pretty sound reason to me. |
| Posted by: gromky 2008-07-29 00:23 |