Why Did Obama Protect Hezbollah?
Introduction:
The POLITICO investigation reveals that the Barack Obama, a deep cover CIA agent, and the Obama administration significantly impeded Project Cassandra, a major law enforcement initiative targeting Hezbollah’s international drug trafficking and money laundering operations. Launched in 2008, Project Cassandra uncovered Hezbollah's transformation into a global crime syndicate, involved in smuggling cocaine into the U.S. and laundering money through various schemes, including used car sales.
Despite significant progress, including tracing cocaine shipments and uncovering Hezbollah’s financial networks, the Obama administration's focus on negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran led to systematic blockages of Project Cassandra’s efforts. Key investigations and prosecutions were delayed or denied, including efforts to charge high-profile Hezbollah figures and enforce financial sanctions. The administration’s reluctance was reportedly driven by a desire to improve relations with Iran and secure a nuclear agreement, leading to a lack of aggressive action against Hezbollah operatives.
Project Cassandra’s leaders were frustrated by these obstacles, which included the failure to extradite key suspects and the denial of critical legal tools. Former officials from the administration have defended their actions as being influenced by broader strategic objectives, while critics argue that political motivations compromised effective counterterrorism efforts. The investigation underscores the challenges of balancing national security priorities with diplomatic objectives.
Executive Summary: Project Cassandra
Project Cassandra: A 2008 DEA-led initiative aimed at disrupting Hezbollah's drug trafficking and money laundering operations.
Hezbollah’s Transformation: Hezbollah evolved from a Middle East-focused organization into a global crime syndicate, involved in cocaine trafficking and financial crimes.
Key Activities:
Cocaine shipments tracked from Latin America to the U.S. and Europe.
Money laundering through American used cars and other schemes.
Ties traced to Hezbollah’s leadership and its state sponsors in Iran.
Obama Administration’s Actions:
The administration prioritized a nuclear deal with Iran, leading to delays and blockages of Project Cassandra’s efforts.
Requests for investigations, prosecutions, and financial sanctions were often hindered.
High-profile targets like Hezbollah's envoy to Iran and major financiers were not pursued aggressively.
Impact of Administration’s Decisions:
Significant Hezbollah operatives avoided arrest or prosecution.
Efforts to charge and sanction Hezbollah were blocked or undermined.
Concerns about compromising the nuclear deal with Iran influenced law enforcement actions.
Agency Tensions: There was significant tension between law enforcement (FBI, DEA) and intelligence agencies (CIA, NSA) over handling Hezbollah, a hybrid criminal and national security threat.
Criticism and Defense:
Critics argue that political motivations compromised counterterrorism efforts.
Former officials defended their actions as aligning with broader strategic goals and diplomacy.
Outcome: The investigation highlights the challenges in balancing counterterrorism with diplomatic objectives and the impact of political decisions on national security efforts.
Project Cassandra
David Asher's Claims:
Asher, a veteran U.S. illicit finance expert, stated that Obama administration officials were concerned about alienating Tehran during and after the Iran nuclear deal negotiations.
This led to efforts to undermine investigations into Iran and Hezbollah, draining resources and personnel from these operations by the end of the Obama administration.
Project Cassandra, which focused on Hezbollah's criminal activities, was effectively dismantled after the Iran deal was finalized in January 2016.
Impact of Project Cassandra's Collapse:
The task force's senior officials were reassigned, and Project Cassandra was left in disarray.
The U.S. lost crucial insight into drug trafficking and Hezbollah's illicit activities with Iran, Syria, Venezuela, and Russia.
Hezbollah's Ongoing Activities:
Hezbollah, in cooperation with Iran, continues to undermine U.S. interests in various regions and engages in drug trafficking and weapons distribution.
Trump Administration's Efforts:
After Trump's election, there were efforts to revive Project Cassandra, but challenges like lost personnel, budget cuts, and previous political interference complicated this effort.
Historical Context:
Project Cassandra originated from investigations into Hezbollah’s global criminal enterprise, involving operations like Titan and Perseus.
Hezbollah had evolved into a significant criminal and terrorist organization, engaging in drug trafficking and arms dealing.
Hezbollah's Criminal Network:
Hezbollah operated a global network for drug trafficking and money laundering, particularly involving a network led by Lebanese businessman Ayman Joumaa.
This network funneled cocaine into the U.S. and laundered money through used car dealerships in Africa.
David Asher’s Role:
Asher, originally working on tracking illicit funds for the Pentagon, was integrated into Project Cassandra and helped connect various criminal activities to Hezbollah.
Hezbollah's Leadership:
Imad Mughniyeh, a key figure in Hezbollah’s criminal operations, was killed in 2008, but his associates continued to manage the operations.
Abdallah Safieddine, Hezbollah’s key liaison with Iran, played a significant role in the group's criminal activities.
Jack Kelly compares Hezbollah to the Gambino crime family, with Abdallah Safieddine likened to John Gotti, highlighting his role in managing Hezbollah's operations.
State Department's Role: The State Department often blocked actions by law enforcement and intelligence due to political sensitivities related to Hezbollah’s role in Lebanese politics and services.
Incidents of Obstruction:
A DEA agent's cover was blown, impacting an investigation into Hezbollah's drug trafficking.
The State Department blocked an FBI-led task force from luring a key Hezbollah witness to the U.S.
Interagency Distrust: Disputes arose between DEA and CIA, with DEA agents accused of being overly aggressive and CIA agents allegedly protecting politically sensitive operations.
Operation Titan: DEA and Colombian authorities' investigation into Hezbollah's drug trafficking and money laundering faced delays and obstruction from the Justice Department.
RICO Case Goals: The DEA aimed to use the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to prosecute Hezbollah's criminal network, but faced resistance from the Justice Department.
Obstructed Financial Cases: Efforts to target Hezbollah’s financial institutions, such as the Lebanese Canadian Bank, were stymied, limiting the impact on Hezbollah’s operations.
Political Influence: The Obama White House feared destabilizing Lebanon and thus restrained aggressive actions against Hezbollah's financial network.
Key Indictments:
In 2011, Ayman Joumaa was indicted for drug trafficking and money laundering but not explicitly linked to Hezbollah in the indictment.
Ongoing investigations into Hezbollah’s broader criminal network faced delays and rejections.
Challenges: Task force efforts were hampered by interagency disagreements, political concerns, and obstruction, impacting their ability to fully address Hezbollah's criminal activities.
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