U.S. Treasury Department Designates Hizballah's Media Arms as Terrorist Entities
By Walid Phares
The U.S. Treasury Department today designated the al-Manar television operation, al Nour Radio, and the Lebanese Media Group, parent company to both al-Manar and al Nour Radio, as Specially Designated Global Terrorist Entities. Under Secretary Stuart Levey made it clear why the media arms were designated: "Any entity maintained by a terrorist group whether masquerading as a charity, a business, or a media outlet is as culpable as the terrorist group itself." Al-Manar has also supported the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. The State Department had placed al Manar on the Terrorist Exclusion List in December 2004, thus barring aliens who engage in a range of actions involving Al-Manar from entering the United States.
This very positive announcement also proves that a nonpartisan, grassroots organization can move the U.S. government towards action against terrorism. The Coalition Against Terrorist Media, a coalition of numerous groups (including Muslim and Jewish organizations) and founded by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, worked tirelessly for the designation and obtained the support of Congressmen from both sides of the aisle. Todays action gives the government the tools it needs to cripple al-Manars broadcasts, which spread the Iranian regimes propaganda, support terrorism, recruit suicide bombers, and incite violent attacks, said Mark Dubowitz, COO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
I have discussed al-Manar's role as jihaist propagandist often on this blog - here is just one example.
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