UN: Islamic State group got up to $45M in ransoms

Marine Corps Times — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 09:46:11 -0500

From: Marine Corps Times

UNITED NATIONS — The Islamic State group which controls a large swath of Syria and Iraq has received between $35 million and $45 million in ransom payments in the past year, a U.N. expert monitoring sanctions against al-Qaida said Monday.

Yotsna Lalji told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee that an estimated $120 million in ransom was paid to terrorist groups between 2004 and 2012.

Kidnapping for ransom "continues to grow," she said, as demonstrated by the money the extremist group calling itself the Islamic State has collected, between $35 million and $45 million in the past years.

She said in recent years that al-Qaida and its affiliates have made kidnapping "the core al-Qaida tactic for generating revenue." She pointed to an October 2012 recording in which al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri incites militants worldwide to kidnap Westerners.

Lalji said al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which operates from Yemen, received $20 million in ransom between 2011 and 2013, and al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, which operates in North Africa, received $75 million over the past four years.

She said the al-Qaida-linked extremist groups Boko Haram in Nigeria and al-Shabab in Somalia also "have collected millions of dollars over the past years," and the Abu Sayyaf militant group in the Philippines has received about $1.5 million in ransom.

According to the al-Qaida sanctions committee, although the media focuses on international hostages who have generated the largest ransom payments, the vast majority of victims are nationals kidnapped within their own country.

Lalji said terrorist groups either carry out kidnappings themselves or in the case of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula they work with tribesmen in Yemen who deliver hostages for a fee.

Last week, President Barack Obama ordered a review of how the United States responds when its citizens are taken hostage overseas in light of the beheadings of Americans by Islamic State militants, but it will not include changing the longstanding U.S. policy of refusing to pay ransom. Many governments do pay ransom and some family members of those killed have complained that the U.S. did not take enough action in an attempt to save their loved ones.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2014/11/25/is-randoms-112414/70081514/

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Nov 25 at 2014 9:53 AM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 09:53:47 -0500

They will continue to find ways to fund themselves and grow. We cannot stop them alone, we need a coalition.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Nov 25 at 2014 10:55 AM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 10:55:20 -0500

I say we pay them in $45 miilion in brass and lead...

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Nov 25 at 2014 11:13 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 11:13:12 -0500

The 35-45 million is what they are aware of...how often does one report ransome payments and who is reporting those payments to the U.N.? So we know it is more, but that does not even come close to the income they have from their other sources and from donations from supporters.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2014 11:53 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 11:53:13 -0500

The point being we need to keep our head on a swivel, because this very thing is happening in our back yard, Mexico. The cartel is employing the same tactics as ISIS, and does quite well with it. They are selective with their targets, only kidnapping suspects of known millionaires, or known wealthy business ties. I am only 18 hours from the Mexico border, so make sure you properly brief your children that are traveling abroad for The holidays and especially Spring break.

Response by PO3 Heather Brown made Nov 25 at 2014 12:20 PM

PO3 Heather Brown — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 12:20:57 -0500

So much for Ronald Regan's " we will not negotiate with terrorists". Go figure...

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2014 12:42 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 12:42:08 -0500

My question is, how many of the people that were ransomed were actually returned whole?

- How many did they end up executing anyway, "just because"?

- How many did they get the money for and say, "Well you're boy Joe has converted to Islam and taken up the caliphate's holy cause. He now goes by Ibriham and he will not be returning to you"?

Let's see how much those who are willing to pay up actually managed to buy besides gear for a terrorist state and put that on the front page of the news and see what happens.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 25 at 2014 3:15 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 15:15:44 -0500

I need to hear more speeches like this when I feel down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt8y18YFH70

Ronald Reagan A Soldiers Pledge Listen Learn Remember

A very inspirational speech by Ronald Reagan. This is what a President is supposed to sound like. Listen, learn and remember who we are!

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2014 4:21 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 16:21:21 -0500

There was a story very similar to this and it became a part of the Marine Corps Hymn. The Barbary Pirates were holding ships, crews and cargo, for ransom until Jefferson and Jackson sent the Marines to "negotiate", a negotiation that included combat.

Although a different locale, these are the same religious fanatics. Needless to say, it' doesn't sound like our government or any government that is paying these ransoms learned from our history. Appeasement will never work. It only emboldens the enemy and gives them resources that allows them to expand.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Aug 17 at 2015 5:10 PM

SPC David Hannaman — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:10:55 -0400

Sure... turn it into a "tactic for generating revenue".

Um... didn't we spend all that money on B-2's so we would have the capability of dropping 40,000 lbs of ordinance, with pinpoint accuracy, anywhere in the world, within 24 hours, and nobody would even knew we flew over?

I suggest we start using the "toys" the hardworking taxpayer bought for us.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2015 9:34 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 21:34:06 -0400

In addition to ransom, Da'ish is selling slaves and selling young yazidi women as sex slaves. I read a NY times article today that covered the Da'ish sex trade, as well as Da'ish's justification for rape -- they are a truly abhorrent organization. They are the most brutal, well funded, and successful terrorist organization ever and will eventually require a serous global commitment to be defeated.