Jerusalem – Lapid: If Obama Blocked Hezbollah Probe Over Iran Deal, He Should Give Back Nobel

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    FILE - U.S. President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Barack Obama laughs after receiving his medal and diploma from Nobel committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony at City Hall in Oslo December 10, 2009.REUTERSJerusalem – Israeli politicians lashed out at former US president Barack Obama after an expose in Politico alleged that his administration had blocked a major investigation into Hezbollah’s global drug trafficking activities so that Tehran would sign the 2015 deal to curb Iran’s nuclear activities.

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    “Obama must return his Nobel Peace Prize,” if the Politico story is correct, Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid said.

    “Israel warned repeatedly that there can be no connection between the nuclear deal and anti-terror activity, certainly against Hezbollah…We also warned of this specifically, because of the proven link between Hezbollah and Iran.”

    Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi wrote on Facebook that the report is not surprising, due to Obama’s “persistent efforts to give Iran, Nasrallah’s patron, legitimacy at any price. “Up until the Obama Administration, every American President fought terrorism uncompromisingly…I am convinced that the Trump Administration will not turn from that tradition and the outrageous and mistaken policy that was revealed this week will not be repeated,” Hanegbi said.

    The Politico piece details the efforts of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, which launched Project Cassandra in 2008. The group tracked Hezbollah’s global criminal syndicate operation, backed by Iran, including drug and weapons trafficking worth $1 billion annually.

    But while DEA gathered evidence, including of Iran backed activities in Latin America and the US, Politico charged that the Justice Department and other US authorities refused to file charges against major players.

    This included, according to Politico, “Hezbollah’s high-profile envoy to Iran, a Lebanese bank that allegedly laundered billions in alleged drug profits, and a central player in a US.-based cell of the Iranian paramilitary Quds force.”

    Among those against whom no US action was taken, was Ali Fayad, a suspected Hezbollah operative held from 2014 to 2015 by the Czech Republic.

    “The administration also rejected repeated efforts by Project Cassandra members to charge Hezbollah’s military wing as an ongoing criminal enterprise under a federal Mafia-style racketeering statute, task force members say,” according to the Politico article. It further charged that the Administration blocked other initiatives to give the Cassandra Project legal tools to halt Hezbollah activities.

    Even as far back as 2007, the article charged, that planes flew from Caracas to Syria and on to Tehran with drugs and cash, returning with arms and agents.

    The article relied heavily on the testimony of a former US Defense Department financial analyst, David Asher, who worked for the Cassandra Project. Asher also publicly testified to Congress in 2015 on the need to do more to combat Hezbollah’s criminal and financial activities.

    The article also put forward counter theories that would have accounted for the Obama Administration’s actions, including turf wars among different US agencies, the destabilization of Lebanon and reprisal terror attacks.

    Former Israeli ambassador to the US Michael Oren, currently a Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, said the news “wouldn’t surprise any Israeli involved in the attempts to prevent a bad nuclear deal with Iran.

    “It was clear that the government was willing to do anything to reach an agreement, including ignoring Iranian terror that took the lives of hundreds of Americans and Israelis and hundreds of thousands of Syrians,” Oren said. “This exposée and others that may be published in the future must strengthen our resolve…[to] significantly change this dangerous agreement.”

    Communications Minister Ayoob Kara called the report “excellent,” tweeting that the Obama administration allowed Hezbollah to grow stronger. “Does anyone still doubt why Obama was bad for Israel and how Trump is better for us?” Kara asked.


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    18 Comments
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    6 years ago

    “IF?!” obama ys”v deserved the prize about as much as arafat ys”v did.

    6 years ago

    Now what possible motive could Obama have had for all his pro arab/terror regime, anti Israel actions? Anyone still doubt he is a muslim just as his father was? Duh,

    bsnow
    bsnow
    6 years ago

    Obumer is an evil man. The man did enormous damage to this country!
    I mean every word.

    6 years ago

    He won it for nothing in the first place.

    lazy-boy
    Active Member
    lazy-boy
    6 years ago

    Obama did his evil quietly so no one should see it clearly and protest. He was one of the worst presidents since George Bush (both).

    Trump seems to have a problem with holding his mouth shut. We will see what he accomplishes with his big mouth..

    6 years ago

    I was and still am appalled at the decision to give Obama a Nobel. He had not demonstrated a single bit of behavior that would warrant a prize. He made statements, like any candidate for elected office would. But he had a zero credit history to extend him recognition for anything. Like his entire presidency, it looks good only when you spin the narrative. In reality, he was the most dangerous person to enter the WH. I wish him and his supporters lives that never again affect the population of the United States. yes, he was an evil man. There was nary a terrorist that he did not support and aid.

    bsnow
    bsnow
    6 years ago

    You moron, and you know who you are, who supported this evil man should be ashamed of yourselves, but liberals/leftist have no shame.
    Obumer was the most destructive president, the damage this man has done to the county and world will be felt for years to come.
    I hate obama!!

    AmYisroel
    AmYisroel
    6 years ago

    but f course hashomer yonasonw and other commenters here supported the obamanation no matter how anti Israel he was from giving iran billions of dollars to fund the murder of Jews to his evil abstention at the un to his condemning Israel at every turn

    triumphinwhitehouse
    triumphinwhitehouse
    6 years ago

    so the Kenyan interfered with an active investigation into drug trafficking, terrorism and money laundering, isn’t that a felony called OBSTRUCTION?