Aa
Cocaine, Al Qaeda And Tropical Gangsters
In my opinion, should Al Quaeda develop a good working relationship with the Colombian drug cartels, this could be a real problem for our porous southern border. Mexican drug cartels are having no problem getting their illicit poison through already. Heck, we've given them their own little playground in the Buena Vista National Park which Americans aren't allowed to use. We just get to pay for it. Anyway, how long do you think it will take Al Quaeda to establish a relationship with the Mexican cartels? And the possibilities of what they can bring across are too horrendous to ponder!
_________________________________________________________________
Cocaine, Al Qaeda And Tropical Gangsters
July 4, 2010: The U.S. recently cut all military aid to of the African nation of Guinea-Bissau, which was in response to Guinea-Bissau refusing to remove military officers known to be involved with cocaine smugglers. The U.S. believes that the military has not only been bought off by drug gangs, but that the newly appointed head of the army, general Antonio Indjai, is heavily involved in the drug business.
Because of the South American drug gangs using Guinea-Bissau as part of their new smuggling route to Europe and the Middle East, West Africa is becoming a new source of income for al Qaeda. At first, the U.S. attacked the problem by putting sanctions, last April, on two senior military commanders in Guinea-Bissau. Air force chief of staff Ibraima Papa Camara and former navy chief of staff Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto were accused of being "drug kingpins" and key members of a drug smuggling operation that moves cocaine from South America to Europe and the Persian Gulf, via Guinea-Bissau. The sanctions freeze any assets the two men have in the United States, and prohibit Americans from doing business with the two. This did not stop the pro-drug commanders, who then staged a coup to remove the anti-drug army commander. To further make their point, pro-drug gang troops also briefly arrested the prime minister. Subsequent negotiations convinced the government to let the pro-drug gang officers have their way.
Al Qaeda has been seen operating in Guinea-Bissau for several years now. Two years ago, two al Qaeda members were arrested and charged with the murder, in nearby Mauritania, of four French tourists. At the time, the United States suspected Qaeda involvement in cocaine trafficking in South America. Then al Qaeda operatives began showing up in Guinea-Bissau. Before long, evidence emerged that al Qaeda was there mainly to facilitate cocaine smuggling.
Algerian police that patrol their southern border are encountering more and more al Qaeda gunmen escorting drug smugglers. There were four such encounters in 2008, and fifteen last year. The most valuable of the smuggled drugs is Colombian cocaine, which is flown into West Africa, and then moved north to Europe and the Persian Gulf (two of the biggest markets). Al Qaeda has been detected working with the Colombian drug cartels to handle movement of the drugs from West African airports to North African ports (where local smuggling groups move the drugs into Europe.)
Apparently al Qaeda has learned from the Taliban, which earns huge amounts partnering with Afghan drug gangs that produce most of the world's supply of opium and heroin. While both the Taliban and al Qaeda officially condemn these drugs, they don't mind handling the supply chain, and even passing them out to their fighters to keep them in the right mood for dangerous operations. Terrorist leaders justify the drug involvement with the "we are using drugs to destroy our enemies" angle. While there is some truth to that, millions of Moslems also become addicts. This does not help the Islamic terror groups in Moslem countries, where these drugs are as destructive as they are in the West.
Terrorist groups in general have always worked with common criminals in order to raise money, and obtain weapons and other gear. Usually, the terrorists stuck to low profile scams like fraud (credit card, mortgage) and smuggling. Drugs were always considered more profitable, but higher risk and bad for the image. In these desperate times, caution is something the terrorists cannot afford. Either they raise money to keep themselves together as an organization, or simply dissolve. This led to greater use of kidnapping and grand larceny, as well as buying, selling and transporting drugs.
The situation in Guinea-Bissau, however, is different. If al Qaeda can make themselves sufficiently useful to the cocaine gangs operating there, the country could become a new base for the terrorist organization.
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htterr/20100704.aspx
_________________________________________________________________
Cocaine, Al Qaeda And Tropical Gangsters
July 4, 2010: The U.S. recently cut all military aid to of the African nation of Guinea-Bissau, which was in response to Guinea-Bissau refusing to remove military officers known to be involved with cocaine smugglers. The U.S. believes that the military has not only been bought off by drug gangs, but that the newly appointed head of the army, general Antonio Indjai, is heavily involved in the drug business.
Because of the South American drug gangs using Guinea-Bissau as part of their new smuggling route to Europe and the Middle East, West Africa is becoming a new source of income for al Qaeda. At first, the U.S. attacked the problem by putting sanctions, last April, on two senior military commanders in Guinea-Bissau. Air force chief of staff Ibraima Papa Camara and former navy chief of staff Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto were accused of being "drug kingpins" and key members of a drug smuggling operation that moves cocaine from South America to Europe and the Persian Gulf, via Guinea-Bissau. The sanctions freeze any assets the two men have in the United States, and prohibit Americans from doing business with the two. This did not stop the pro-drug commanders, who then staged a coup to remove the anti-drug army commander. To further make their point, pro-drug gang troops also briefly arrested the prime minister. Subsequent negotiations convinced the government to let the pro-drug gang officers have their way.
Al Qaeda has been seen operating in Guinea-Bissau for several years now. Two years ago, two al Qaeda members were arrested and charged with the murder, in nearby Mauritania, of four French tourists. At the time, the United States suspected Qaeda involvement in cocaine trafficking in South America. Then al Qaeda operatives began showing up in Guinea-Bissau. Before long, evidence emerged that al Qaeda was there mainly to facilitate cocaine smuggling.
