Disrupting Threat Finances

Purpose: The purpose of this monograph is to determine whether or not the disruption of terrorist financing as part of an integrated and holistic approach is an effective way to enhance United States (U.S.) security, disrupt terrorist operations and mitigate terrorist effects on U.S. strategic interests. Method: The author gathered the empirical data needed for the monograph through personal interviews and an extensive literature review. The author focused his research efforts on recognized and peer-evaluated journals, books, congressional testimony, sanctioned government reports, and recognized experts in the field of terrorist financing within academia, and Interagency (IA). Content: This monograph focuses on the ways the U.S. Government (USG) can effectively fight terrorist organizations beyond simply trying to deny terrorist access to financing. Specifically, the USG can use financial information as the string that leads to all aspects of terrorist operations. By disrupting access to financial resources and, more importantly, following its trail, the USG through coordinated intelligence, investigations, prosecutions, sanctions, and diplomacy within the IA, private sector, allies, and partner nations, can enhance U.S. security, disrupt terrorist operations and mitigate terrorist effects on U.S. strategic interests. Findings: This monograph demonstrates that the disruption of terrorist financing as part of an integrated and holistic approach is an effective way to enhance U.S. security, disrupt terrorist operations, and mitigate terrorist effects on U.S. strategic interests. In addition, this monograph confirms that the effects of terrorist organizations on U.S. strategic interests can be disrupted and mitigated by: (1) giving an existing organization the mandate and funding authority to coordinate and direct the actions of all USG departments and agencies (without stifling their flexibility or resources) against terrorist organizations; (2) enhancing multilate