Some Thoughts on the NIE
By Douglas Farah
Admittedly, we have only a few declassified pages of the National Intelligence Estimate, so there are clearly issues that remain classified, and some of these might be addressed there.
But it is striking that the "Trends in Global Terrorism: Implications for the United States" does not discuss financial issues at all. Nor does it discuss the role in radicalization provided by the massive flow of Saudi and Arab Peninsula dollars into radicalization efforts.
It is this fundamental base of Salafist teachings that allow for the spread of radical, decentralized Islamist network described in the findings. There is a basic playbook being taught around the world, with funding by governments that claim to be allies in fighting jihadist movements. With the teachings from early childhood, coupled with corrupted teachings on the Koran spread at Wahhabi mosques around the world, a global community is built.
The lack of recognition of the "pull" factors in Islamist radicalization is surprising. My entire blog is here.