|
|
|
|||
|
|||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||
 |
 |
|
Terrorism and Modern Financial Management Strategies What are the implications of modernizing financial and management strategies of terrorist groups in terms of terrorist activity in the 21st century and enforcement responses of modern states? Author: Jonathan B. Smith Michigan
State University 's School of Criminal Justice Defining Terrorist Group Given the US Government's current focus upon fighting al Qaida (AQ) and its affiliates, I have chosen to limit my response to activities and developments relating to their activities and operations. This is not to say that there are not other worthy terrorists elements to discuss such as: the Irish Republican Army, the Tamil Rebels, and other organizations determined by the State Department to be Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The issue is that there is a limited amount of space and time for this post and I feel that it will be most effective if I focus upon one major terrorist faction. "Money Makes the World Go Round" James Adams is the preeminent scholar ont terrorism financing and wrote the seminal work on the subject: The Financing of Terror. Adams contends that the best way to undermine a terrorist network is to subvert its financial infrastructure and support. This is a sound and logical argument, especially from a Westerner's perspective. We live in a society that idolizes people like Donald Trump and Gordon Gecko, where "Greed is Good." Asymmetric Costs and Infrastructure However, I feel that we need to weigh Adams' thesis against the actual costs of undertaking a terrorist campaign for AQ.
Unfortunately for the US AQ has a number of key advantages:
Danger of Materialism When we began this course, Professor Mace challenged us to be objective about the issues we were going to study. Given our perspective and commitment to our way of life, it is often difficult to honestly discuss the potential errors of our ways. One of our greatest weaknesses in the Global War on Terror (GWOT) is also the reason we are the envy of the world: high standards and cost of living. These factors have resulted in a scenario where today we as a nation vanity and consumerism over virtues such as family, loyalty and community. I believe that it is critical that the nation comes to grip with the fact that we are involved in a global war, not just a series of proxy wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I feel that it is critical that we do not fall into the false sense of security that struck the French during the Phony War just prior to WWII. Logarithmic Multiplier Factor of the Internet The Internet is the greatest communications network ever created. It has produced enormous opportunities for commerce, research and community. The Internet has done and will continue to do a lot of GOOD. However, the instant interconnectivity of the Internet can also be used for EVIL. The offshoring phenomena of IT and other professional services jobs to India was only made possible through the increased interconnectivity afforded by the Internet. Beyond the arguable negative economic impacts of the Internet, AQ has masterfully learned to leverage the Internet's distribution and communications capabilities. As a result of their loss of Afghanistan as their "base" of operations, AQ has moved to a more diffuse organization with a virtual web based infrastructure.
This infrastructure allows AQ to communicate, fundraise and offer a distance learning model that is far more disperse and impossible to destroy with a cruise missile decapitation strike. The Internet has arguably offered the greatest multiplier factor of any available to modern terrorist organizations; its impact has created logarithmic gains in terms of AQ's reach and efficiency while making it far more difficult to destabilize the movement because it lacks a discernible center of operations. Squeeze the Piggy Bank, Out Comes the Cash The GWOT following 9/11 has forced AQ to adapt and innovate to remain viable. On Sept 13, 2001 an article was published in the Boston Herald called "ATTACK ON AMERICA; Probe just following terrorists' credit card." This article details how forensic accountants have used the credit card and financial record paper trail to piece together the events of 9/11 and arrest certain suspects believed to be accomplices to the crimes. This kind of scrutiny and pressure has forces AQ to seek alternative means of financing its operations. Traditional means of banking have proven ever more difficult for AQ. As a result, of the tightening of the international banking system AQ has moved to other means of moving their money. Today more money is being moved through non traditional means. The movement of cash without a related institutional or governmental system to notate its movements is extremely difficult to track. It is important to remember that AQ's operational costs would be considered a rounding error in the Pentagon's budget. AQ is a highly complex adaptive organization and uses its amorphous capabilities to adjust to its environment. It primary mission is to protect Islam through Jihad, its members tend not to be swayed by individual vanity and materialism. This has led to a situation, not unlike the success of the success of ants around the globe - AQ has learned to adapt and survive. Enforcement Responses of Modern States The best chance for modern states to respond to the AQ threat is to overwhelm it with the support of the world's population. The courageous folks who chose to vote in Iraq on January 30 are testament to the fact that through the combined optimism and unity of the world's law abiding people the threat of terrorism and AQ can be defeated. Law enforcement actions alone will not lead to AQ downfall, they need to be overwhelmed by the masses who embrace a common goal of a world without terrorism.
Works Cited White, J.R. (2002). Terrorism: An Introduction. Wadsworth Publishing, Belmont, CA. Hwang, EuiGab. (2004). Terrorist Financing:
A Comprehensive Approach to Follow the Money Trail. |
Download
Brochure
|
Phone 908.233.7503 | Fax 908.233.7507 | E-Mail whisprwave@aol.com
 |
 |
