Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 21, 2017

Iraqi forces advancing on Islamic State-held Mosul on Sunday. AFP

Cristoph Reuter, Spiegel Online: Dire Straits for Islamic State Finances


Islamic State is in deep financial trouble. A new study by King's College in London provides the first in-depth look at the terrorist group's revenue structure and why its business model is now failing.

Where does Islamic State (IS) actually get its money? How does the "wealthiest terror organization in the world" finance itself? Newspaper articles and statements from politicians in recent years have provided some insight, but the resulting image only partially reflected reality. Kidnappings and the smuggling of ancient artifacts have continually been mentioned as important revenue streams despite a lack of proof for either theory. Politicians have also demanded that money from foreign sources be blocked, a call that seems to come from assumptions based on al-Qaida having received money from Persian Gulf states in the past. But there isn't proof that Islamic State is using that model either.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 21, 2017

How Trump is already shifting domestic politics in Iran -- Saeid Jafari,

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