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Economic Crisis Hits Al Qaeda, Too

Terrorist activities must wait as fundraising falters

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 12, 2009 2:29 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Al Qaeda operations are struggling due to a lack of capital brought on in part by the global economic downturn, the New York Post reports. “In Afghanistan, we have a severe supply deficit,” the group said in a plea for donations. “Mujahideen sit and wait and cannot fight for lack of supplies.” The cash crunch is so bad that terror leaders are saying donations are an acceptable alternative to actual fighting.

“Al-Qaeda leaders, unlike their Taliban hosts who are heavily involved in the lucrative drug trade, do not currently have significant financial resources," a UN official said. In addition to economic crisis, restrictions on Arab charities and a drop-off in extortion contribute to the crunch. “It's a real issue,” an expert said. The Qaeda plea concluded by asking supporters to “fear Allah and be ambitious in waging jihad through goods.”

Confiscated militant weapons in Afghanistan.
Confiscated militant weapons in Afghanistan.   (AP Photo)
Osama bin Laden.
Osama bin Laden.   (AP Photo)
An al-Qaeda video.
An al-Qaeda video.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
JonmarkP
Jun 14, 2009 4:31 AM CDT
Is Al Queda no longer being funded by the CIA? That seems hard to believe-AQ was one of their most profitable investments, bringing literally trillions of dollars into war profiteers like the Carlyle Group that Bush 4 runs..
justme
Jun 13, 2009 12:09 PM CDT
If they did, Obama might consider it if he got a percentage ownership.
mehrheit
Jun 12, 2009 11:10 AM CDT
AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Maybe they should hold a bake sale. (O/T? - So, now we know: the fed/bankers/regulators/etc weren't really greedy money grubbing pig-f'ers after all. They trashed our economy. . . because they were PATRIOTS. They knew what they were doing the whole time. "Support the troops, sell bad debt." "CDOs - In asymmetric warfare, buying war bonds just won't cut it.")
World • Money

 
Iraq • Afghanistan • terrorism • donation • global economy • al-Qaeda • mujahedeen • economic downturn • economic crisis

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