This edited volume describes various analytic methods used by intelligence analysts supporting military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as members of the Iraq and Afghan Threat Finance Cellsinteragency intelligence teams tasked to disrupt terrorist and insurgent funding. All contributors have deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan and detail both the bureaucratic and intellectual challenges in understanding terrorist and insurgent finance networks and then designing operations to attack such networks via conventional military operations, Special Forces kill/capture targeting operations, and non-kinetic operations such as asset freezing or diplomacy. The analytic methods described here leverage both quantitative and qualitative methods, but in a language and style accessible to those without a quantitative background. All methods are demonstrated via actual case studies (approved for release by the U.S. government) drawn from the analysts distinct experiences while deployed. This book will be of interest to current or aspiring intelligence analysts, students of security studies, anti-money laundering specialists in the private sector, and more generally to those interested in understanding how intelligence analysis feeds into live operations during wartime at a very tactical level.

David M. Blum is an operations research analyst for the U.S. Air Force serving as a civilian member of the Air Staff. He received his PhD in management science and engineering from Stanford University.J. Edward Conway is a senior manager for a multinational advisory firm, where he focuses on corporate intelligence. A former analyst for the U.S. Department of Defense, he received his PhD in international relations from the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

ForewordDavid D. McKiernan, General (Retired), U.S. ArmyChapter One: Introduction: The Threat Finance CellJ. Edward ConwayChapter Two: Intelligence Analysis: An Operators PerspectiveColonel Clayton O. Sheffield, U.S. ArmyChapter Three: Where Counterinsurgency Meets Counter Threat FinanceBrian A. GordonChapter Four: From People to Processes: Collecting Intelligence That MattersDavid M. Blum& Brian A. GordonChapter Five: Al-Qaida in Iraqs Financial LedgersBenjamin Bahney and Howard J. ShatzChapter Six: Cost Accounting: Auditing the Taliban in Helmand Province, AfghanistanBrian A. Gordon and J. Edward ConwayChapter Seven: Using Financial Data to Analyze Terrorist Motivations: The Case of Al-Qaida in Iraqs PayrollsBenjamin Bahney and Howard J. ShatzChapter Eight: Social Network Analysis: Understanding Threat Financial Networks David M. Blum and Brian A. GordonChapter Nine: Scenario Planning: The Master of Spin Boldak and The Chaman Border CrossingDavid Blum and J. Edward ConwayChapter Ten: Decision Analysis: Rank-Ordering Members of the Insurgent Group Asaib Ahl al-HaqqJ. Edward ConwayChapter Eleven: Designing Courses of Action: From Problem-setting to Problem-solvingJ. Edward ConwayChapter Twelve: ConclusionJ. Edward Conway and David Blum