Print

Foreword ix criminal profits as the daily reality of the organization, past commitments to political or religious goals become simply a convenient ideological fa- çade. Exposure of this sordid reality and hypocrisy can be an important means of turning public opinion against terrorist groups, thereby under- mining their ability to function. Fourth, this volume underscores the central importance of prevent- ing terrorist groups from controlling territory. Chapter after chapter—on Da’esh in Syria and Iraq, on Boko Haram and al-Shabaab in Africa, the FARC in Colombia, the Haqqani Network in Afghanistan—show that such organizations reap tremendous profits from their exploitation of re- sources, trade, and the people in the territory they control. Whether it is extorting truckers at roadblocks, protection rackets, smuggling drugs, or control of the oil trade (as in the case of Da’esh), the control of territory gives terrorist organizations vast opportunities to shake down the popu- lation and acquire wealth to attract recruits, outfit fighters, and conduct terror operations. The policy solution to the control of territory by terrorist criminal can require kinetic means, as the recent campaign against Da’esh illustrates. But those means alone are not sufficient. Removing the threat of terrorist groups seizing territory, over the long run, will take long and frustratingly slow efforts to improve governance, build infrastructure, and strengthen institutions that can contribute to stable societies. Some 30 years ago, I remember conversations with the then Coordina- tor for Counterterrorism at the Department of State, Ambassador Robert Oakley, who made an impassioned appeal to members of Congress for additional tools beyond those of law enforcement to counter the growing terrorist threat. He was right. We did need new tools, and after 9/11 the U.S. government exercised them fully. Today, we use a wide array of intelligence and military tools to counter terror organizations. But to protect our citizens, we should not forget the tools of law enforcement and the government’s powerful ability to inves- tigate crimes and criminal organizations. If we are successful in taking down terrorist criminal enterprises, we will go a long way to keeping our country safe and secure. Christopher A. Kojm