DATE=9/11/1999
TYPE=EDITORIAL
TITLE=EDITORIAL: HIZBALLAH TERRORISM IN ARGENTINA
NUMBER=0-08444
CONTENT=
THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED
FOR BROADCAST 9/11/99.
Anncr: The Voice of America presents differing
points of view on a wide variety of issues. Next,
an editorial expressing the policies of the United
States Government:
Voice: This month, authorities in Argentina issued
an arrest warrant for Imad Mugniyah. He is wanted
for the March 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy
in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Twenty-two people
were killed and more than two-hundred forty were
wounded in that attack. The bomb blast leveled
the embassy and severely damaged a nearby church,
school, and retirement home.
Islamic Jihad, the clandestine wing of the
Hizballah terrorist organization, publicly claimed
responsibility for the attack and authenticated
its claim with a videotape of the Israeli embassy
under surveillance.
A radical Shia group formed in Lebanon, Hizballah
is dedicated to the creation of an Iranian-style
Islamic republic. Hizballah terrorist attacks
have often been directed by Iran, though some have
reportedly been carried out without Tehran's
approval. Iran has long provided money, weapons,
explosives and diplomatic assistance to Hizballah.
Hizballah terrorists such as Imad Mugniyah are
known or suspected to have been involved in
numerous anti-U.S. attacks, among them: the
suicide truck bombing of the U.S. embassy and the
U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 and the
truck bombing of the U.S. embassy annex in Beirut
in 1984. Elements of Hizballah were also
responsible for taking Americans and other
Westerners hostage in Lebanon.
The arrest warrant for Imad Mugniyah is the result
of more than seven years of patient and meticulous
investigation by Argentine authorities in
cooperation with other countries, including the
U.S. The U.S. commends Argentina for its
perseverance in pursuit of international
terrorists. Terrorists like Imad Mugniyah must
know that they will be brought to justice, no
matter how long it takes.
Anncr: That was an editorial expressing the
policies of the United States Government. If you
have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A,
Washington, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. You may also
comment at www-dot-voa-dot-gov-slash-editorials,
or fax us at (202) 619-1043.
10-Sep-1999 12:23 PM EDT (10-Sep-1999 1623 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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