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: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 23 2015, @07:59PM
Wow, Soylent is really going downhill. The Corbett Report, seriously?
Check where the majority of links in that article point to.
Also that anything links to globalresearch.ca is suspect to begin with.
(Score: 2) by n1 on Monday November 23 2015, @08:37PM
As I said above:
I do not agree with his opinion on everything, I am no fan of globalresearch and Putin's Russia is no better than any major power for foreign policy, and i'm inclined to believe even worse domestically. James Corbett can offer some very interesting and informative perspectives.
That said, there's only one link on TFA that I found for globalresearch. The important information is provided by other sources, including The Guardian and The Atlantic. Where RT is used as a source, it's quoting a press briefing.
Now I am all up for having the summary and article refuted or alternative perspectives being offered, there is still a lot more to this story.