Edward Niedermeyer, Bloomberg: Terrorists' Love of Toyotas Is No Mystery
Every time an insurgency threatens U.S. interests in the Middle East, a familiar question always seems to follow: Where do they get their Toyota pickup trucks?
Since the mid-1970s, from Saharan Africa to Central Asia, "technicals" -- light pickup trucks with heavy weaponry mounted in the bed -- have been a game-changer for irregular forces. And just as insurgents display a consistent preference for Russian AK-type assault rifles, their brand of choice for technicals is the similarly-rugged Toyota Hilux pickup. With Islamic State becoming the latest group to display an affinity for the Hilux, U.S. officials want to know: Why do terrorists love Toyotas, and how are they getting them?
The former question is considerably easier to answer than the latter: Hiluxes are among the most rugged and reliable vehicles on the global market. Tougher and more off-road oriented than the related Tacoma sold in the US, the Hilux is as popular with humanitarian groups and businesses operating in rugged corners of the world as with terrorist groups.
Update: Japan’s Largest Company Is ISIS’ Car Maker of Choice -- The Diplomat
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WNU Editor: I love the truck. As to Toyota's claims that they do not know how the group is getting their trucks. Hmmmm .... after I had done my previous post on this topic a few days ago, I asked one of my relatives in Russia who has the rights to KIA motors in the Saint Petersburg region on what was his take on the subject .... he told me they can easily find out.
2 comments:
WNU Editor,
You might remember, but the U.S. State Department provided Division 30, 35 brand new Hilux Crew Cab Extended Bed trucks, mere weeks before they surrendered to ISIS.
There was vehicle smuggling between Iraq and Saudi Arabia during the Iraq war during the darkest days.
It was a source of revenue for some tribes in Anbar. I could not figure out how we could know, but not put a stop to it.
If it was not locked down then, why would we expect it to be now?
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