Title Antiquities destruction and illicit sales as sources of ISIS funding and propaganda / W. Andrew Terrill

Published Carlisle, PA : Strategic Studies Institute and U.S. Army War College Press, 2017

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Description 1 online resource (xvi, 44 pages) Series Letort papers Letort papers. Contents Introduction -- The vulnerabilities of Syrian and Iraqi antiquities -- The destruction of Palmyra sites in Syria -- The development of systemized looting in Syria and Iraq -- ISIS sources of income and the importance of antiquities trafficking -- Conclusions Summary "The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has embarked on a campaign to destroy or sell priceless world heritage relics throughout the area under its control. While images of the outrageous destruction of priceless artifacts have been seen throughout the world, the strategic and military implications of comprehensive antiquities looting and ISIS propaganda about antiquities are of vital importance and correspondingly are considered throughout this Letort Paper. In particular, ISIS funding from the illicit sales of antiquities (and high quality fakes) is a serious problem and may help ISIS remain functional even after other sources of revenue are increasingly disrupted or eliminated. Should ISIS experience additional defeats and further loss of territory in Iraq and Syria, an ongoing stream of revenue could fund a nucleus of the organization while it searches for opportunities to rebuild itself and prove its continued relevance through spectacular acts of terrorism. Antiquities, if hidden and trafficked later, along with reproductions marketed as original masterpieces, could give the organization the financial lifeline it needs to stay operational and relevant, even if it is forced to transform itself from a 'caliphate' controlling territory to a more simplified type of terrorist organization operating out of portions of the areas it once ruled"--Publisher's web site Notes Paper version available for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Publishing Office "April 2017." Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 32-44) Notes Online resource, PDF version; title from PDF title page (SSI, viewed April 10, 2017) Subject IS (Organization) -- Finance SUBJECT IS (Organization) fast (OCoLC)fst01914325 Subject Cultural property -- Destruction and pillage -- Iraq Cultural property -- Destruction and pillage -- Syria Terrorism -- Finance. Propaganda -- Finance Cultural property -- Destruction and pillage. Finance. Terrorism -- Finance. Iraq. Syria. Form Electronic book Author Army War College (U.S.). Strategic Studies Institute, publisher. Army War College (U.S.). Press, publisher.

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