Countering Terrorist Finance: A Work, Mostly in Progress

Prior to the September 11, 2001, attacks, the United States and the international community had undertaken only limited measures to address terrorist finance. Seven years later, despite vast efforts and stronger counterterrorist finance regimes, major gaps in regulation and enforcement remain. Funds still reach terrorist groups through state sponsors, charities, and criminal activities. In Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, and beyond, terrorist financing remains a huge problem. The next administration must do seven things to address terrorist finance: first, implement country-specific strategies to ensure global cooperation, particularly with state sponsors; second, undermine terrorist-affiliated charities by replacing the social services they provide; third, make U.S. law enforcement a truly global entity; fourth, regulate all domestic financial sectors; fifth, address smuggling of bulk currency and high-value commodities; sixth, reinvigorate the UN's support for counterterrorist finance regimes; and finally, improve U.S. domestic enforcement and communication with the American public and the world.