Date: Monday, December 16, 2019
To: Friends & Supporters
From: Gary L. Bauer, Director

Esper Urges Action

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper urged the Iraqi government today to take action to prevent additional Iranian attacks against U.S. military personnel. As we reported last week, Iran has been moving rockets and missiles into Shiite-controlled areas of the country. In recent weeks, several Iraqi bases that house U.S. soldiers have come under fire.

Over the weekend, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad posted a message to Iran's leaders warning that any attacks by Iranian agents that harm Americans or U.S. interests will be answered with a "decisive U.S. response."

In related news, the United States imposed sanctions against two Hezbollah agents Friday. The newly-announced sanctions reveal the extreme lengths to which the Iranian-backed terrorist group goes to acquire and hide its funding.

Lebanon-based art collector and diamond dealer Nazem Said Ahmad was hit with sanctions for financing Hezbollah. The Treasury Department also imposed sanctions against Saleh Assi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who laundered money through Ahmad's diamond business.

Announcing the sanctions Friday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin declared:

"Hezbollah continues to use seemingly legitimate businesses as front companies to raise and launder funds in countries like the DRC where it can use bribery and political connections to secure unfair market access and evade taxes. This Administration will continue to take action against Hezbollah financiers like Nazem Said Ahmad and Saleh Assi, who have used money laundering and tax evasion schemes to fund terrorist plots and finance their own lavish lifestyles as the Lebanese people suffer."

Brazil Opens Jerusalem Office

Brazil is Latin America's largest nation. As such it has a lot of influence in the region. That's why its relationship with Israel is so important.

When Jair Bolsonaro was elected president last year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a special trip to Brazil to attend Bolsonaro's inauguration. Brazil's new leader promised to improve relations with Israel and he is keeping that promise.

Yesterday, Brazil opened a trade office in Jerusalem. The ceremonial opening was attended by the president's son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who reiterated his father's commitment that the country would open an embassy in Jerusalem soon.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also on hand for the opening of the new Brazilian trade office. Below are some excerpts of his remarks:

"The opening of the APEX office here in Jerusalem is part of something that we have agreed upon in the tightening of relations between Israel and Brazil. And here it's happening today as part of President Bolsonaro's commitment to open an embassy in Jerusalem next year. . .

"I want to say is how much I appreciate President Bolsonaro's stance in supporting Israel in international forums. President Bolsonaro immediately changed policy and said, "We stand with Israel. We stand with the truth." We stand here in Israel with Brazil because we stand with the truth. We are supporting Brazil in every way that we can. . ."