Who Is Paying For Al-Qaida

self | 06/26/2002 | self

[GilGil]

We are constantly told that Al Qaida has thousands of fighters all over the world. they have new headquarters in Pakistan. They are in the Phillipines. They have sleeping cells in the USA.

With all this activity, where is all the money coming from. If, for example, Al Qaida has 10,000 fighters all over the world, then I estimate that it would cost at lease $100,000,000.00 to support them. To do this someone has to supply steady cash flow. Where is that cash flow coming from?

I would seem that id we could find those cash sources, and stamp them out, Al Qaida would not be that much of a threat. I don't think I have heard any commentary about where the dough is coming from. I find this very odd.

[GilGil]

Comments?

[El Sordo]

The dollars come from the US via all the oil we buy from OPEC.

Energy Independence Now!

[Not Fooled]

Suppose you destroy the organization known as Al-Qaeda. Now what are you going to to about the unorganized but still present individual terrorist whackos who have it in for the "west"?

I figure these guys don't really need millions of dollars and extensive networking to change our daily lives into something completely different.

[sheik yerbouty]

The Saudis for starters..

[John H K]

If, for example, Al Qaida has 10,000 fighters all over the world

There's a distinction between the flunkies in Afghanistan, and the international types with actual terrorist training; not everyone you hear about being processed through the Afghani camps ends up in an international cell.

Best estimates are that there WERE about 300 Al Qaeda actual terrorist operatives worldwide, of which 200 or so have been picked up; leaving 100 (of those 100, I'd guess less than 50 are in the US, and most are in Europe.)

If Al Quada actually had as many operatives as some of the wild guesstimates claim, they'd mount attacks more often than every 1-2 years.

One thing to keep in mind is that the 9/11 operation was rather cheap (what was the figure, $500,000?).

[swarthyguy]

No kidding. All Osama's 500 halfbrothers, the extended family, the 7000 Princes of the House of Saud.

I mean, just because his passport was revoked, doesn't mean anything. Just gave the Saudis plausible deniability in their proxy war against the USA.

[leadhead]

Saudis seem to put up the seed money. Then, the operatives run scams, smuggle, steal, etc. Sort of living off the land.

[Fyscat]

of those 100, I'd guess less than 50 are in the US, and most are in Europe

Now the questions is, are they here to blow themselves up or to recruit?

[Fyscat]

As far as thier financials, they started converting thier paper assets to gold a long time ago forseeing possible dilemma with freezing of the accounts.

[McGavin999]

They pretty much support themselves through things like credit card fraud. Some of them get jobs and pull down a paycheck that pays their rent and food, I would even be willing to bet that some of them are scamming money out of various government projects.

It's not like they are receiving a regular paycheck. The big stuff is financed by the group (mostly rich Saudis, various "legitimate" businesses, and charities).

[meenie]

We would be so lucky as to capture one of them and have him fill us in on his terrorism on the cheap. We could use some advice on our war on terrorism as it is running into the hundreds of billions.

[YankeeReb]

Our faithful allies the Saudis are probably the biggest bankrollers. Most of the hijackers were Saudis , Osama himself is a Saudi. These backstabbers are paying plenty to keep the Taliban focused on the U.S. and Isreal and away from the corrupt royal family. The saudi royals know damned well that Osama and his ilk hate them more than the U.S. and Isreal combined, so they keep paying them off.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

There was a news report just a few days ago regarding Al Qaeda taking money out of bank accounts and moving it into commodities like gold, etc.

[Eagle Eye]

The FBI seems to think it is from guys selling cheap jewelery in malls. They busted some locally. Bet al-qadia is quivering in their boots now.

[ClearCase_guy]

Who Is Paying For Al-Qaida

Well, I wish they'd stop. But with John Entwhistle being dead, I think the Who will have to cancel their planned tour. This is likely to restrict their cash flow. Perhaps then they will be unable to pay for Al_Qaida.

sorry.