Oh, Dear: "Lebanon's Madoff" Makes Off With $500 Million in Savings; Embarrasses Hezballah

A"pious" godly man who supports a murderous terrorist organization?

Who could have imagined there'd be some duplicity involved here.

Those who know wealthy Lebanese Shi'ite financier Salah Ezz el-Din say he is a deeply pious, humble man whose close links to Hezbollah made his credentials impeccable as he allegedly embezzled their savings.

Many Shi'ite Lebanese investors find it hard to believe the philanthropist could have defrauded them to the tune of at least $500 million -- small change compared with the $65 billion in the U.S. fraudster Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme, but made more painful by the connection with Hezbollah, which its followers regard as incorruptible.

...

Some Hezbollah officials have also lost money with the financier...

...

"To tell you the truth, people put their money with him because he was wearing the Hezbollah cloak," Ajami said.

Iranian-backed Hezbollah has a reputation for squeaky-clean honesty among its followers and famously compensated Shi'ite residents in southern Lebanon with $100-bill stuffed suitcases after the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.

That connection has been a political embarrassment, forcing Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to address the issue. He denied any official connection to the financier but promised to set up a crisis center to assess the needs of those affected.

"Hezbollah is one of those affected by the crisis, but it won't leave the people to their destinies. Actually, it creates an environment that will protect them security-wise, politically ... and even economically," Nasrallah was quoted by local media as saying.

Tipster Steve wonders what kind of stones you need to rip off Hezballah. And does that make you and inadvertent hero?

I've cut out the bits of the article of Shi'ites desperately clinging to the idea that this guy is a good guy who just made a few mistakes.

In time, the truth will sink in that he ripped them off.

Now, here's my question:

How long before it is claimed he's really a Jew?

posted by Ace at 02:19 AM

| Access Comments