The costs of a pro-Hamas foreign policy
The costs of a pro-Hamas foreign policy
Reuters: Top US Treasury official to travel to Singapore, Malaysia to discuss sanctions
WASHINGTON, May 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department's top sanctions official will travel to Singapore and Malaysia next week, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Washington seeks to combat funding for Iran and its proxy groups as well as evasion of its sanctions on Russia.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there has been an uptick in money moving to Iran and its proxies, including Hamas, through the Malaysian financial system.
During the visit, first reported by Reuters, Treasury's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Brian Nelson, is expected to discuss U.S. concerns and the sanctions risk such activity poses, the source said. Treasury's general counsel, Neil MacBride, will also be on the trip.
The visit comes as Treasury has increased its focus on terrorist financing through Southeast Asia, including through fundraising efforts and illicit Iranian oil sales, the source said.
The Treasury Department in December imposed sanctions on four Malaysia-based companies it accused of being fronts supporting Iran's production of drones.
Washington has recently imposed further sanctions targeting Iran, including over Iranian drones used by Russian in the war in Ukraine, as the U.S. has sought to ratchet up pressure on Tehran after its attack on Israel.
While in Singapore, Nelson will discuss the enforcement of a G7-led price cap on Russian oil as well as cutting off the transshipment of critical dual-use goods, those which have both civilian and military purposes, said the source.
The United States and its allies have imposed sanctions on thousands of targets since Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine. The war has seen tens of thousands killed and cities destroyed.
Washington has since sought to crack down on evasion of the Western measures, including the shipment of dual-use goods through third countries to Russia.
Singapore is a major shipping hub. Insurance and other maritime service providers operating in Singapore have warned of evasion of the price cap on Russian oil, complaining that it is difficult to confirm that paperwork promising oil is bought at or below the $60 cap is accurate.
The G7 price cap on Russian crude oil, imposed in December 2022, aims to reduce Russia's revenues available for its war in Ukraine by allowing Western-supplied insurance and other services only on cargoes priced below $60 a barrel.
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It has to be said outright there's absolutely nothing wrong or maybe even sinful about supporting Hamas which is the main party resisting the Western imperialist adventure of the Israeli colonial project of "Israel" since 1947 occupying Palestine and subjugating the Palestinians by genocide and brutal suppression.
The favourite line of the West and it's proxy Israel is "Hamas is a terrorist organisation, Israel has the right to defend itself". Every one of Western media would force this line when they attempt to push their misinformation and distorted narrative. Israel has been a terrorist state since its creation by the West and the Zionists in 1948. The Palestinians have the right to defend themselves and resist by armed force against an occupying force.
Blaming Hamas and the Palestinians serves the purpose for the West and Israel for their genocidal occupation and their deadly and brutal force on the Palestinians. The media whores of the West, Israel, Christian Zionists and Christian fundamentalists and evangelicals, morally-bankrupt rightwingers and commentators all push the narrative that Zionist genocidal behaviour is the fault of the victims.
Sure, Anwar's support for Hamas is more about himself than the fate of the Palestinians, Anwar wants more to make himself as an international statesman than genuinely care about Palestine, or, if he's forgotten, his own country Malaysia. Anwar has just too much he should do about Malaysia, he has very little international standing or personal ability that is noticed internationally. In fact, like his "Brotherhood" buddy Erdogan, he is viewed with suspicion than trust - it was only yesterday Anwar was pitching for the Zionists and Israel when he was sneakily getting Mullah Nik Aziz to recognise Israel. Only yesterday, Anwar was selling "Arab Spring".
Still, whether Anwar or MacDani is central to anything to do with Palestine, Malaysia should side with Palestine. The biggest issue here is more about the anger against Zionist and Western genocidal behaviour, empathy for the Palestinians, and the indignation against the Palestinian Holocaust. It has utterly nothing to do with "anti-semiticism", just too many Jews side with the Palestinians (who are Semitic people too!)
Support for a deeply oppressed people is about humanity, simple and straightforward.
From the River to the Sea
Palestine will be Free!