GoKawiilOne of the hottest commodities in the military, or even for civilian contractors, is having a vehicle down range when you are deployed in the Middle East. Anyone who is someone has their own Ford F-150, especially those in leadership, as a work vehicle for driving around a military base. If you were deployed in Afghanistan, you were lucky if you had a truck to share to get from your dorm to work; if not, you were stuck either walking for 20 minutes in your battle rattle gear with your weapon or riding a packed school bus with your fellow service men and women.
While everyone would have preferred their own vehicle, like back in the US, it would have cost too much. Even still, the United States spent nearly $10 billion on vehicles and aircraft in Afghanistan between 2010-2020, which does not even cover the cost of fuel, parts, maintenance, or even the shipping of the vehicles.[1] Therefore, it was generally accepted that dragging your feet through the desert or sweating your butt off on the bus ride was a logical part of the “suck” in deployments. Yet, then, on the American Forces Network news, you would see an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) caravan consisting of hundreds of Toyota trucks parading through the deserts. These vehicles were not the stereotypical filthy beat-up trucks but shiny new Toyota pick-up trucks and SUVs, particularly the Toyota Hilux.[2] Violent non-state actors (VNSA), such as ISIS, were capable of acquiring Westernized vehicles through various means of raising funds and global logistical networks. The Toyota Hilux was particularly preferred due to its performance and looks.
ISIS is a militant Islamist group whose goal is to solidify and expand its control of territory and govern through the implementation of its strict interpretation of Sharia law.[3] ISIS has a clear goal, but it means nothing if they do not have the logistical means to carry it out. It is just like running any organization. Take youth soccer, for example; the YMCA Youth Soccer aims to provide opportunities for individual skill growth for their players.[4] To meet that goal, a few logistical items are needed: a means of transportation to and from games; the kids themselves need a mode of transportation just to get to practice. If the kids cannot show up to practice or get buses to games, then the YMCA does not have a way to meet its goal.
ISIS requires a means of transportation to implement its violent Sunni jihadist ideology of being the self-proclaimed caliphate with religious authority over all Muslims. They have to move their terrorists through the rugged desert terrain, be able to quickly infiltrate and exfiltrate, combat enemy forces, and, most importantly, be able to recruit human capital constantly. A decked-out Toyota Hilux with a .50 caliber machine gun mounted in the back was the perfect means, especially because the Toyota Hilux has already been tested and approved by other VNSAs.
Toyota Hilux trucks have been a fixture of several extremist movements since the late ‘60s. The Toyota Hilux has been used by Somali pirates on the streets of Mogadishu, Sudanese freedom fighters, Pakistani militants, as well as Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and the Congo. As a fast, maneuverable truck, the Toyota Hilux has proven useful for VNSA fighting against lightly armed special forces, especially when mounted with a .50 caliber machine gun that could easily penetrate lightly armored vehicles.[5] It is also a very robust vehicle capable of withstanding elemental and physical extremities, as shown on the British TV show “Top Gear.”[6]
Not only does the formidable Toyota Hilux meet the specifications ISIS needs to conduct terrorist acts, but it also sends a pretty good recruiting message. Sustaining a force requires a massive commitment of resources for a VNSA, especially considering that ISIS needs to constantly replenish its members to counterbalance the attrition endured by its tactics to use suicide bombers.[7] Therefore, an ISIS convoy of new Toyotas, rebranded with the seal of the caliphate, parading through seized territory in the Middle East is perfect propaganda to disperse across destabilized regions suffering from droughts, war, poverty, etc.[8] Using Toyotas in its propaganda, ISIS can demonstrate its financial standings and ability to acquire items in locations where the standing government cannot, particularly items from globalized countries. It is not surprising that people would prefer working for ISIS to the Syrian government because being a terrorist just happens to pay more. This is how ISIS can acquire educated personnel who have essential capabilities that elevate its Sunni jihadist ideology.[9] When an individual has no place to work in a country such as Afghanistan, Syria, or Iraq, it only makes sense to work for ISIS, where you get paid and get a nice Toyota Hilux.
ISIS needed the financial and logistical means to acquire these modern vehicles that could go undetected by the US and its allies and partners. It is difficult for new VNSAs to secure a funding source since they cannot negotiate and trade with legitimate countries.[10] Thus, ISIS had to turn to illicit forms of financing, particularly in Middle Eastern countries with destabilized and incompetent governments, like Syria.[11] With these governments unable to protect and provide for their people, ISIS could quickly proliferate and profit off of the vulnerable populations with ease. Within these occupied territories, ISIS exploits companies such as banks and oil reservoirs, as well as extorts, steals, taxes non-Muslim populations, kidnaps for ransom, accepts donations from non-profit organizations, recruits foreign fighters, and fundraises through modern communication networks to bank their funds.[12] ISIS eventually amassed nearly $2 billion by 2015, becoming the wealthiest terrorist organization in history.[13] Even though ISIS’ revenues dipped due to measures taken by the US and its allies, the U.S. Department of Treasury estimates it has about $100 million available in cash reserves in 2021.[14]
In addition to acquiring the money, ISIS needed to launder its illegal funds so they could more easily use them. Contrary to its portrayal in Hollywood movies, paper and metal currency is inconvenient as millions of dollars weigh a lot and cannot be stuffed into two shiny silver suitcases.[15] In reality, ISIS transfers its funds outside the region by relying on financial facilitation networks that use money remitters or by transforming it into tangible assets to help its violent operations, like Toyotas.[16] However, turning money into real assets like Toyota Hilux trucks and getting them into the hands of ISIS requires a lot of work.
First, the Toyota Company has taken some measures to make it more difficult. They have been fully cooperating with the U.S. Treasury Department’s inquiry, placing safeguards in its supply chain in hopes of preventing the aid of terrorist activities.[17] They have a strict policy to not sell vehicles to purchasers who may modify or use them to conduct terrorist activities. Also, Toyota states that they have procedures and contractual commitments to prevent its products from being diverted for unauthorized military use.[18] However, these measures can only do so much as it is a hopeless endeavor to trace every stolen or re-sold vehicle that reaches the black market, particularly through neighboring countries such as Turkey and Egypt, but throughout the US and the rest of the world thanks in part to diasporas.
Diasporas are people who have dispersed from their point of origin but still have attachment enough to the place they left that they can provide resources or still influence what is happening there.[19] Years of war and civil strife have created a significant number of refugees from countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Iran, who have moved into neighboring states in the Middle East, as well as Australia and Europe.[20] This is by no means implying that refugees are bad and intentionally funding VNSAs. Having often left behind other family members and friends who may still need support, these refugees want to help loved ones back in their home country. While this can be as simple as sending clothes, perishable foods, money, or even information that may seem useful to loved ones back home, they may unknowingly support someone who now has ties to a VNSA.
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