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This page contains all of the posts and discussion on MemeStreams referencing the following web page: How We Underestimated ISIL - POLITICO Magazine. You can find discussions on MemeStreams as you surf the web, even if you aren't a MemeStreams member, using the Threads Bookmarklet.

How We Underestimated ISIL - POLITICO Magazine
by Decius at 9:57 pm EST, Nov 16, 2015

While exact numbers are elusive, ISIL has at least tens of thousands of fighters, most of whom are battle-tested, including thousands of foreign fighters. That is a far larger force of potential terrorists than Al Qaeda possessed when it carried out 9/11 (likely well under 1,000). ISIL can easily staff a spectacular attack, in fact, it has had that capability for well over a year.

ISIL also has money. Again, specific and credible estimates are wanting, but based on its estimated peak wealth in 2014, the group today is believed to have tens of millions of dollars in reserve, and more likely hundreds of millions. In comparison, Al Qaeda incurred about $500,000 in direct costs for the 9/11 attacks, so funding a spectacular attack is also within ISIL’s reach, and has been for well over a year.


 
 
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