General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: ISIS "tremendously well-funded". By whom? ...and why aren't we choking the funds off and prosecuting [View all]quaker bill
(8,226 posts)Reportedly they are selling to Assad and others locally. I have no proof, I just listen to NPR and BBC, but it makes sense. You can imagine that all "banks" are traceable if you care to. No one reputable I have heard has said "billions". The reports I have hear say 100,000 barrels a day in production, at $100 a barrel that comes to $10 million a day. Defining this as "legitimate business" I am afraid severely underestimates the ME business climate. They could be having to sell at a discount, regardless it is still a bunch of money.
They apparently seized a bunch of US weapons tech when the Iraqi army "evaporated" from bases. So there is apparently a whole bunch of stuff they got free....
I think if they have the oil and you want it, you pay in whatever form they accept. No "force" is required. You pay and you get, you don't pay and someone else gets....