They're 100% American, and pro-Hezbollah

The Chicago Tribune reports:

A neon American flag flashes red, white and blue above La Shish East restaurant on Michigan Avenue. But what happened with some of the hefty profits from the Lebanese fare is anything but patriotic, federal prosecutors allege.

Using a double set of books, the owner of La Shish chain of 15 restaurants evaded taxes while funneling some $20 million to the Lebanese militant force Hezbollah in recent years, according to an indictment returned in May.

The restaurateur, Talal Chahine, has fled to Lebanon but denies wrongdoing. The case is one of several across the U.S. that link Americans with smuggling operations of illicit drugs, cigarettes and even baby formula and Viagra to profit Hezbollah--designated by the State Department as a terrorist organization.

With fighting raging in southern Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israeli ground forces, the FBI last week issued a nationwide alert for law enforcement to be vigilant in investigating and profiling Hezbollah sympathizers, according to federal sources.

"The question is: Are they loyal to the U.S. or to this terrorist group Hezbollah?" asked assistant U.S. Atty. Kenneth Chadwell, one of nine federal prosecutors investigating Hezbollah ties in metro Detroit.

Good question.