Terrorist Financing: The U.S. and International Response

Crsuser

Description

Terrorist Financing: The U.S. and International Response

Sujets

• Arts

Informations

• Publié par: ycyzadom
• Nombre de lectures: 52
• Langue: English

Extrait

Order Code RL31658

Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web

Terrorist Financing: The U.S. and International Response

December 6, 2002

Rensselaer Lee Consultant in International Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division

Congressional Research Service   ˜   The Library of Congress

Terrorist Financing: The U.S. and International Response

Summary

The U.S.-led international campaign to deprive terrorists of funding has so far produced mixed results. Though more than $120 million in terrorists’ accounts reportedly has been blocked since September 11, 2001, less than 20 percent of this total has been frozen in the past 11 months. The al Qaeda network increasingly is shifting to non-bank methods of moving and storing value and is relying on a decentralized structure of largely self-financing cells; moreover, Middle Eastern donors apparently continue to provide funds to al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. In addition, the campaign has aroused controversy on various political, religious and humanitarian grounds and is viewed in some quarters as broadly anti-Islamic. How the crackdown on terror finance should be prioritized and integrated with a comprehensive global struggle against terrorism thus becomes an issue of considerable significance for U.S. policymakers and for Congress.