Taliban Desperate for Money

The NEFA Foundation recently obtained and translated a new post from an online jihadi forum that claimed the Taliban is desperately seeking funds to prop up a dwindling cash reserve. In a poster that referred to plundering the trucks "carrying supplies for the heretics", followed a statement by one who said he was "asked by the leaders of the Taliban to . . . [let the Muslim brothers know that] we are in urgent need for money until we'll drive out the heretics."

---

The NEFA Foundation's mission is to research, analyze, and disseminate information pertaining to past and current terrorist activities. The Foundation shares its findings with law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community where appropriate, and works with other research organizations to educate the public on the threat of terrorism. NEFA obtains and publishes original documents relative to terrorist activities and legal proceedings. If the Taliban is in such dire straits that they cannot afford the gasoline for their operations, then the West has an opportunity that should not be missed. America's recent decision to back off the destruction of poppy fields that support 90% of the world's heroin traffic should be reconsidered. The plan to 'convince' the farmers to grow other crops is painfully innocent of the reality for the leaders of local villages who receive far more for their farmers' poppy crops than for any other crop we would hope to offer them. Moreover, the Taliban has threatened those who tried to change their crops away from the lucrative poppy. If the poster below represents a real shift in the fortunes of the Taliban, the window of opportunity for the West is small, since fund raising is one of the activities that jihadis have turned into an art form and the shortfall will not last. On the other hand, the wholesale destruction of Afghanistan's poppy crop will deprive the Taliban of massive revenues, help support the development of other agricultural pursuits, and free the world from a year's supply of heroin. Following is their translation of the Taliban's desperate plea for money. "There are some in the Taliban brotherhood who hold Kalashnikovs in one armory. They don't have money for bullets." According to translations released by the NEFA Foundation: [url=http://www.nefafoundation.org]http://www.nefafoundation.org[/url] In a desperate plea for funding, "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" issued the following appeal: [EXCERPT] Released: July 7, 2009 [url=http://www.nefafoundation.org]http://www.nefafoundation.org[/url]

"Praise Allah, I would like to inform you of some news from the west of the Emirate - Herat, Farah and Namruz provinces to the borders of Helmand province." "Praise Allah, the morale is rising! Every day the Taliban brothers are defeating the blasphemous and profane enemies, the conquerors, and inflicting great pain on them." "I have much uplifting news and at the same time saddening [news] for anyone who's passionate with our de-facto status." "One time we received some information about a great convoy of large trucks carrying supplies for the heretics, guarded by the apostates. Praise Allah, we grabbed our weapons, got prepared and rode the cars. When we went out to the general road the cars stopped. You want to know why? The cars stopped because they needed gas. It was an hour's walk in the sands until we would reach the mountains and ambush the convoy there. We didn't have any money to buy the gas for the cars. If the people from the villages would not have fed us we wouldn't have the money to feed ourselves." "If we would not have plundered the apostates' cars after killing them or running away from them in order to sell [them] and use the money to buy weapons like RPG rockets and 'Al-Ashtadud' to attack the Americans in the future." "There are some in the Taliban brotherhood who hold Kalashnikovs in one armory. They don't have money for bullets. In Allah's will, I will finish with the following:" "Let the brothers know that I published this news only after being asked by the leaders of the Taliban to do so, to publish this information so that the Muslims will know that we are in urgent need for money until we'll drive out the heretics." "Brothers! Allah is my witness that I only speak of what I see with my own two eyes. If sufficient money will be found, not a single heretic will sit in Afghanistan." "Peace be upon you, Allah's mercy and blessings." "...Do not forget us in your prayers." Your brother, Abu Shimaa

Gerard Group International was founded in 1983 and quickly achieved a reputation for excellence for our innovative approach to problem solving in a time of rapid technological change. We are best known for integrating relevant and often critical intelligence into programs that provide real and lasting solutions to the immediate and long-range concerns of our diverse client base.