Terrorist money trail still leads to U.S.-based charities

Houston Chronicle ^ | June 10, 2005 | Victor Comras

[phoenix_004]

Funds still flowing all too freely to al-Qaida, others

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the United States and several other countries have touted their success in identifying terrorist cells and cutting off terrorism financing. The pace of terrorist recruitment and activities appears to be accelerating, not decreasing, and the number of terrorist attacks continues to grow. And evidence is mounting that large sums are still being raised and transferred to al-Qaida terrorists, including the insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.

U.N.-designated al-Qaida financiers such as Nada and Ahmed Idris Nasreddin continue to run their business networks from their headquarters in Campione d'Italia and Rabat, Morocco. Yassin Qadi, a Saudi millionaire who has been listed by the United Nations as a supporter of terrorism, continues to direct his international business empire from Switzerland and Saudi Arabia.

Several large Islamic charities, despite their designation by the United States and the United Nations as sources of terrorism funding, also continue operating. The Saudi government pledged to close the al Haramain Islamic Foundation and its branches around the world, and to more closely monitor the outward flow of charitable funds, but there are few indications it has actually done so. Al Haramain branches remain operational in several countries, while other branches have merely changed their names. And little has been done to prosecute the individuals in these charities responsible for funding terrorism. Charities in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries are still being used to raise money for the Iraqi insurgency.

We must hold those responsible for administering charitable funds to the highest standards of accountability. There can be no impunity for permitting charitable funds to flow into the hands of terrorists.

[phoenix_004]

It's worrying to note that even years after launching the war on terrorism ,we are still finding it impossible to put an end to this!!!

[patj]

And how does the Houston Chron. know about these charities? Obviously, someone is on to them. We can't force other countries to do what they should do. At least not immediately.

[nuconvert]

You make it sound like it's been going on a long time. It hasn't. It's a worldwide problem. And other countries have to get serious about fighting this WOT too.
Pres. Bush said it was going to take yrs. He never promised a quick fix.

[ex-Texan]

Methinks that Switzerland office ought to suffer a big KAABOOM ! next week.

[CBart95]

let's not forget John and Teresa Kerry's TIDES Foundation grants to terrorist fostering causes. It's all documented...and it should not be forgotten or overlooked.It's all a wonderful ledacy of our fellow citizens, the Democrats.