Iran Fined $2.65 Billion for Terrorism

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Iran Fined $2.65 Billion for Terrorism

By MATT APUZZO – 44 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Iran must pay $2.65 billion to
the family members of the 241 U.S. servicemen killed
in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in
Beirut, a federal judge ruled Friday, calling it the
largest-ever such judgment against another country.

Iran has been blamed for supporting the militant
group Hezbollah, which carried out the suicide
bombing in Beirut. It was the worst terrorist act
against U.S. targets until the Sept. 11, 2001
attacks.

-snip-

"These individuals, whose hearts and souls were
forever broken, waited patiently for nearly a quarter
century for justice to be done," U.S District Judge
Royce C. Lamberth said as families embraced.

-snip-

The ruling allows nearly 1,000 family members and
estates to try to collect Iranian assets from various
sources around the world.

-snip-

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gXdCD9NzP_E_w7Q35uPkq8Qsc2IQ

[ck4829]

1. Ruling has a perfect timing

Right as the pro-war propaganda is escalating.

[0007]

6. Egads!

Iran has denied responsibility for the attack. The nation did not respond to the 6-year-old lawsuit and was represented only by an empty table.

[Mrs. Overall]

2. Federal Court? Doesn't this have to be an International Court? I don't understand

how a US Federal Court has the power to make such a ruling.

[jordi_fanclub]

10. Simple...

US Federal Court DOESN'T have the power. The ruling only applies in US soil.

BTW, the last paragraph in the article already points to that:
"Iran has denied responsibility for the attack.
The nation did not respond to the 6-year-old lawsuit and was represented only by an empty table."

In other words... the typical propaganda for the US internal "consumers".

[Mrs. Overall]

11. Now I get it. Thanks for answering my question.

[Newsjock]

3. Because we're special

We only have to pay $5,000 for every Iraqi we kill. Ewe, ess, eh!

[sinkingfeeling]

4. When do Iraqis start suing the hell out of the US for the murders of their family members,

the loss of their homes, and destruction of their businesses? Do you think our federal courts will buy their stories?

[RethugAssKicker]

5. So, an American judge decides Iran

is somehow responsible for a Hezbollah act
25 years ago... and now authorizes the Govt
to start to seize Irans assests.

What a crock of shit!!!

We (THE USA) are FUCKING EVIL !!!!

[dipsydoodle]

7. Be real interesting to see

how they go about collecting the $2.65 billion.

Presumably this sets a precedent for claims against the USA by dependants of those killed by CIA trained death squads in Latin American countries quite apart from the dependants of those in Iran who were murdered by SAVAK.

[Megahurtz]

19. Good Point!

Fucking hypocrites! They need to look in the mirror.

[frankieT]

8. WHAT A JOKE !!!!!!

Why not fine HEZBOLLAH ? They claimed responsibility of it.
Oh yes of course they bombed MILITARY FOREIGN OCCUPIERS ! SEEM TO ME A VERY LEGITIMATE TARGET !

THIS F***** CRAZY !!! Foreign occupiers suing the natives for their resistance, this is totally INSANE !

[no_hypocrisy]

9. If this ruling stands, then why were the 9-11 suits against Saudi Arabia

dismissed?

[Javaman]

32. What did I tell you about talking rationally? and making sense?

Sheesh...

[frylock]

12. you've got to be effing shitting me with this..

will Iraqi families have the opportunity to sue us for the terror we've caused?!

[Baby Snooks]

13. What about the other supporters of Hezbollah?

What about Issam Fares who has openly supported Hezbollah, although not so openly of late, and the government of Lebanon, I believe Issam Fares is still the deputy prime minister of Lebanon, and their liability for their support of Hezbollah?

Is it just coincidence that Issam Fares is a "friend of the Bushes?"

[libodem]

14. This rather flies in the face

of the Americans who had their lawsuits dismissed against Iraq for being held prisoners of war under Saddam. As soon as we took over Iraq it was decided that the new government wasn't responsible for the torture and imprisonment these men endured. Peculiar?

[Baby Snooks]

15. Not at all...

The reality is we are now the government of Iraq and we all know the government of the United States is above the law.

[High Plains]

16. Silly shit. Absolutely meaningless.

[ronnie624]

20. Part of the demonization of Iran

for the purpose of manufacturing support for the planned attacks, if and when they come.

How I wish Americans were not so easily hoodwinked.

[JMDEM]

17. I bet an Iranian court will soon...

I bet an Iranian court will soon rule that the US owes relatives of the Iranian civilian airliner, shot down by the USS Vincennes in 1988, $2.65 billion.

[Megahurtz]

18. What Idiots.

Good luck collecting on a phony illegal Court hearing. Maybe America should fine itself for all of the heinous killings, unprovoked attacks and illegal invasions of other Countries over the years.

