[You'd think the Northern Alliance insisting on being paid in gold might have been a big clue to think about this possibility.]
"Now we are finding tentacles into all kinds of precious stones and metals."
Such commodities are small and easy to store and transport, and they hold their value over time. They can also be released in small amounts on the market without arousing attention......
[Lugging around gold bars and fencing them is easy?]
"number of countries lack the technological resources to search bank accounts or the legal framework to seize money that has not been tied to a crime. Eager to help install new computer systems or write .....
[am noticing a trend: whether spy cameras in DC, security command posts for airports or tracking down stashed cash, the administration keeps finding ways to substitue govt for biz spending on tech]
[ps. the gold-bugs often mention when gold was illegal to own and wouldn't that be convenient to those who made a fortune shorting gold all these years if they got caught in a sqeeze(which I find hard to believe)]