AQ Funds:
Online Gamibling is more regulated than it might apear from the outside. Banks operating in the United States and the EU are regulated on strick and fairly well designed money laundring rules and regs. I am not saying some money does not get moved this way, just that it's going to be fairly small amounts. Beyond that, aren't we much more worried about where the money comes from than how they move it to the person who needs it?
Chopters:
I don't see a problem with pulling chopters out of the bone yard. I mean didn't we put them there instead of selling them for this exact reason? Personally I also think we need the VC-22 but there is nothing wrong with recognizing an asset you already have on hand and working with it. (Note the us of the M113s in Iraq)
Posted by: The Cenobyte at August 23, 2005 11:27 AM
AQ FUNDS
I have been in contact with several US government agencies (including Secret Service) to explain that internet gambling is one of the prime methods for the anonymous conveyance of funds. Such conveyance circumvents normal banking controls for international transfer on funds. It's simple, create a gambling account in Country A, buy some poker chips, lose your chips to a person in Country B. Person in Country B withdraws winnings at local bank. Bingo!
Anyone reading this should know that online gambling is against federal law. However, I have recieved no reaction from law enforcement or lawmakers in the US. The reason: They couldn't drive a consensus as to how to approach online gambling.
Give me a break, the poli-speak for, "I am scared that this might hurt my re-election prospects."
Posted by: lowprofile at August 22, 2005 5:29 PM
Good Morning Matt,
Doesn't this seem to be a set up story for the V/C-22, after all it's budget season in Congress.
I can see the headlines now, "Marines forced to go to war in aging discarded War Birds". It will tear at the heart strings of all mothers who have children in the military.
It also doesn't hurt that President Bush's new Sec. of the Navy Donald C. Winter is right out of Northrup Grumman as President of there Missile Systems. Don't they make landing ships?
It just business as usual Matt.
ALLONS,
Byron Skinner
"Stewart's Platoon"
Posted by: Byron Skinner at August 22, 2005 2:43 PM
al Qaedas new bankroll,
This may just be the most intriging area of the entire GWOT. Where is al Qaeda getting it's funding and how can it be choked off, if Wall Street wants to?
The meda's "usual sespects" ie. the Saudis and oportunistic Arabs just doesn't seem to pass the smell test.
First the Saudis have themselves become an al Qaeda target and the big oil money has no interest in disrupting the flow of mid-east oil at $65.00 per barrel.
I think a look back into the events of the Second World War, who got out of Nazi Germany and where is the missing assets of the Nazi Germany and what was the basis of Nazi power in the first place. Hint hateing Jews.
I'm neither a big supporter of Israel nor and apologist for the Arab cause. It's just that following the traditional sources since 9/11 has been fruitless. The terrorist have income and it's comming from somewhere.
The interesting thing is that this line of thinking, the drawing together of Nazi assets and the post WWII Terrorists alway seems to draw rapid denials.
But for all of you conspiricy theorist out there you might like to consider the following items; 300 metric tons of Gold from Nazi era is still unaccounted for, Odessa put more ex Nazi SS Types in Ciro then it did South America, the Nazis built there power base on elimating the Jew, there is a very close relationship between German finicial institutions of post war Germany and the Bank of Egypt, and the terrorist activity against Israel has always been well funded (uniforms, U.S. M-16's etc.).
ALLONS,
Byron Skinner
"Stewart's Platoon"
Posted by: Byron Skinner at August 22, 2005 2:33 PM
What is the value of (the now in review) FCS when rusting hulks are pulled from ten years in the dessert to replace / augment the existing air transport fleet? Where are the priorities ("go to war with what you have not what you want") when basic transport, air or ground (IED-protected transport anyone?), is neglected? Are these priorites reflections of clearly poor understandings of complex (and historic) realities in Afghanistan and Iraq that have led to the current situations?
AQ Funds:
Online Gamibling is more regulated than it might apear from the outside. Banks operating in the United States and the EU are regulated on strick and fairly well designed money laundring rules and regs. I am not saying some money does not get moved this way, just that it's going to be fairly small amounts. Beyond that, aren't we much more worried about where the money comes from than how they move it to the person who needs it?
Chopters:
I don't see a problem with pulling chopters out of the bone yard. I mean didn't we put them there instead of selling them for this exact reason? Personally I also think we need the VC-22 but there is nothing wrong with recognizing an asset you already have on hand and working with it. (Note the us of the M113s in Iraq)
Posted by: The Cenobyte at August 23, 2005 11:27 AM