Taliban Build Multi-Million Dollar Insurgent Operation, Complicating U.S. Efforts

FOXNEWS.com ^ | Oct 19, 2009 | FOXNEWS.com

[Son House]

The revenue comes from foreign donations, drug money, "protection" money and criminal activity like smuggling and kidnapping.

And as officials note, the money goes a long way.

"The insurgency is a relatively cheap war for the Taliban to fight," an August report out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said, noting that money buys "a lot" of rifles, explosives, grenade launchers and foot soldiers known as "$10 Taliban" since that's their day's pay. The Taliban do have a system for incentive pay, as the soldiers get bonuses -- double or triple pay -- for planting improvised explosive devices.

And they get the largest chunk of their drug money from payouts by drug trafficking groups, according to the report.

Innocent, who likened Taliban operations to the Mafia, said the group also earns money for protecting legitimate outfits like non-governmental organizations.

The Taliban-led forces, concentrated in the southern and eastern regions of Afghanistan, have grown to 25,000, according to a report last week.

The Washington Post reported last month that the CIA estimates Taliban leaders and allies earned $106 million from foreign donors last year. According to The New York Times, the foreign donations -- more from private donors than foreign governments -- have eclipsed drug money as the biggest source of revenue in recent months.

In his Aug. 30 assessment, McChrystal wrote that the insurgent groups are earning "substantial income" from foreign donors and activity like smuggling and kidnapping for ransom.

"Some insurgent groups 'tax' the local population through check points, demanding protection money and other methods," he wrote. "Eliminating insurgent access to narco-profits -- even if possible, and while disruptive -- would not destroy their ability to operate so long as other funding sources remained intact."

[Son House]

While Obama waits for their election result, our Greatest Treasure lacks support, not a decent way to command the Greatest Forces on the Earth.

Thank you Troops for hanging in there while enemies plan your demise. Alias Son House

[PapaBear3625]

The Washington Post reported last month that the CIA estimates Taliban leaders and allies earned $106 million from foreign donors last year.

They can make us spend ten thousand dollars for every dollar they have to outlay. An inexpensive way for enemies of the US to bleed us.

[wtc911]

they get the largest chunk of their drug money from payouts by drug trafficking groups.....

________________________________________

We could fix that in three months if we had the will. Poppies burn.

[Niuhuru]

I really, in a perverse way, have to admire how entrepreneurial they are. Can’t say they aren’t able to create a fully operative business.

[wtc911]

Acknowledge it, don’t admire it. But I know what you mean.

[Typical_Whitey]

James Carville (Democrat Presidential campaign strategist) went to afghanistan to campaign and set up this drama for Obama.....

There should be an investigation into what Obama knows about this and how it is influencing his decisions on sending in troops.

[TexasCajun]

"Ironic, Isn't it!!

[SunkenCiv]

Complicating U.S. Efforts

First time that's ever happened. Dang.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Lefties will use anything to get control of the USA....They don’t care aboput Afghanistan or our Soldiers....it is all about Control here....