War on terror

The Top Secret Military Mapmakers Spying on ISIS’ Oil Smuggling

Analysts at the NGA have taken the tradecraft used to spy on Russia and China and turned it on black market oil transports.On March 3, an analyst at the Pentagon’s clandestine map-making agency briefed the director on a new method for aiding the fight against the Islamic State. By eyeing signs of the black market oil industry, the agency can glean clues to help its partners choke off the source of ISIS’ money and fuel. Such resources helped suspected Islamic extremists in Tunisia slay more than 20 people Wednesday, including many tourists. Part of the underground trade might physically be underground and out of sight. But some of the transport is visible to the trained eyes of experts at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.