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The Roots of Hizballah's Clout Lie in Iran

[Los Angeles Times] Borzou Daragahi - A tour of Hizballah's state within a state in southern Lebanon reveals a replica of the distinctive institutions and styles of Iran's ideological machinery. Charities modeled after Iranian organizations provide healthcare to the poor. Religious schools funded with help from an Iranian bank educate thousands of children. Islamic foundations with ties to Iran make loans to home buyers. Iran opened its purse to Hizballah with the group's inception in 1982, in part because the militants provided direct access to the Arab-Israeli conflict. In a 2004 study, one secular Shiite political party estimated that Hizballah had an annual budget of $600-700 million and was providing jobs to 37,000 people. "The Iranians have knitted a carpet. You have to have patience to unravel it," said a critic of Hizballah in southern Lebanon.
2006-09-11 01:00:00
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