Terror Financing: Emasculated Hearing -- Arab Bank, Suicide Bombers, Families Collect -- Alleged

The embattled Arab Bank Joel Mowbray, Washington Times, May 4, 05

This one is very interesting. Do link and read the whole.

When a House Financial Services panel today takes up the issue of Islamic charities and terror financing, what won't be seen is far more interesting — and important — than what will.

The story of how what had promised to be an explosive session was gutted is a tale of international lobbying, partisan protection and misplaced animosity. And of course, it wouldn't be genuine intrigue without loads of Saudi cash.

[. . . . ] Though there have been dozens of hearings on the general topic of terror financing, this one was special: The sole focus was to be the suddenly embattled Arab Bank. The bank earlier this year suffered the partial closure of its New York branch — it can no longer establish new accounts there or accept deposits — after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency reportedly found gross violations of money-laundering and terror-finance regulations. [. . . . ]

Search: Mr. Osen learned of Arab Bank's alleged terror financing not through , Palestinian newspapers told families of "martyrs" — suicide bombers — to collect money , The "Saudi Committee" referenced , the public will never learn most of the contents of