A Pakistani vendor hangs posters of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden at his road side book stall in Peshawar.
WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President George W. Bush renewed for one year an asset freeze on terrorist chief Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda network as well as groups like Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad.
In a letter to key US lawmakers explaining the move, Bush cited “grave acts of violence committed by foreign terrorists that disrupt the Middle East peace process.”
“Terrorist groups continue to engage in activities that have the purpose or effect of threatening the Middle East peace process and that are hostile to United States interests in the region,” he said.
“Such actions constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States,” said the president.
“For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared with respect to foreign terrorists who threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace process and to maintain in force the economic sanctions against them to respond to this threat,” said Bush.
Wild Thing’s comment……
This surprised me, why do we have to make sure this asset freeze is renewed regarding Osama? How odd, I would think since we are at war with Islam any terrorist group, leader, organization would not have to be renewed on any level about anything. Hmmmm strange.
Asset Freeze?????? Why in blue blazes aren’t we USING those monies to help rebuild ground zero or finance the war on terror? A freeze leads to the assumption that we intend to give it back. For what, more attacks? An attorney if captured alive? Or just as a reasom to hold on, gee BIN, just one more year and you get the keys to the car back!!!!
I wonder what people on other planets would think of this.
(anybody know if Hitler’s assets are still frozen?)
Looks like a Kerryesque move to me or another international law move by the Hague to protect Osammie’a assets in case they decide we were wrong to attack his organization. Wouldn’t want to offend a potential friend now would we? This clearly shows bipartisanship from both sides of the D&R party and a cohesive bond of like kinship. Karl is probably looking down and nodding in approval at George’s latest humanitarian gesture. Hurry back to the ranch George or you’ll be late for dinner with Vladimir Putin and miss out on ‘lets make a deal’.
Billy……”I wonder what people on other planets would think of this.”….good one. They would think we are pretty stupid and we are. augh
Jack, it just amazes the heck out of me. Your right, it screams how we just do not want to offend. What else could it be. So weird, and makes no sense at all.