New Threat Emerges At Intersection Of Terrorism, Syndicated Crime

Analysts and administration officials are talking about terrorist groups not just as part of an ideological movement, but rather as criminal syndicates. With funding sources drying up, local terrorist groups are going beyond traditional deep pocket donors. Now they are bilking local economies. Al-Qaida is robbing banks in Iraq, the Taliban is taking hostages in Afghanistan and al-Shabab is laundering money in Somalia.