Follow the money

The Wave Of The Future: When Martyrdom And Money Meet

Where does the money come from? ISIS is the most financially savvy terror organization the world has ever seen. Oil from the wells, fields and refineries in areas they control is sold on the black market to the highest bidder. The same holds true for the archaeological sites located in ISIS-controlled territory; for every historic cultural or religious artifact they publicly destroy, they sell dozens, perhaps hundreds – it’s a cash-and-carry proposition. ISIS also profits from ransom, kidnapping, extortion and blackmail.

“Look,” you might say to yourself, “this isn’t Syria, or Iraq, or any of those countries. You can’t just walk into your local bank and deposit the check that ISIS sent you in the mail.” You’re right. You can’t, nor do you have to. While it would be difficult to walk into a US bank and deposit a check from ISIS, there are ways to get funds from terrorists to the intended recipients. Criminal organizations have been “laundering” money for decades, maybe longer. Other options include cryptocurrency and digital cash. While some believe ISIS is neither sophisticated enough nor has the technical knowledge to carry this out, its crucial to keep in mind that ISIS has been able to finance their own war. The organization has the knowledge, technical expertise and resources to do this. People who drive Ferrari’s don’t worry about the price of gas.