Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] [POLITICS] War timeline

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Wed, 6 Sep 2006, Diana Hargus wrote:

> > > I see no mention of $10,000 payments to the families of suicide 
> > > bombers.
> >
> > From that bastion of honesty - CBS News:
> http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/04/03/world/main505316.shtml

Where CBS got that story:  "U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said 
Wednesday."


> And from the fine independents at the BBC:
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2846365.stm

We've all heard that kind of story, but the question is whether it is 
correct.  I had never questioned it, but I think I should have.  I did a 
google search for "PALF payments" without the quotes and came up with 
this:

  http://americancrackpot.blogspot.com/2004/12/tracer-safire.html

  Saddam donated money to a Palestinian aid group (PALF) which disbursed
  payments to approximately 1500 families with relatives who died in the
  2000 intifada; 72 of which were suicide bombers. The suicide bombers
  families received more money -- but the amount dispersed was determined
  by the PALF and not Saddam. It is misleading to claim Saddam funded
  suicide bombers or made "payments to the families of suicide bombers."
  The money was given posthumously, to families of the deceased generally
  and not specifically to bombers, and indirectly through an aid agency --
  not as a payoff before hand or for general funding.

Interesting.  Saddam's role is less clear than I thought it was.

Mike

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