Distributing Afghanistan’s frozen funds

President Biden recently ordered that half of frozen funds in Afghanistan’s central bank be distributed to victims of 9/11. But one of our guests on Horizon has another idea about how those funds should be used.

Dan Pellegrino, who served in both the U.S. Army and Navy, and survived a 1983 bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, suggests that the money should instead be placed in a special government fund for “all” eligible victims of terror to receive on an equitable basis. “There are many, many other victims of terrorism who are left out,” Pellegrino said.

Pellegrino is an active participant in victims’ advocacy efforts. He spoke to us about the impact of the President’s executive order, and what steps our political leaders must take to correct it so that all victims of terror, including Arizona residents, receive justice. 

He believes the solution lies in the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, or the USVSST Fund, which was created by Congress in 2015. “We have a saying: Something for everybody, not just the 9/11 folks,” he said.

Transcript:

Dan Pellegrino, who served in both the U.S. Army and Navy, and survived a 1983 bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, suggests that Afghan funds should instead be placed in a special government fund for "all" eligible victims of terror to receive on an equitable basis.