Al-Qaeda uses ‘an amalgam of means, both legal and illegal, to raise funds and facilitate its activity.’Congressional Report Discusses ‘Black Market’ Of Terrorism FundsBy Cliff Montgomery – June 12th, 2007A May 24th Congressional Research Service (CRS) report on “Terrorist precursor crimes”–criminal activities performed to generate terrorism funds–provides a fine introduction to this timely, all-too-ignored subject.But we must not let fear drown out our reason here. Perhaps recognizing the possible civil-rights-denying witch-hunts which could bloom after exposing such a delicate subject, the CRS writes in the report’s first footnote:”It is important to note that not all the individuals and/or groups that engage in the illegal activities listed in this report are terrorists or have a nexus to terrorism. Indeed, it is more likely that a very small percentage of individuals engaged in such activity are involved in terrorism. The purpose of this report is to highlight some of those precursor crimes known to be utilized and/or favored by terrorist elements in order to facilitate their attacks and/or other strategic objectives.”We quote from the CRS report below:“Irrespective of ideology or strategic goals, all terrorist groups have several basic needs in common: funding, security, operatives/support, propaganda, and means and/or appearance of force. In order to meet these needs, terrorists engage in a series of activities, some of which are legal, many of which are not, including various fraud schemes, petty crime, identity and immigration crimes, the counterfeit of goods, narcotics trade, and illegal weapons procurement, amongst others.”Terrorist precursor crimes can be defined as unlawful acts undertaken to facilitate a terrorist attack or to support a terrorist campaign. Many terrorist precursor crimes are carried out far away from the primary theater of conflict associated with a particular terrorist group. Much of the precursor activity, especially with regard to crimes conducted for the purpose of fundraising, is thought to take place in wealthy Western countries, including the United States.”This report provides an overview of the types of terrorist precursor crimes known, and/or alleged, to have been employed by individuals and/or groups in the United States. The report highlights issues related to the breadth of this activity in the United States, as well as the opportunities for intelligence collection and law enforcement-related countermeasures.”The report presents an analysis of the implications of domestically occurring terrorist precursor crimes for U.S. security. The presence of terrorist groups or terrorist sympathizers within the United States possibly conducting precursor crimes presents a series of unique problems and challenges.”Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a consensus with regard to some of the fundamental questions associated with this issue: How does the presence of precursor activity affect the current threat environment? What is the current approach for dealing with terrorist precursor crimes? How effective are current efforts and what are areas for improvement?Increase in Precursor Criminal Activity: Causes“According to numerous terrorism scholars and analysts, there are indications that terrorists are increasingly relying on non-terroristic, precursor crimes to facilitate their terrorist attacks and/or further their terrorist campaign. Additionally, it appears that terrorist groups are diversifying and expanding the variety of crimes they commit.”The cause for the increase in pre-attack criminal activity may be due to the following four factors:
- the decline in state sponsorship;
- the amateurization and decentralization of terror;
- enhanced counterterrorism measures;
- changing terrorist demographics (i.e. shifts in ideology, strategy, and capabilities).
“It is important to note that not all groups and not all members and/or supporters of such groups engage in such activity.”There are some groups that appear adverse to conducting criminal acts in order to facilitate their objectives out of ideological concerns.”Some may avoid criminal activity out of logistical concerns, for example criminal activity may be viewed as a liability, enhancing the potential for detection and apprehension of operatives.”In other instances, criminal activity may be isolated within a particular strata or division of a group, in order to protect key operatives, spokesmen, and charismatic leaders from potential detection.”There are [therefore] instances where a group’s involvement in precursor crimes remains the subject of debate.”Some terrorist groups [have even] turned to legitimate investments and business opportunities. [For instance,] much attention has been paid to al Qaeda’s business dealings in Sudan in the early 1990s.”According to Jean-Charles Brisard who testified before the Senate Banking Committee in 2003, Osama bin Laden invested in and/or operated a bank, several import-export firms, several agricultural companies and a construction company with connections to his family’s bin Laden construction conglomerate, while living in Sudan between 1991 and 1996.”As with many groups, al Qaeda used an amalgam of means, both legal and illegal, to raise funds and facilitate its activity.”Like what you’re reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of thee-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
