White House Unveils Strategy To Combat Global Crime Organizations

Photo: John Brennan, U.S. President Barack Obama's adviser for counterterrorism and homeland security, unveiled the strategy in Washington. Radio Free Europe

Obama Unveils Plan To Fight Organized Crime -- USA Today

While waiting to see what kind of debt reduction deal Congress produces, President Obama today unveiled a strategy to battle international organized crime.

"While this strategy is intended to assist the United States government in combating transnational crime, it also serves as an invitation for enhanced international cooperation," Obama said in a statement accompanying the release of the strategy.

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More News On The White House Plan To Combat Global Crime Organizations

U.S. plan targets transnational crime organizations -- CNN
White House Unveils Strategy To Combat Transnational Organized Crime -- Radio Free Europe
Administration launches new push on global crime -- AP
Sanctions Target Organized Crime Groups -- Wall Street Journal
New Sanctions Against Global Organized Crime -- Voice of America
Obama Increases Efforts to Halt Crime Groups’ Growing Power -- Bloomberg
U.S. unveils anti-transnational crime plan -- UPI
President Obama Declares Transnational Organized Crime Threat A National Emergency -- Business Insider
White House releases strategy to combat Transnational Organized Crime -- Examiner
Obama Vows to Battle International Cybercrime -- GovInfo Security
Russian organized crime 'significant threat' to U.S. - report -- RIA Novosti
Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime -- US State Department
A New Strategy to Combat an Evolving Threat -- National Security/White House

The Growth Of International Crime Networks

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UN Warns Of Gangs’ Global Muscle -- Financial Times

International crime networks now enjoy such an extensive reach that the gangs behind them must be regarded as a significant economic power, says a United Nations report.

In one of the most comprehensive analyses undertaken of transnational criminal activity, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime has calculated that the illicit trade in a range of commodities – including drugs, people, arms, fake goods and stolen natural resources – has an annual value of roughly $130bn.

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My Comment: One should not forget money laundering, extortion, loan sharking, prostitution, etc . etc. etc.

The Emergence Of Ecuador As A Criminal State

Ecuador Emerges As Hub For International Crime -- Deutsche Welle

Ecuador is emerging as a focus for transnational criminal groups, according to US and European officials. Colombian and Mexican drug traffickers as well as Chinese and African human traffickers use it as a business hub.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the inter-governmental body responsible for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism, is expected at its meeting in February in Abu Dhabi to include Ecuador on its high-risk jurisdiction list at the request of G20 finance ministers.

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My Comment: You know you have a problem when the President of Ecuador receives financial support from narco guerrilla/terror groups.

But while the focus is on Ecuador, the US has also been implicated in providing cover for criminal organizations.

Organised Crime Outstrips Nations

From The Times Online:

ROME The Italian organised crime group the ’Ndrangheta makes more money than some small European countries, a study by the Eurispes research group found.

The estimated turnover of the group, which has overtaken the Sicilian Mafia for drug trafficking, was valued at €44 billion (£35.5 billion) last year.

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News From Other Sources:
Italy crime group worth more than some nations' GDP -- Reuters
Italy crime group worth more than some nations' GDP -- Drugs Forum
Ndrangheta -- Wikipedia

My Comment: One cannot but be impressed how this small section of Italy, at the bottom of the country, has produced a culture that has brought about this enormous underground economy. Unfortunately, this economy is what breeds an environment in other countries that produces social suffering, crime, economic dislocation, political corruption, and in the long run ..... the instability that brings about conflicts and wars.