DrBanneker
Space is the Place
Interesting story. I have no doubt about the massive money laundering through Lebanese diaspora organized crime. That has been well known in West Africa for a while, especially with the used cars. Hezbollah is probably making mint there. It takes two to tango in money laundering though and I doubt major Western international banks don't have themselves at the trough. Maybe this was the reason for some pressure?
Interesting that the DEA is the only focus of the story. Other intelligence agencies were pushing back and the FBI only gets a brief mention? The core facts are probably true but I have a feeling something else besides the Iran deal was afoot. Were these targeted guys double agents for CIA, MI6 or Mossad? Were some of our deep cover guys going to get killed in retaliation if we snatched these people? I don't doubt the Iran deal pressure but it seems strange the intelligence sources don't 100% line up behind the DEA on this.
Maybe it is just because I don't trust the DEA. I find the comment claiming the reduction of the cocaine trafficking and violence primarily being due to the heroic efforts of the DEA to be amusing. They do thing well of themselves.