StormWarning’s Counterterrorism

This is quite an interesting discussion/debate on the possible role of blood(or conflict) diamonds and al Qaeda at the CT Blog.  I’m not going to really write anything here.  The discussion speaks for itself.

http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2005/08/i_thought_diamo.html
http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2005/08/debate_continue.html
http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2005/08/diamondscounter.html
http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2005/08/conflict_diamon_2.html
http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2005/08/a_slight_clarif.html
http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2005/08/conflict_diamon_1.html
http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2005/08/taylor_africa_a.html

This is a lengthy debate, one pro and one con.  BTW, lucky us, thanks to Andrew Cochran of the CT Blog, all of the posts are provided in a word file found here:
http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/files/debate_on_alqaeda_african_diamonds.doc

Conflict or blood diamonds is an issue that plagues a number of regions of the world, and relates not just to al Qaeda.

Diamonds and blood

Part of the new consumption boom among the elite in India relates to the purchase of diamonds, which have emerged as the latest status symbol among both the super-rich and the aspiring middle classes. This is related in no small measure to the blitzkrieg of advertising campaigns to promote diamond sales in India.

The multinational company De Beers (the world’s largest diamond trader) and other international diamond merchants, as well as retailers, have been pushing this enthusiastically. So much so that now this has become the latest emblem not only of material success, but also, apparently, of purity and commitment on the part of giver and receiver.

But of course, most things in the world today are not what they seem, so it is probably not surprising that the world diamond trade is substantially based on and feeds into, the most gruesome violence and terror in a continent (Africa) that has had more than its fair share of tragedy. The history of diamond extraction is known to be cruel, characterized by the ravaging of native populations and severe exploitation of workers in Southern Africa in the 19th century. But the more recent trade is based on what is probably an even more cynical exploitation and reinforcement by multinational processing and trading companies, of vicious local conflicts in the sub-Saharan region…

‘Conflict diamonds’ evade UN sanctions

Diamonds and other natural resources are continuing to finance armed conflicts in Angola and the Mano River Union states of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea despite improved enforcement and monitoring of UN arms and diamond sanctions. Reports submitted to the Security Council in October charge that both the Angolan rebel leader, Mr. Jonas Savimbi, and the Liberian government still violate the trade and weapons bans with the help of a global network of arms dealers, diamond merchants and natural resources companies. Stronger regulation of the mining industries in Angola and Sierra Leone is helping to reduce rebels’ access to the stones, the Council was told. But the absence of international controls on diamond exports has allowed sanctions-busters to evade national regulations by smuggling them to neighbouring countries for sale on world markets…

I know that I’ve written about conflict/blood diamonds before over at the MF, but since the search engine is so inefficient, I can’t find anything past 6 months right now.  I’ll add when the stuff is available.

International Issues