Counterterrorism Blog:
The U.S. Treasury Department today designated Dr. Abdul Latif Saleh, a business associate of Yasin Kadi and funder of al Qaeda, as a Specially Designated terrorism sponsor. While the number of designations by Treasury has dwindled sharly since early 2002, this was an important step in dealing with the Qadi group that has continued terrorist financial operations in the Balkans, according to U.S. government officials. Qadi was designated in October 2001, and, as one of Saudi Arabia's wealthiest and most prominent businessmen, has continued to deny any ties to terrorism. The Treasury Department announcement can be read here.
What makes Saleh interesting is that he is tied to the "charitable" al Haramain Foundation, one of the primier Saudi charities that is officially "non-governmental," but in fact closely tied to senior officials. The other interesting aspect is his work in Albania, where he founded a radical Islamic group bent on wreaking havoc in the Balkans. According to the designation, Osama bin Laden provided $600,000 to Saleh to set up his Albanian activities. Albania has become a stronghold of organized crime and terrorism in recent years. Officials in the Balkans view Albania as the most corrupted and criminalized state in the region, which is indeed saying alot. So desgnation's statement that the Qadi group continues to operate there, unimpeded, when almost all legitimate businessmen have been driven out.
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