Glen Kessler of the Washington Post reports that the US put a freeze on the assets of the Islamic Resistance Support Organization, a Hezb'allah affiliate which is ostensibly a charity.

The Treasury Department released copies of a receipt issued by the group to a donor, which on the back listed projects such as "collection box project for the children and homes," "contribution to the cost of a rocket" and "contribution to the cost of bullets." The donor, whose name was redacted, used ink to signal his interest in helping fund a rocket.

During the conflict with Israel, Hezbollah launched about 4,000 rockets, killing more than three dozen civilians.

"Hezbollah projects an image as a humanitarian organization," said Stuart Levey, Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. "This puts the lie to that image. This shows there is no separation, and they raise money for social services and also raise money for terrorism."

The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, an Israeli website that tracks militant groups, last week posted brochures from the group, also known as the Islamic Resistance Support Association. The materials were obtained during the conflict in Lebanon.

So how can the New York Times and other outlets continue to praise Hezbollah as a social welfare agency? How can the EU refuse to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist group? How does that serve the cause of peace?

Ed Lasky   8 30 06