Over the last week, the Western-backed Lebanese government and Hezbollah protesters engaged in bloody clashes. Meanwhile, in Paris, France, an international donors' conference raised some $7.6 billion (€5.9 billion) to help rebuild Lebanon's economy, which was ravaged during last summer's 34-day war between Hezbollah and Israel.
"I am deeply disappointed by the recent violence and bloodshed on the streets of Lebanon," Bush said. "It is all the more troubling that the violence occurred while Lebanon's legitimate leaders and friends were gathered in Paris to help secure a peaceful and prosperous future for the country."
Bush said that total U.S. support to help bring peace and development to Lebanon will be roughly $1 billion (€770 million) in less than six months should Congress support his funding request. The United States pledged $230 million (€178 million) at a Lebanon pledging conference last August in Stockholm, Sweden. - IHT
There is no extradition treaty between Lebanon and the US. That's fine, but for a couple hundred million dollars, I bet that the Lebanese Government will find a way to make this happen, or see that something unfortunate happens to him, as this guy can only be a liability to the Government. Even worse, he is surely to be an asset to Hizbullah. And that is the last thing the Lebanese Government needs at the moment.Just in case you don't know what this guy is wanted for, here is what the US would like to charge him with:
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT AIRCRAFT PIRACY, TO COMMIT HOSTAGE TAKING, TO COMMIT AIR PIRACY RESULTING IN MURDER, TO INTERFERE WITH A FLIGHT CREW, TO PLACE A DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE ABOARD AN AIRCRAFT, TO HAVE EXPLOSIVE DEVICES ABOUT THE PERSON ON AN AIRCRAFT, AND TO ASSAULT PASSENGERS AND CREW; AIR PIRACY RESULTING IN MURDER; AIR PIRACY; HOSTAGE TAKING; INTERFERENCE WITH FLIGHT CREW; AND PLACING EXPLOSIVES ABOARD AIRCRAFT; PLACING DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES ABOARD AIRCRAFT; ASSAULT ABOARD AIRCRAFT WITH INTENT TO HIJACK WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON AND RESULTING IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY; AIDING AND ABETTING - FBI
These charges stem from the hijacking of TWA 847 and the execution of US Navy diver Robert Stethem:
He was returning from an assignment in Nea Makri, Greece aboard TWA Flight 847 when it was hijacked by members of the Lebanese terrorist organization Hizbullah. They demanded the release of 435 Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
When their demands were not met, Stethem was singled out. The hijackers learned he was a member of the U.S. military. They beat and tortured him. Then, they shot him and dumped his body on the tarmac at the Beirut airport. - Wikipedia
This man deserves to be behind bars, in the United States. He was behind bars in Germany until the Germany Government stuck it to us and let him go, to a country they knew we could not extradite him from.
Current and former American officials said they had pushed for two decades to gain custody of Hammadi and try him in a U.S. courtroom, but they ran into political and legal resistance from Germany. U.S. prosecutors originally sought Hammadi's extradition after he was arrested at the Frankfurt airport in 1987, but Germany denied the request and put him on trial locally instead.
Victoria Toensing, a former Justice Department official in the Reagan administration who oversaw efforts to extradite Hammadi in 1987, said German authorities threw obstacles in the way of U.S. prosecutors at that time and only reluctantly cooperated.
"They were not open at all," she recalled. "We knew he would be released early, way back then." - Washington Post
Just because the Germans gave this guy a free pass does not mean that we should let Lebanon do the same. Since we are getting ready to assist Lebanon, now is the perfect time to get our hands on this one terrorist. To do so, we need to tell them that they will not see a dime of aid money until Hamadei is handed over.
As a bonus, the Lebanese Government could then collect on the (up to) $5 million that the US's Rewards for Justice Program is offering for him:
June 13, 1985: Terrorists hijack TWA Flight 847, killing Navy Diver Robert Stethem and dumping his body onto the tarmac.
To bring these murderers to justice, the United States Government is offering a reward of up to $5 million. The money is available under a program to obtain information that helps punish those responsible for past international terrorist acts against U.S. persons or property and prevent future such acts. - RFJ
Nobody is forcing Lebanon to take US Aid. However, if they do, they should be forced to do it on our terms. We should have at least this one precondition.
Here is a letter written by the brother of Robert Stethem to President Bush upon the release of his brother’s murder by the German authorities. I think the letter makes the point of why it is so important to get this guy.
Date: January 8, 2006 4:15:57 PM PST
Cc: vicepresident@whitehouse.gov
Subject: ROBERT DEAN STETHEM
Mr. President, I would like to provide you with an explanation as to why Muhammed Ali Hammadi's recent release by Germany, and your Administration's lack of any attempt to prevent it, is so upsetting to our family and to Americans everywhere. I am not writing you out of grief or anger but out of a hope that his example will inspire you to follow act on your own words and the dictates of your conscious in this War on Terror.
Robert Dean Stethem was singled out, beaten beyond recognition and tortured in order to make him scream into a transmitter (so that the tower would send a fuel truck). Not a cry was heard to come from him, despite the brutal beating he endured. Instead he chose to remain silent and endure the beatings because he knew that the only way a rescue attempt could be conducted by U.S. forces was if the aircraft remained on the ground.
After Robert was beaten and tortured and bleeding from puncture wounds all over his body, he was placed next to a 16-year old Australian girl. As bad as Robert was beaten, he had the courage and strength to comfort and console her. He told her that, "She would be okay and that she would get out of here alive." When she tried to return the comfort, he said, "No, I don't think so. I am the only one in my group that is not married and some of the guys have children, too." Some time later, Robert was again taken up to the cockpit and tortured in order to get the fuel. But it didn't work, he would not give in to them.
One of the hijackers, Muhammed Ali Hammadi, was so enraged that he dragged Robert to the door, pulled a trigger and shot Robert in the head. Then he dumped Robert's body onto the tarmac.
While Robert was being dragged to the door, he knew that all he had to do in order to live was to cry into that transmitter, but he wouldn't do it. He would not give in to the demands of the terrorists. He would not allow the honor and dignity of America to be intimidated by the fear and pain that Hammadi and terrorists everywhere represent. Robert sacrificed his life in order to protect our liberty and defend our way of life.
You have rightly said, "Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done." You have truly said that "We are in a fight for our principles, and our first responsibility is to live by them." Robert lived by them. Robert also died by them. The motto of the USS SSTETHEM (DDG-63), named in Robert's honor, is "Steadfast and Courageous." I hope that his example, and the example of other heroes like him can inspire you to understand why allowing Germany to release Hammadi was a wrong. Justice was not done, Robert was not honored and Americans are not safer by allowing Hammadi to return to Lebanon and Hezbollah. You know this, we know this and the American people know this. The Stethem family - NRO
Mr. Hamadi was the triggerman. Our Government should not hand over hundreds of millions in aid until he has been turned over.
Bush condemns violence in Lebanon - International Herald Tribune
TWA Flight 847 - Wikipedia
MOHAMMED ALI HAMADEI - FBI Most Wanted Terrorist
Mohammed Ali Hammadi - Wikipedia
Whose Side is Germany On? - FFI
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