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Syria-Lebanon
Lebanon Finance Minister Banned From U.S.
2003-06-15
BEIRUT, Greater Syria Lebanon (AP) - Lebanese Finance Minister Fuad Saniora has been banned from entering the United States for giving money to a society accused of links to the Hezbollah guerrilla group, the minister's spokesman said Sunday.
What's so unusual about that?
U.S. Ambassador Vincent Battle told Saniora of the ban two weeks ago. Saniora's spokesman said the minister donated 1 million Lebanese pounds, or $650, last year to the Islamic Benevolent Society headed by Grand Ayatollah Sheik Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, often cited as a spiritual leader of Hezbollah. The Lebanese guerrilla group backs the Palestinian uprising and is listed in Washington as a supporter of terrorism.
$650 is walking around money in Chicago. That doesn't buy you a zoning variance from an alderman.
And Mullah Fudlullah sez he's split with Hezbollah. Now they're just good friends...
According to the spokesman, the U.S. ambassador told Saniora that a new U.S. anti-terror law imposes sanctions against groups or individuals who make contributions to organizations considered supporters of terrorism. Saniora argued the donation was part of his religious requirement to give alms, one of the five pillars of Islam.
"My faith required me to buy that rifle ammobaby milk!"
Capable Muslims are required by their religion to give a percentage of their annual income for distribution to poor and needy co-religionists, often at the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Collecting alms at gatherings to end a day's fasting is a common practice. Saniora's spokesman said the minister told Battle that if applied, the anti-terror act would affect thousands of Lebanese who make such donations.
Clever lad, he's catching on!
Saniora is a close confidant of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a pro-Western Sunni Muslim who has often been at odds with Hezbollah. Saniora also has come under sharp criticism from Hezbollah for his fiscal and taxation policies.
We put Capone away on tax evasion. Wonder if Saniora ... ... ... ... nah!!!!
Posted by:Steve White

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