Book Review: The Washing Machine — Money Laundering And Terrorist Financing Soils Us - Page 3

The center-piece of the book is a study in Terrorist Financing, large and small. The many-headed hydra of the Al-Qaeda is explored at length. Estimates are that the tragedy of 9/11 cost no more than $500,000, a true drop in the bucket for these groups. Nick explains how terrorist financiers maintain many layers between themselves and the groups for whom the money is intended, or the final purposes to which the funds are put. He raises the very real danger that 'terrorist groups are now prepared to join forces to create a global terrorist black market. Market forces will enable the economically more powerful groups like Al Qaida to live longer, and even take over other weaker groups.'

The case study of the Al Qaeda, or 'the base, is a terrifying glimpse at this underbelly of capitalism. From his own roots as a successful businessman and financier to his role as manager of the 'Maktab al-Khidamat' or Welfare Office in Kabul, Osama Bin Laden straddled the open and secret worlds of big money. The name 'World Islamic Front' is now used by the group, and they grew by alliances, mergers and acquisitions, like any more respectable conglomerate. After 9/11/2001, the War on Terror succeeded in it's primary purpose of defenestrating the 'head office' of the organization, and driving many of its key members into hiding, or arresting/killing them. This has unfortunately only accelerated the already under-way 'devolution of power from the center to outlying cadres'. The lack of a monolithic organization has empowered lesser-known groups to execute smaller attacks, besides affording the local franchises the ability to recruit fools for the 'larger cause', which is mostly non-existent.

Nick describes Al Qaeda's extensive role in the illegal diamonds trade, collaborating with the RUF of Sierra Leone, and generating as much as $1 million in diamond sales per year in the 1990s. He tells us how the sticky business of honey exports is a convenient method for terrorist groups to secrete illicit funds as well as weapons, etc in the honey containers, unlikely to be searched very well at customs offices.

Osama Bin Laden developed a commercial taste for honey after he left Saudi Arabia under a cloud in 1991 and moved to Sudan. His deputy the Dr. Ayman Mohammed Rabi al-Zawahri, apparently pioneered the exploitiation of the honey distribution network when he was a leading light in the Islamic Jihad.

Article Author: Aaman Lamba

Aaman Lamba is a Blogcritics editor, as well as the Publisher of Desicritics.org, a Blogcritics network site covering media, politics, culture, sports and more with a global South Asian focus

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