Who is profiting from terrorism?

Question

This question was asked at the Dropping Knowledge event on 9th
September by Barcelona Forum, 2004.

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Answer 1

The terrorists are puppets to bigger plans. They think they are fighting a worthy cause against oppression and the enemies of their beliefs. However they are mere pawns to smarter, craftier and wealthier people. Some of which may surprise them of who they are really working for.

History has shown time and time again that those who have wealth or industry in warfare always start conflicts, or to the more simply let a threat build. The simple truth is that for a nation to maintain power and keep its level of consumption, it must expend resources in order to create more. War is the fastest method of this process.

So who profits from terrorism? Those who are invested in companies that make weapons. Those whose industries can charge higher prices for the mere perception of threat while the cost of production remains the same like the oil industry. Wealthy and influential who are safe from terrorism but use its looming threat to distract the masses into a mood of unquestionable patriotism to their nation. Terrorist profit as they continue to be armed and supplied to die for what they believe is a cause to change the world. And in an indirect way the average person, as they benefit from booming economies fighting the war on terror.

So in conclusion, everyone profits from it in the ways important to them. However someone said it best, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, but loose his own soul."

It is a duality, everyone wins, everyone looses.

Answer 2

Corperations are profiting the most.
(when I say corperations I also include Big Businesses in that definition too)

Just look up the stats for your self.

The military is funded and encurages production of items that corperations have their hands in, in short it's called the military industrial complex, then there's the prison systems which the PATRIOT Act is helping to fill them up even faster with cheap labor with "vanished people", then there's all the corperations that have their hands in "rebuilding" in the war torn nations such as Iraq. It's more then just oil, it's a free for all money grabbing gold rush for the corperations of the world (so much raw resources, and untapped potential in expanding the capitalist market in regions that haven't been 'globalized' yet).

(Side note:
The horrible joke on them will be, no one is secure from terrorism, so to try to profit off of such horrors and suffering will only eventually bring it full circle back to them, in essince they're not too bright... there is no such thing as 100% security (101 Computer Secutiry LOL take that class haha!) the best way to end terrorism is to prevent it, not agrivate it and force it to stop, and profit in the mean time, no, that is suicide... the "War on Terror" is a sad disturbing JOKE! Peace will never come from winning anything let alone winning a "war")

Cya!
(A)
::: Peace :::

Answer 3

So who profits from terrorism? Those who are invested in companies that make weapons. Those whose industries can charge higher prices for the mere perception of threat while the cost of production remains the same like the oil industry. Wealthy and influential who are safe from terrorism but use its looming threat to distract the masses into a mood of unquestionable patriotism to their nation. Terrorist profit as they continue to be armed and supplied to die for what they believe is a cause to change the world. And in an indirect way the average person, as they benefit from booming economies fighting the war on terror.

Answer 4

Nobody is ultimately profiting from terrorism. Well, maybe a few guys at the top of Islam. The others are dying in car bombings, and suicide bombings.

Terrorism does not profit, but it destroys.

Answer 5

The current terrorism started in the 70s when the powers of the world realized that there was not going to be enough oil for everyone - so powers like America and England, et al, started giving arms and training to different factions in Islamic nations. They felt that if they could keep these less developed nations in a state of chaos they could get the lion's share of the oil at a great price. And it has worked very well for many years.

Now you have terrorist cells that have our weapons and our training and they are starting to realize who their enemy is.

Incidentally, I think of the current situation in the middle east as very much like the American Revolution. They similarly have several independent Nation States that are fighting to keep their land and resources for themselves and get out from under the oppression of an invading force. It would be interesting to see the nations of islam combine and organize - as the original colonies did - to create a safer and more stable situation in that area. If they did that, the UN would have to recognize them and the simple fact that they control the oil would make them a force to be listened to - if not reckoned with (I hope).

Peace!

Answer 6

So many ways, where to begin...Let's see, via drug sales, "beards" who take an anti-terrorism stance but are secretly funneling money, weapons, diamonds to various "shadow" groups throughout the world (personally, I think at the very least, Pakistan and Morocco are 2 primary cesspools for terrorist activity, as well as Indonesia, Philippians, North Korea; We, meaning the US, England, France (to a minimum extent, in my opinion), Russia and a few others can't be the eyes and ears everywhere at every instant! Heck, we can't even patrol our own borders, so, to answer the question, everyone who smokes even weed (unless it's home grown!) and does other drugs are major contributors to the drug lords profits; Then you have your military secrets or weapons degenerates who are committing treason, but stuffing their pockets with cash; Oil companies for creating panic, gouging prices and still having billion dollar profits year end with nonsensical bonuses for their "top corporate execs", Film companies (some, not all) who see a quick buck in rehashing 9/11 events and selling them as movies instead of "movie of the weeks" for free on TV, The builders of military weapons, including helmets, rifles, bullets; I could go on, but now it's just too mind boggling!

Answer 7

The only ones truly profiting from terrorism are anyone who makes and /or sells weapons, and anyone in the funeral business. In terrorism, as in war, they win no matter which side claims victory.

Answer 8

Honestly I think that radical and conservative elements of many nations and ideologies such as terrorist organizations profit the most from terrorism. They convince their citizens that killing and breaking things is a better solution than diplomacy. The war machines profit as well as the radical religious organizations.

Answer 9

A couple of people -

Any political leaders who need to draw the focus away from the mess they have created on their own door steps.

The arms manufacturers.

The quasi governments in the countries where the atrocities are taking place.

The ones who don't profit are the population of the countries where the atrocities take place.

The innocents who die as a consequence of big business and foreign government intervention.

Answer 10

There are many people profiting from terrorism. Government contractors who provide support to the war effort through workers, equipment, and services rendered. There are the politicians who get kickbacks and votes from the war supporters. There are the thousands of new jobs within the Department of Homeland security and other agencies as a result of 911 and terrorism. Their are the movie makers, network television, and all of the publishers that write and film the "war on terrorism". It seems like the state of terrorism has been grossly exaggerated just to fuel all of the people profiting from the supposed terror that is going on everywhere. Fear and propaganda drives the economy and everybody is trying to get their piece of the pie.