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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: KLP who wrote (139434)	7/8/2004 4:11:33 PM
From: GST	Respond to of 281500

This is also worth noting: <Possible Terrorist Use of "Conflict Diamonds" 14) The mining and sales of diamonds by parties to armed conflicts-- particularly Angola, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo-- are regarded as a significant factor fueling such hostilities. These diamonds, known as "conflict diamonds," comprise an estimated 3.7 percent to 15 percent of the value of the global diamond trade. Do you have any information that "conflict diamonds" are being used to subsidize the activities of terrorist groups, including al-Qa'ida? We are aware of press reports alleging Al-Qa'ida ties to the African diamond trade--the most notable being The Washington Post article "Al Qaeda Cash Tied to Diamond Trade" from November 2001. We are vigorously attempting to verify these reports; most of our information to date does not support the allegations. We are also exploring charges that some ethnic Lebanese elements in Africa with long-standing involvement in the diamond trade are providing support to Hizballah.

To: KLP who wrote (139434)	7/8/2004 4:15:21 PM
From: GST	Respond to of 281500

The point of the UN is it is available as a vehicle to build a coalition that would be in our interests -- and "our best interests" is the arbiter of what is right for us to do. Working with and through the UN is in our best interests -- you seem to have some other criteria to evaluate the UN. I have no illusions about the UN, but I also have no hesitation to give credit where it is due -- for example to the UN weapons inspectors -- and to use the UN when it can be useful. And it can be VERY useful.