Report Says U.N. Embargo Does Little to Halt Al Qaeda

Fifteen months after the U.N. Security Council imposed travel and arms sanctions on individuals linked to al Qaeda, no terrorist or weapon targeted by the embargo has been detained or seized in transit across an international border, according to a draft of a U.N. report. “Despite the travel ban, members of the al Qaeda network have retained a high degree of mobility, and have been able to carry out and contribute to terrorist attacks in several countries around the world,” says the report, which has not been made public. The failure of the U.N. embargo to halt the movement of al Qaeda members underscores the challenges of applying sanctions against an elusive target whose members often travel in disguise and with a ready supply of false passports. It also reflects the shortcomings of a U.N. list of more than 220 alleged terrorists or entities with alleged links to al Qaeda. The list is used for targeting suspected militants. Many of the names on the list are misspelled or some the suspects are inadequately identified, the report says. Full Story