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Meeting with Arms Dealer Monzer Al Kassar

News Type: Event — Seeded on Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:35 PM EDT
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Indicted Syrian arms dealer Monzer Al Kassar has shown up around the world dealing arms in all sorts of conflicts since the 1970s. I met him in Marbella in 2006, in a rare interview in the lavish palace where he lived, before his arrest and indictment. He's finally in the US, now, facing a federal judge over the charges he conspired to sell arms to FARC, the Colombian rebel group.

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{"commentId":1980712,"authorDomain":"aicsteel"}
Mike Young

I am pleased to see the success of this arrest. I hope it concludes with a conviction. The bad guys in the world terrorist groups have all the advantages and the Government must work from a weak position

{"commentId":1980712,"threadId":"290889","contentId":"1580986","authorDomain":"aicsteel"}
    Reply#1 - Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:49 PM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":1980779,"authorDomain":"aicsteel"}
    Mike Young

    I am pleased to see the success of this arrest. I hope it concludes with a conviction. The bad guys in the world terrorist groups have all the advantages and the Government must work from a weak position.
    Mike Young

    {"commentId":1980779,"threadId":"290889","contentId":"1580986","authorDomain":"aicsteel"}
      Reply#2 - Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:00 PM EDT
      {"commentId":1980844,"authorDomain":"aramroston"}
      Aram Roston

      It was an interesting undercover operation, a sting, run by the DEA.

      {"commentId":1980844,"threadId":"290889","contentId":"1580986","authorDomain":"aramroston"}
        Reply#3 - Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:13 PM EDT
        {"commentId":1982435,"authorDomain":"pd-1"}
        Peter D

        Quite apart from a very interesting story, it's a relief to see real American Journalism can still shine, congratulations.

        From a Canadian

        {"commentId":1982435,"threadId":"290889","contentId":"1580986","authorDomain":"pd-1"}
          Reply#4 - Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:08 PM EDT
          {"commentId":1983074,"authorDomain":"warhatefan"}
          Nibar Rabin

          .
          I like his comments "The bad people for you may be the good people for me and the good people for me may be the bad people for you." and "If you're on the side of the Israelis, then he's a terrorist of course. You call him a terrorist, but I don't allow you to call him a terrorist."
          Too bad, real American Journalism does not highlight the atrocities committed by the Zionist state.
          . Stop war Fan

          {"commentId":1983074,"threadId":"290889","contentId":"1580986","authorDomain":"warhatefan"}
            Reply#5 - Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:43 PM EDT
            {"commentId":1983093,"authorDomain":"warhatefan"}
            Nibar Rabin

            I like his comments "The bad people for you may be the good people for me and the good people for me may be the bad people for you." and "If you're on the side of the Israelis, then he's a terrorist of course. You call him a terrorist, but I don't allow you to call him a terrorist."
            Too bad, real American Journalism does not highlight the atrocities committed by the Zionist state.

            War hate fan

            {"commentId":1983093,"threadId":"290889","contentId":"1580986","authorDomain":"warhatefan"}
              Reply#6 - Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:47 PM EDT
              {"commentId":1983103,"authorDomain":"warhatefan"}
              Nibar Rabin

              I like his comments "The bad people for you may be the good people for me and the good people for me may be the bad people for you." and "If you're on the side of the Israelis, then he's a terrorist of course. You call him a terrorist, but I don't allow you to call him a terrorist."
              Too bad, real American Journalism does not highlight the atrocities committed by the Zionist state.

              War hate fan

              {"commentId":1983103,"threadId":"290889","contentId":"1580986","authorDomain":"warhatefan"}
                Reply#7 - Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:48 PM EDT
                {"commentId":1986224,"authorDomain":"aramroston"}
                Aram Roston

                Well, Monzer Al Kassar's trial date has been set as November 3, 2008.

                {"commentId":1986224,"threadId":"290889","contentId":"1580986","authorDomain":"aramroston"}
                  Reply#8 - Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:30 PM EDT
                  {"commentId":1986230,"authorDomain":"aramroston"}
                  Aram Roston

                  Well, Monzer Al Kassar's trial date has been set as November 3, 2008.

                  {"commentId":1986230,"threadId":"290889","contentId":"1580986","authorDomain":"aramroston"}
                    Reply#9 - Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:31 PM EDT
                    {"commentId":1989546,"authorDomain":"RMMM"}
                    Ron, Orlando, Fl

                    Is it just me, or is anyone else able to read between the lines? 'Monster' Al Kassar says he started in the arms business under the sponsorship of Communist Yemen. Osama Bin Laden's mother is Yemeni. So, it should be fairly obvious what his belief system is. Further, the pictures so proudly displayed throughout his palace reinforces that. And don't forget his statement that 'If it were true, I'd be proud to assist the Iraq insurgency, if it were true'. Whatever business you're in, you have personal beliefs; it's just not that everyone gets to work in the field they personally believe in. Sure, the guy's a P.O.S. and I hope he never sees the light of day again (it wouldn't look right if we just offed him. We have to make a show of "bringing him to justice"). He's doing his part to further radical Islamist beliefs, while trying to use our system against us, like the rest of them. I'm fine with doing whatever is necessary to maintain our way of life, but I also believe the current leadership has found the way to use our system against us to benefit the few also, only their beliefs seem to focus on greed, power, and christian fundamentalism instead of islamic fundamentalism and a 7th century lifestyle.

                    {"commentId":1989546,"threadId":"290889","contentId":"1580986","authorDomain":"RMMM"}
                      Reply#10 - Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:53 PM EDT
                      {"commentId":1991335,"authorDomain":"lescolemanlll"}
                      Les Colemanlll

                      I must conclude that AlKassar had become too much of a Hot Potato to continue as a DEA informant. His DEA ID # was SX9841689. His handlers were based at the DEA Country Attache Office, US Embassy, Cyprus. If you desire to know the history of this protected Bad Guy, read Trail of the Octopus. The trial will never happen, deals will be made and State Secrets protected.
                      God Bless America !!

                      {"commentId":1991335,"threadId":"290889","contentId":"1580986","authorDomain":"lescolemanlll"}
                        Reply#11 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:04 AM EDT
                        {"commentId":1992790,"authorDomain":"gtrmac"}
                        Mac-335488

                        I remember watching an episode of Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous, the old TV show with the aptly named Robin Leech. In the episode he was visiting the "international businessman" Adnan Kashoggi. Filmed on his yacht, which was populated with models and starlets, there was never any mention of the fact that the man was an arms dealer who would later be linked to the 9/11 attacks. What an upside down world the media presents! Such is life in a decadent society. One minute the man is drinking champagne with Mr. Leech on prime time television, the next he is a fugitive from the U.S. government. Actually, Saddam Hussein had a similar fate but he had to swing from a rope by the neck.

                        {"commentId":1992790,"threadId":"290889","contentId":"1580986","authorDomain":"gtrmac"}
                          Reply#12 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:24 AM EDT
                          {"commentId":1996017,"authorDomain":"thomasgreen11"}
                          Thomas I Green

                          Interesting: if you substituted "the United States" in place of "Al Kassar" whenever making such allegations you might have a more accurate picture of arms dealers' activities in the Middle East, to say the least (not to mention the other parts of the world we create turmoil in) but, more accurate than that, you'ld have to really substitute "the United States-Israel".

                          {"commentId":1996017,"threadId":"290889","contentId":"1580986","authorDomain":"thomasgreen11"}
                            Reply#13 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:29 PM EDT
                            {"canLink":false,"threadId":"290889","isPrivate":false}
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