April 29, 2008
Report: Black Market Cigarettes Linked to Terror Groups
A member of the House Committee on Homeland Security will be releasing a report that alleges cigarettes sold on Indian reservations ultimately help fund Hamas and Hezbollah.
The report, "Tobacco and Terror," from the staff of Republican Representative Peter King, illustrates how bootleggers could buy tons of cigarettes from Indian reservations, where cigarettes are not taxed. Here's a sample sentence from the report: “A motivated terrorist cell could generate sufficient funds to carry out another Sept. 11th style attack, which operational costs were estimated to be $500,000.”
King wants Governor Paterson to end Indian reservations' tax-exempt status, pointing out that the cigarette black market could grow even hotter after the extra $1.25 cigarette tax that will go into effect in June. King told WNBC 4 there's "No such thing as a free ride, a free meal or a free cigarette...You’re getting that cigarette at a much-reduced price; be concerned the profits are going to fund America’s enemies, Hamas and Hezbollah.”
State lawmarkers will debate the cigarette tax-on-reservations situation today. If taxes were reinstated, the state would generate almost $900 million in revenue.
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you've got to be fucking kidding me.
Such asinine reasoning.
With the methods they use, you can link the Dalai Lama to Bin Ladin.
This makes about as much sense as the reasoning for the war in Iraq.
as far as i know hamas and hezbollah are israel's enemies. or are we just fighting all arabs these days?
so asians support terror by selling fake hand bags. Muslims support terror by driving taxicabs, Indians support terror by selling cigarettes? These bastard feds don't tell people that 99% of the time the people selling this stuff are supporting themselves. You think a guy hawking handbags in the street is gonna fork over his money to terrorist x in uganda after he's been slaving all day? no, he's gonna keep the money for himself. The feds just say this bullshit to make themselves feel good about menial busts and say inflating a small crime into a more serious crime. You could reason by shopping at the gap you are supporting child slave scofflaws.
King has a reservation in his district, and they don't vote for his racist ass. I wonder what motivated this report...
While the main goal of both groups is the destruction of the state of Israel, the US is included in the hit list because of our close alliance.
This is ridiculous. We're attacking a tax break because someone "could" make lots of money exploiting it illegally, and "could" use that money to plot a terrorist attack? They "could" just as easily make the money legally, and then carry out the attack. The two have virtually nothing to do with each other.
Go get a life.
Is this like, a joke?
Rep. King is a perfect example of the GOP Fear machine.
"A motivated terrorist cell could generate sufficient funds to carry out another Sept. 11th style attack, which operational costs were estimated to be $500,000."?
WOW! That sounds like an Amway Promotion! Imagine:
Amway Rep: And You TOO Osama, could make extra income!
Osama: Really?!? And All I have to do is get my family and friends to Buy products they need from me VIA Amway?!? Sign me Up!!!
Will Rep. King go after Amway Wanna-be's next??
Also, Why does Rep. King want to Raise taxes?? I thought the GOP want to Cut Taxes? O yeah! As long as it's not American Indians...
This COULD be one of those times when I think a defamation lawsuit is called for. That's a thesis, not a link.
Rep. King is a perfect example of the GOP Fear machine.
Because Democrats never try to scare voters.
It's 3 AM. . . .
This COULD be one of those times when I think a defamation lawsuit is called for.
If you knew what the Native Americans along the Canadian border were up to I think you would drop the smug.
@politburo
i realize that, my point was though that if you're going to fear monger at least use the right buzz words (al qaeda, osama, iran), although i guess hamas and hezbollah work. these people could probably say any foreign sounding word was going to attack us and people would vigorously clutch their flags and support whatever ridiculous position they are espousing.
"Rep. King also came out against the Mega Millions lottery. Said Rep. King 'America's enemies could be one Mega Ball away from having all the funds they need to launch terror attacks against our women, children, and kittens. The next time you buy a lotto ticket, please think of the kittens.' "
I mean, the terrorists could set up such an elaborate scheme, or they could just ask for some cash from one of their petrodollar-rich sponsors. But hey, driving back and forth to an Indian reservation is so much more romantic.
RevWaldo
thanks for making my day. :)
yes, because quitting smoking is one of the easier things a person can do. everyone has vices.
None of this should be a surprise on a few levels:
1- terrorists, if they are tied to the cigarette sales, are just learning the lessons derived from a previous outlaw group: the mob/bootlegger community.
2- It is our political leaders who are not learning the lessons of previous prohibitions and are trying to cover themselves by equalizing the rates that people pay when they buy from indians. but this isn't going to stop people from coming up with alternative schemes (like driving vans up from other states.) The incentives to bootleg are going to be as strong as ever.
3- The only real terrorism that is going on here is politicians isolating and taxing a group of people who they perceive don't have a political base to resist them. But note that if incumbents start losing more than usual (no one who votes for these kind of tax increases is getting my vote in the future for instance) this should not be ignored as a semi-hidden factor down the road.
I appologize if this is too well-reasoned and principled. I do join in spirit those who have previously written "R U F-ing kidding me" type of messages as well.
AHT, King doesn't have a reservation IN his district: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:New_York_District_03_109th_US_Congress.png
Although there is one on the East End of Long Island.
But, yeah, this is just insanity. Theoretically, people can send any income they make to a terrorist group.
King is and has always been a Bozo
what they don't mention is that terrorists could be using cigarette proceeds to fund important cancer research too. and flying cars.
Hamas and Hezbollah are military groups fighting against Israeli an occupation -
SINCE WHEN ARE THESE AMERICAS ENEMIES???!!
Hezbollah brought down the Marine baracks in Lebanon, killing 241 Americans with a suicide truck bomb. They haven't changed their views since. They're also very close allies of Iran and run a massive worldwide propaganda machine promoting hatred and violence against the U.S. Get real.
Peter King should get real too. The linkage of cigarette smuggling to terrorism is just plain silly. Terrorists could just as well be moving drugs, weapons or whatever. All the people I know who've taken steps to circumvent cigarette taxes were normal people who were addicted to tobacco and objected to the huge tax bill.
Why does Rep. King want to Raise taxes?? I thought the GOP want to Cut Taxes? O yeah! As long as it's not American Indians...
King doesn't want to raise taxes. He wants to uniformly enforce the tax across every pack of cigarettes sold. It's the Democrats that raised the cigarette tax. I would think you would be completely in favor of taxing tobacco and raising more money for the government. But you'll pass because King is a Republican or just because your liberal guilt feels sorry for the Native Americans?
(sigh)
Actually EastRiver, It's a Treaty issue not a GOP or "Liberal" thing. Either they have Sovereignty or they don't.
Let me guess: You're thinking they don't, right?
Also, I thought this was a Terror Issue not a Tax issue. Um, Are you confusing your own talking points??
this is very interesting. kinda runs parallel to my independent research finding: GOP cocaine and prostitute expense account linked to terrorist funding
Terrorists are way KOOL.
screw the gov, i hope native americans would arm themselves if they try to tax their smokes.