Article

2006-11-26 Iraq

Report: Insurgency is financially self-sustaining

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Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2006-11-26 09:10|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Hmmm. I'd join those who doubt this analysis, based on the inherent difficulty of knowing most of the inputs with any precision. My limited experience in these things is that this is just guess-work - but even less educated than most intel analysis is. No fault of those doing the analysis - this is simply a very difficult thing to assess.

A few months back the hostage working group at the embassy estimated that the kidnapping business alone (some unknown portion of which put cash in so-called insurgent hands) generated close to a billion dollars a year. Again, another guess.

Then you have the belief (I assume, based on reliable info) that major cash flows exist from supporters (both exile Iraqi and other) from nearby Sunnia Arab communities in Syria, Jordan, Egyp, and the Gulf. There seems little doubt that this is going on - and none of this comes from inside Iraq.

The way this thing is being pushed by the MSM seems odd, unless one steps back and sees that it's one more "oh no, we're doomed, the bad guys are SELF-SUSTAINING!" negative hit. Otherwise,it's too thin and complicated to merit front page headlines.

One small thing: another reminder that total energy price decontrol should have been the first thing done by CPA. Wimping out on "shock therapy" back then led directly to the creation of large criminal organizations based on smuggling. This not only continues to put money in terrorist hands, it has helped create or sustain large criminal networks that otherwise might not be there - but which are there now, and have been getting into new lines of business as there has been some progress on brining Iraqi fuel prices in line with the regional markets ....

Posted by Verlaine 2006-11-26 12:38|| 2006-11-26 12:38|| Front Page Top

#2 No mention of the funds coming from Saudi Iran and Syria!!!!

Posted by Jererong Elmoger4617 2006-11-26 12:57|| 2006-11-26 12:57|| Front Page Top

#3 A lot of the inputs may not be determinable. But, it seems to me the input of $30 million from our "allies" Italy and France can be determined fairly easily. We need to make it real clear that if they want to pay ransoms, we will not assist in searching or recovering victims. They're on their own.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-11-26 15:59|| 2006-11-26 15:59|| Front Page Top

#4 A few months back the hostage working group at the embassy estimated that the kidnapping business alone (some unknown portion of which put cash in so-called insurgent hands) generated close to a billion dollars a year. Again, another guess.

Sorry, but's off by a scale of 20-30, IMHO

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-11-26 17:17|| 2006-11-26 17:17|| Front Page Top

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