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U.N.: Al-Qaida more sophisticated
From WaPo
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network is adapting to U.N. sanctions by converting money into gold and precious stones, the BBC reported Friday.
Besides figuring out how to enlist the aid of the Black Hats, this is the smartest move they’ve made since 9/11.
Except that they've been doing it all along...
Heraldo Munoz, the Chilean ambassador to the U.N. and chairman of the U.N. sanctions committee against al-Qaida and the Taliban, just returned from a fact-finding mission to Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Singapore. He told reporters Friday terrorist groups were avoiding bank transfers that could be traced and were either no longer using front companies or getting better at hiding them. "The interesting thing is that these funds have not been transferred through banks ... again underlining that al-Qaida or the al-Qaida network has adapted to our sanctions."
Duh. Or should that be "F**king Duh?", Mike?
I nominate this as the new default UN response.
This included using what is known as the hawala system — transferring money by couriers and through informal banking structures rather than commercial banks. "They are being creative about this," and are becoming "more dangerous", he said.
Well, "F**king Duh!"
He also said the Taliban was charging drug traffickers to pass through the areas they control and then using the proceeds to buy weapons.
Mountain Trolls, standard toll.

They haven’t become more sophisticated, just the opposite - they’ve reverted to the ancient ways. What this indicates is that the financial actions against them have been working. Now if we can keep Emirate & Gulf Air, not to mention Air Phrawnce, from accepting diamonds in payment for air travel... Next, of course, is to formalize the international travel system to use copy-proof ID systems and thus isolate the terrorist states who enable the shits with phony passports, sorry Canada - and deny their airlines landing rights in civilization. If we get serious, we can eventually bottle up the Trolls in their lairs... This would also stop most of the idiocy of air travel security today - locking up Granny for carrying her knitting needles. I would be happy to submit to one intensive scrutiny to get my bio-data in the system as a safe traveler, rather than what passes for security today.
Posted by: .com 2003-11-01
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=20638