Algerian police that patrol their southern border are encountering more and more al Qaeda gunmen escorting drug smugglers. There were four such encounters in 2008, and fifteen last year. The most valuable of the smuggled drugs is Colombian cocaine, which is flown into West Africa, and then moved north to Europe and the Persian Gulf (two of the biggest markets). Al Qaeda has been detected working with the Colombian drug cartels to handle movement of the drugs from West African airports to North African ports (where local smuggling groups move the drugs into Europe.)
Apparently al Qaeda has learned from the Taliban, which earns huge amounts partnering with Afghan drug gangs that produce most of the world's supply of opium and heroin. While both the Taliban and al Qaeda officially condemn these drugs, they don't mind handling the supply chain, and even passing them out to their fighters to keep them in the right mood for dangerous operations. Terrorist leaders justify the drug involvement with the "we are using drugs to destroy our enemies" angle. While there is some truth to that, millions of Moslems also become addicts. This does not help the Islamic terror groups in Moslem countries, where these drugs are as destructive as they are in the West.
Terrorist groups in general have always worked with common criminals in order to raise money, and obtain weapons and other gear. Usually, the terrorists stuck to low profile scams like fraud (credit card, mortgage) and smuggling. Drugs were always considered more profitable, but higher risk and bad for the image. In these desperate times, caution is something the terrorists cannot afford. Either they raise money to keep themselves together as an organization, or simply dissolve. This led to greater use of kidnapping and grand larceny, as well as buying, selling and transporting drugs.
The situation in Guinea-Bissau, however, is different. If al Qaeda can make themselves sufficiently useful to the cocaine gangs operating there, the country could become a new base for the terrorist organization.
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htterr/20100704.aspx
Not a bad idea. And the US would not have to do it alone either. There are several countries that I am certain would get involved in something like that if it helped slow down the flow into our countires. Heroin use is on the rise again...we have young people trying it and it is one of those drugs that can be almost instantly addictive. And yes, it is far more potent than we saw several years ago. Cut off the flow of $$ and you would definately slow these lunatics down!! It's a good idea.....
You know, I am NOT an advocate of the US government buying heroin but....
If the free world would compensate the Afghan farmers for their loss of income for not growing it, I'd be all for it. Besides, the heroin we're seeing today is so much more potent and deadly than the heroin of former years.
We compensate farmers in our own country for NOT growing certain crops. So why not pay the Afghan farmers. We'd cut off funding for the Taliban and help stop the flow of heroin in the world.
If the free world would compensate the Afghan farmers for their loss of income for not growing it, I'd be all for it. Besides, the heroin we're seeing today is so much more potent and deadly than the heroin of former years.
We compensate farmers in our own country for NOT growing certain crops. So why not pay the Afghan farmers. We'd cut off funding for the Taliban and help stop the flow of heroin in the world.
They can't really claim to do a lot of the things they do under the guise of this being a holy war. The Q'aran also condemns the killing of women and children...something that does not seem to bother them a whit when they set off bombs, crash planes, etc. They are complete and total hypocrites for certain.
As for the clerics condemnation (or lack there of)....the Muslim belief system teaches that Muslims must never come out against one another. They are all supposed to be brothers. But as you mentioned in your other post, more are speaking out and that is a good thing. I don't completely understand why they do not condemn the heroin operations...I can only speculate. In my opinion (and that is all it is), many of these Afghan poppy farmers have no other means of making a living. So to condemn or remove them from that trade would be starving their families so to speak. And being that no good Muslim would drink or use drugs, I don't think very many considered it "their" problem, know what I mean? I have no idea if there is any truth behind that opinion, just speculation on my part. It doesn't make sense does it. But then again, in every religion there are people who talk the talk, but certainly do not walk the walk. I guess it's no different there.
As for the clerics condemnation (or lack there of)....the Muslim belief system teaches that Muslims must never come out against one another. They are all supposed to be brothers. But as you mentioned in your other post, more are speaking out and that is a good thing. I don't completely understand why they do not condemn the heroin operations...I can only speculate. In my opinion (and that is all it is), many of these Afghan poppy farmers have no other means of making a living. So to condemn or remove them from that trade would be starving their families so to speak. And being that no good Muslim would drink or use drugs, I don't think very many considered it "their" problem, know what I mean? I have no idea if there is any truth behind that opinion, just speculation on my part. It doesn't make sense does it. But then again, in every religion there are people who talk the talk, but certainly do not walk the walk. I guess it's no different there.
Adgal: I am so glad you brought this up. The Taliban uses heroin to finance their operations. How can they claim to be in a holy war while selling drugs? Talk about hypocrisy. They are criminals hiding behind the Q'aran in order to impose their brand of Islam on others.
More to the point, why have no Islamic clerics come out to condemn the drug connections with these two Islamic terrorist groups?????
More to the point, why have no Islamic clerics come out to condemn the drug connections with these two Islamic terrorist groups?????
I think this could, and probably will be attempted. And it is further proof that these terror organizations are not truly religious groups, but instead a group of criminals hiding behind their religion. The Q'aran very clearly condemns the use of drugs and alcohol.
You must join this user group in order to participate in this discussion.
You are reading content posted in the Current Events . . . Group
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
