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How does the Islamic State, a ragtag band of jihadis who are supposedly at war with the combined military might of the US, Turkey, the Saudis, the Russians, the Iraqis, the Iranians and many others (including, of course, the Syrians) manage to fund and coordinate spectacular international terror attacks, including not only the Paris attack, but also (apparently) bombings in Turkey and Lebanon, and the take down of Russian airliners? How is it that governments can flag and track the "suspicious" financial transactions of anyone withdrawing or transferring over $10,000 from their own bank account, but can't seem to find a way to restrict cash flows, arms and munitions to a geographically isolated enemy who are dependent on oil sales for their financial survival?
Good question. Just don't ask the US State Department spokesman those questions, because he doesn't have the answers. When asked earlier this week by RT's Gayane Chichakyan "whether the US has sanctioned any banks suspected of carrying out transactions for ISIL," department spokesman Mark Toner responded with a resounding: "I'd have to look into that. I don't have the answer in front of me."
Apparently the question of how ISIS is financing its operations is of so little interest to the State Department that they haven't bothered to look into it. So in the interest of helping them out with their homework, let's connect a few dots, shall we?
[More after the break.]
Earlier this year it was revealed that French President François Hollande had authorized illegal shipments of arms to the Syrian terrorists in 2012. The deliveries–including cannons, machine guns, rocket launchers and anti-tank missiles–were in direct contravention of an EU embargo that was in place at the time.
In late 2012 it was revealed that one of the most prominent backers of the Syrian terrorists was the French government, who in addition to their illegal arms shipments were also delivering money directly to the terrorist opposition leaders.
Last year the French arms export industry enjoyed its best sales in 15 years, with revenues up 18%. The reason for the Merchant of Death bonanza? A spike in sales to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, two of the main funders and supporters of ISIS.
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Monday November 23 2015, @06:27PM
You can buy a lot of guns and ammo for $9,999.99...
(Score: 2) by SanityCheck on Monday November 23 2015, @06:37PM
As if. Have you tried having a transaction now a days in the US for $2500+ in cash? Good luck. Last time I went to withdraw $2700 from my bank account they gave me looks like I was robbing the place. Sorry I didn't know I had to call a week in advance to get some of my money out.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Monday November 23 2015, @06:43PM
Actually, a lot less than you might think. Well, I'm assuming you're going with quality as opposed to quantity.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by VLM on Monday November 23 2015, @06:55PM
Long term reliability and maintainability often is not a very high priority.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Kromagv0 on Monday November 23 2015, @07:34PM
Well that old soviet and other com block surplus stuff is cheap and can take a beating. A bunch Mosin-Nagent rifles and a shit ton of ammo 7.62x54r ammo could be had for that price even at US retail prices. For $10,000 you could get around 100 rifles or around 100,000 rounds of surplus ammo (or you could the last time I payed attention to the price of surplus ammo and M91/30s at retail which was a few years back $90/rifle and $75/880 round spam can). So lets say 50 rifles and 50,000 rounds of ammo. Those rifles are accurate enough and can take a beating. If one would prefer you could go with the venerable AK and the 7.62x39 ammo as I hear AKs can be had for about $25 in that area of the world and I would imagine that ammo could be gotten for around $0.02-$0.03 per round for them so you would get even more bang for your buck.
T-Shirts and bumper stickers [zazzle.com] to offend someone
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Monday November 23 2015, @07:46PM
I was just pointing out that terrorism is crazy cheap. Nothing specific to guns intended. It buys a bunch of fertilizer, too...