Terrorist Finance (merged thread)

[davidbfpo]

An article by Clint Watts (CWOT) which opens with:

I discuss the trade offs and disadvantages for al Qaeda affiliates such as AQIM that are dependent on illicit funding schemes, namely kidnapping, to sustain their operations. I conclude with the opinion that al Qaeda needs donations more than ransoms if they intend to orchestrate a comeback.

(He ends)...Another detractor of illicit revenue generation for al Qaeda groups is the scrutiny brought on terrorists by law enforcement and the military when they conduct illegal activities like kidnapping and drug smuggling. An important point that I overlooked in the FPRI post.

Link:http://selectedwisdom.com/?p=975

[davidbfpo]

As this is a wider than AQ thread I was puzzled to read Clint's comment and then minutes later on the BBC:

A Newry man is believed to be the first person successfully prosecuted for terrorist fund-raising in Northern Ireland.

Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21462050

Yes, the first person successfully prosecuted! 'The Troubles' started in 1969 and much has been made in the UK of having terror finance laws and enforcement. The report has no details and a Google search found little else.

[davidbfpo]

Within the linked document - written evidence given on 'Pursue', part of evidence presented to the House of Commons Select Committee on Home Affairs (HASC) - are several contributions on terrorist finance and counter-action. It includes officials and others, including charities. On a quick read some "gems" lie within.

Link alas no longer works:http://www.parliament.uk/documents/c...20Evidence.pdf

[davidbfpo]

I recently heard an open source analyst comment that the Syrian insurgents were receiving financial support, up to US$600m, from rich families and others in the Gulf who move the cash to Kuwait ostensibly to donate to Kuwaiti charities. Kuwait and the Gulf states have legislation on countering terrorism finance, but being charitable donations prefer to "look the other way". Plus a Salafist faction is present in the Kuwaiti parliament, who would not support an official response.

A partial support comes in this Kuwaiti newspaper report:http://alhayat.com/Details/568664 The Google translation is not perfect.

[Bill Moore]

I recently heard an open source analyst comment that the Syrian insurgents were receiving financial support, up to US$600m, from rich families and others in the Gulf who move the cash to Kuwait ostensibly to donate to Kuwaiti charities. Kuwait and the Gulf states have legislation on countering terrorism finance, but being charitable donations prefer to "look the other way". Plus a Salafist faction is present in the Kuwaiti parliament, who would not support an official response.

A partial support comes in this Kuwaiti newspaper report:http://alhayat.com/Details/568664 The Google translation is not perfect.

Ultimately this is a Shia-Sunni conflict at the strategic level, and Saudi is the leading Sunni State supporter of the Sunni resistance in Syria. I don't think they ever attempted to conceal that, but they are much more vocal about it now that they have publically changed the nature of their diplomatic relationship with the U.S. due to disagreement on U.S. policy towards Iran and Syria.

http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Sau...t-of-US-330461

Saudi Arabia and its Persian Gulf allies are moving to independently provide military support to Syrian rebels amid what they see as a failure of US leadership in the region, The Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing senior Gulf officials.

According to the report, the officials said that they have given up on the US as coordinator of efforts to arm and train Syrian rebels after Washington decided not to launch air strikes after the use of chemical weapons by Syria, as well as the US decision to engage in diplomacy with Iran over its nuclear program.

Also talk of Saudis desiring to buy nuclear weapons from Pakistan, so it doesn't appear stability in this region is on the horizon any time soon.

[davidbfpo]

More on the role of Kuwaiti individuals and others in raising funds for the violent Jihad in Syria:http://mideastafrica.foreignpolicy.c....MqY5DsXo.dpbs

Curious to learn some support President Assad and of course there is now a law about to counter terrorism financing. Clearly working well.

[Firn]

It would be interesting to know a bit more about how efficient the transfer from the oil $ to the islamist fighters is. Tapping into the arsenals of the respective states should greatly ease the logistics and enhance the efficiency of the operations but as far as I know it left too obvious signs.

I have read little about the Syrian economy which must be in a terrible, terrible state and it is quite likely that USD, maybe somewhat intermixed with Euros has become the currency of choice in many areas.