ISIS, the terrorist group that has taken control of vast swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq, clearly has an economic strategy writes Max Fisher:

• The group has captured power plants and is selling electricity to the Syrian government – and using the funds to try to destroy it.
• It has also captured Iraqi oilfields and has plans to sell the oil to fund its operations.
• Up until now though they’ve funded themselves by simply confiscating the properties of those it doesn’t like. Despite calling itself an “Islamic” group this has included the assets of Muslims.
• Those who want to conduct humanitarian operations on its lands need to give the group a cut.
• It then uses that money to pay its fighters more than other groups – further swelling its ranks.
• It currently controls territory roughly the size of Belgium.

Fisher concludes “that ISIS appears to have been so successful…says a lot about their strategic foresight, their long-term ambitions, and their ability to outlast their opponents”. Read it here.

Source: Vox

Via: The Dish