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Wednesday, August 15, 2007

U.S. in symbolic crackdown on terrorism sponsored by Iran, Syria

WASHINGTON — The United States has named Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist group and has also banned an Al Qaida-aligned militia based in Lebanon.

The Bush administration has imposed sanctions on Fatah Al Islam, which has been waging an insurrection against the Lebanese government since May 20. On Aug. 13, the State Department said Fatah Al Islam, based in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, was designated a "global terrorist group," Middle East Newsline reported.

Officials acknowledged that the sanctions on Fatah Al Islam, fighting from strongholds within the Palestinian refugee camp of Naher Al Bared, were largely symbolic. Fatah Al Islam, with a core group of about 1,500, was said to be supported by Syrian intelligence as well as Gulf Arab financiers.

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"It's part of our effort to support the [Prime Minister Fuad] Siniora government," an official said.

"This designation cuts off Fatah Al Islam from the U.S. financial system," the State Department said. "As a result of this designation, all property, and interests in property which Fatah Al Islam has in the U.S., or which enters the U.S. or comes under the control of U.S. persons, are blocked. This designation will be published in the Federal Register shortly."

[On Wednesday, the Washington Post and New York Times reported that the Bush administration has decided to declare Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist group. IRGC, with 125,000 soldiers, controls large parts of the Iranian economy and was believed to have assets in Europe.]

The department measure also bans Americans and their companies from any contact with Fatah Al Islam. The United States urged other countries to cut off financial sources of support to Fatah Al Islam and prevent movement of its members.

The administration has pledged to help Beirut fight Fatah Al Islam, which has used Katyusha rockets, rocket-propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices. The Siniora government has complained of a lack of U.S. military support.

"We need weapons, conventional and advanced ammunition," Lebanese Chief of Staff Gen. Michel Suleiman said on Aug. 13. "We didn't get anything but promises and best wishes and some ammunition, but no equipment. It's as though they are telling us, 'Die first and help will follow.'"

The United States has linked Fatah Al Islam to the assassination of an American diplomat in Jordan in 2002. They said Fatah Al Islam leader, Shaker Absi, sentenced to death in absentia in Amman, helped plan the shooting death of U.S. diplomat Lawrence Foley.

Absi has been missing since May 2006. The State Department said it did not know where Absi was located.

"The United States condemns the recent violence perpetrated by Fatah Al Islam in the Nahr Al Bared Palestinian refugee camp and supports the government of Lebanon and its security forces in their efforts to promote stability and rule of law throughout the country," the State Department said. "This terrorist group threatens the safety and security of the Lebanese people and the region."

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