[Blue Meany]

21. Terrorism?

This wasn't terrorism, since it did not target civillians. It was an attack on a military target using a suicide bomber. An act of war, yes; terrorism, I don't think so.

If we're going to settle our wars in court, perhaps we should start them there in the first place and avoid all the bloodshed.

[Zenlitened]

22. Judge Fines Iran $2.65 Billion For 1983 Beirut Bombing

Source: Associated Press

Judge Fines Iran $2.65 Billion For 1983 Beirut Bombing

Associated Press
September 7, 2007 1:44 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Iran must pay $2.65 billion to the families of the 241 U.S. service members killed in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, a federal judge declared Friday in a ruling that left survivors and families shedding tears of joy.

U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth described his ruling as the largest-ever such judgment by an American court against another country. "These individuals, whose hearts and souls were forever broken, waited patiently for nearly a quarter century for justice to be done," he said.

Iran has been blamed for supporting the militant group Hezbollah, which carried out the suicide bombing in Beirut. It was the worst terrorist act against U.S. targets until the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118917887060520715.html?mod=moj_latest_news

---

Alternate links:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Iran-Terrorism.html

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/09/07/iran_fined_265_billion_for_terrorism/

[Demeter]

23. 24 YEARS?

What kind of insane idea is this?

[0rganism]

24. By that rationale, doesn't Saudi Arabia owe New York about 30 billion?

I sure won't be holding my breath for that verdict, tho.

[bahrbearian]

25. We supported the Shah,,how many people did he kill?

We supported Saddam , how many Iranians did he kill. We supported...

[jordi_fanclub]

26. Double thread

Already discussed here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2981654&mesg_id=2981654

[obiwan]

27. Then how much does the U.S. owe...

to the families of the 600,000 Iraqis it has killed? So laughable it's almost funny.

[libodem]

28. It's ridiculous

Didn't we also condemn their entire Army as 'terrorists, about a week ago. The Bush regime wants to find any excuse to invade Iran it can. I am so ashamed of the stupid Administration. Democratic Congress, pleezzeeee help us before it's too late. We have NO business bothering Iran!!!!!!!!!

[killbotfactory]

29. I thought terrorism involved deliberately targeting civilians

Attacking soldiers on the opposite side of a conflict with you is called war.

[HuffleClaw]

30. i'm pretty sure that is not a precedent bushco. wants set

it'll come back and bite 'em on the ass with big sharp nasty pointy teeth one day.

[Javaman]

31. So now what? If Iran doesn't pay moron* going to bomb them until they do?

I so hate living in an alternative universe.

[kitty1]

33. So what does the U.S. government owe the Iraqi people......

for the countless innocent deaths at their hands. Many billions I would guess. It wasn't just 242 people killed in Beirut, compared to tens of thousands directly or indirectly killed from the Iraq war.

[ohio2007]

34. Iran faces $2.65bn US bomb award

Source: BBC

A US federal judge has ordered Iran to pay $2.65bn (£1.3bn) to the families of 241 marines killed in a 1983 bombing of their Beirut barracks.
The ruling allows nearly 1,000 family members and survivors to try to
claim Iranian assets from around the world.

But getting the money will be difficult and the families are backing a law in Congress that would make it easier for victims to claim such compensation.

snip

US District Judge Royce C Lamberth called the ruling the largest such judgement by a US court against another country.

It is the result of a six-year lawsuit brought by family members of the dead marines as well as those wounded in the 23 October 1983 attack, which was blamed on the militant Islamic group Hezbollah.

An explosives-laden truck disguised as a water delivery vehicle rammed through protective barricades at the entrance of the compound and detonated in front of the barracks, demolishing the building and killing more than 300 people.


snip

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6984365.stm

---

So could Iranian assests, frozen since Jimmy Carters admininistration , be up for debate on the floor of congress ?
Should congress debate this issue ?

[daninthemoon]

35. Let's hope a few hundred thousand Iraqis don't find out about this.

Lockheed might not be too happy.

[dipsydoodle]

36. Quite apart

from the families who suffered at the hands of US trained deaths squads.

Notwithstanding either above I guess Iran may simply retaliate with claims for the families of all who did at the hands of SAVAK :

The Shah's brutal secret police force, Savak, formed under the guidance of CIA (the United States Central Intelligence Agency) in 1957 and personnel trained by Mossad (Israel's secret service), to directly control all facets of political life in Iran. Its main task was to suppress opposition to the Shah's government and keep the people's political and social knowledge as minimal as possible. Savak was notorious throughout Iran for its brutal methods.

The interrogation office was established with no limit of using horrific torture tools and techniques to break the arrested dissenters to talk in a matter of hours.

The censorship office was established to monitor journalists, literary figures and academics throughout the country. It took appropriate measures against those who fell out of the regime's line.

http://www.angelfire.com/home/iran/savak.html