International Relations is exemplified in our participating in global markets: for example buying cars, furniture, clothes, and other goods used in our lives every day. Our culture is also influenced by international relations, as we have adopted music, foods, movies, and electronics produced in other countries. International Relations embodies our everyday lives. 

The United Kingdom has also taken substantial steps in cracking down on money laundering.  UK Chancellor Gordon Brown addressed the issue in October of 2006.

In his latest pronouncement, Mr Brown has focused on three aspects of the fight against the funding of terrorism.
Firstly, he has reiterated the need to safeguard legitimate organisations such as charities and money transfer businesses from being abused for terrorist purposes.
Secondly, he is keen to harness the strengths of the private sector, in the shape of forensic accountants, financial institutions and investigators.

And thirdly, he says that existing powers to freeze the assets of alleged terrorists are nowhere near strong enough

Our aim is simple: just as there be no safe haven for terrorists, so there be no hiding place for those who finance terrorism  Chancellor Gordon Brown Terror finance: warning signs

 ”Israel for his death and said its war against the Jewish state was not over.“Zionists, if you want this sort of open war, then let the whole world hear, so be it!” he declared. Nasrallah said that Israel thought that Mughniyeh’s death “would lead to the destruction of the resistance… but they are wrong” 

Thousands braved heavy rain to remember Hariri Enlarge Image

  Unlike the Lebanese the Israelis and Americans view Narallah’s death as a victory in the war on terror.  Mughniyeh has been on the United States “Most Wanted” list for many years.  Imad has committed many atroscites over the years.  Perhaps one of his most well known attacks occured in 1983 when he allegedly helped bomb the U.S barracks in Beirut killing hundreds of servicemen.  He has also been linked to the the  1985 TWA hijacking and the 1990 Buenos Aires bombing.  Imad has led the Lebanese secretive wing of Hezbollah for many years and was involved in the fighting against Israel in 2006.   The murder of such a prominent leader has only heightend the already tense relationship with neighboring Israel.   The day proves to be even more significant as it is also the three year anniversary of the death of former Prime Minister Rafick Hariri.  The Lebanese government was sent into termoil upon his death and has never recovered.  Lebanese presidential elections were scheduled to take place in November but the unstable political climate has made elections impossible.  The entire Lebanese Muslim population rallied around the death of Imad.  His death conveys the spilt within the international system. The United States and Israel view his death as a victory, whereas on the contrary, the Lebanese and those in the Middle East view it as a great tragedy.

The fall of the Shah in Iran in 1979 gave rise to a new government run by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.  Following his rise to power, Iran became a state-sponsor of terrorism. 

“In March 2006, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said,” ‘Iran has been the country that has been in many ways a kind of central banker for terrorism in important regions like Lebanon through Hezbollah in the Middle East, in the Palestinian Territories, and we have deep concerns about what Iran is doing in the south of Iraq.’

“A few months after Hamas won the Palestinian Authority (PA) elections in early 2006, Iran pledged $50 million to the near-bankrupt PA. The United States, among other nations, has cut off aid to the PA because of Hamas’ terrorist ties.” “Yes. Iran has hundreds of Scuds and other short-range ballistic missiles. It has also manufactured and flight-tested the Shahab-3 missile, which has a range of 1,300 kilometers—enough to hit Israel or Saudi Arabia.”  (http://www.cfr.org/publication/9362/state_sponsors.html)

 

 Iranian Terror Timeline 

1. Iran Hostage Crisis 1979-81— American Embassy siege by Iranian Revolutionaries ordeal lasted 444 days.
2. Bombing in Beirut 1983— A blast In June of 1983 leveled a building killing 241 U.S. Marines in Beirut, Lebanon. After the bombing occurred the U.S. found out that Iranians had been driving the vehicle that was used to carry out the attack.
3. TWA plane hijackings 1985— TWA flight 847 from Athens to Rome was hijacked in 1985 with seven NAVY divers aboard.  The plane flew to Beirut and released most of the women and children.  Next the plane went on to Algiers.  Upon arrival it circled back to Beirut.  Hijackers beat the American and Jewish hostages. They then shot and killed an American and proceeded to throw him out of the cockpit window. This ordeal lasted two weeks and the American hostages were eventually released to the Syrians.
4. Khobar Towers 1996 — In June of 1996 Iranians (in conjunction with the terrorist group Hezbollah) bombed the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. The Khobar Towers complex was being used to house foreign military personnel, including Americans. Hezbollah exploded a fuel truck into one of the eight-story buildings that housed U.S. Air force personnel.  In all, 19 U.S. servicemen and one Saudi were killed and 372 others were wounded.
5. Links to IMU 2002-present—- In 2002 the U.S. acquired information that Iranians were providing training and logistical support for insurgents from the radical al-Qaeda affiliated Islamic movement of Uzbekistan (IMU).  The Iranians helped to coordinate IMU activities. Iran’s influence in post Soviet countries was undermining strategic partnerships the Bush administration had built.  These were the areas critical in the war on terror.
6. 9/11 connection—Shortly before the 9/11 Commission Report was released, documents were uncovered describing in detail Iran’s ties to al-Qaeda . The report outlined Iran’s ties with the major terrorist group Hezbollah (based mainly in Beirut and southern Lebanon).  Intelligence information also revealed that top Iranian officials were directly involved in the 9/11 plot. Iran gave al-Qaeda members passports, intelligence assistance and a safe haven.