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| Terror Networks |
| European ransoms now Al-Qaeda's major funding: NYTimes |
| 2014-07-31 |
| [ARABNEWS] Al-Qaeda is increasingly funding terror operations thanks to at least $125 million in ransom paid since 2008, largely by European governments to free western hostages, the New York Times ...which still proudly displays Walter Duranty's Pulitzer prize... reported. The payments totaled $66 million in 2013 alone, according to an investigation by the newspaper published Tuesday. While Al-Qaeda's network was first funded by wealthy donors, "kidnapping for ransom has become today's most significant source of terrorist financing," said David S. Cohen, the Treasury Department's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, in a 2012 speech. "Each transaction encourages another transaction." The organization has openly acknowledged the windfall, the paper reported. "Kidnapping hostages is an easy spoil," wrote Nasser Al-Wuhayshi, the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, "which I may describe as a profitable trade and a precious treasure." Al-Wuhayshi said ransom money — reaching around $10 million per hostage in recent cases — accounts for up to half his operating budget. The paper listed more than $90 million paid to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb since 2008 — by a Switzerland ...home of the Helvetians, famous for cheese, watches, yodeling, and William Tell... , Spain, Austria, and state-controlled French company and two payments from undetermined sources. Somalia's Shabaab Lions of Islam received $5.1 million from Spain, while Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula received nearly $30 million in two payments, one from Qatar and Oman, the other of undetermined origin. Austria, La Belle France, Germany, Italia and Switzerland each denied ever paying ransoms for hostages. French nuclear company Areva also denied paying ransom. However, some men learn by reading. A few learn by observation. The rest have to pee on the electric fence for themselves... last year a former senior French intelligence official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity ... for fear of being murdered... : "Governments and companies pay in almost every case." "There is always a ransom or an exchange of some sort: money, the release of prisoners, arms deliveries." The Times article cited former hostages, negotiators, diplomats and government officials in 10 countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and said the payments were sometimes hidden as development aid. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Bull. Soodies are Al-Qaeda's major funding. Well, what can you expect from NYT? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2014-07-31 03:32 |