Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer maintains that one of the most difficult issues involved with prosecuting the ongoing war on global terrorism has been identifying and eliminating the funding sources for terrorist groups. The paper then attempts to determine how the diamond trade in the nations of West Africa is being used to help finance terrorist organizations in general and Hezbollah in particular. The writer points out that while the diamond trade in West Africa has been legitimized and careful controls implemented over the years, analysts believe that as much as 20 percent of the world's diamond supply continues to be of an illicit nature. Furthermore, the writer notes that analysts also believe that some terrorist groups, including Hezbollah, are receiving at least some of their funding through the illicit trading in diamonds among the nations of West Africa, particularly Sierra Leone.

Outline:
Introduction
Thesis Statement
Approach
Background
Statement of the Problem
Preview Statement
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Diamond Trade in West Africa
Emergence of Hezbollah Ties to West Africa
Current and Future Trends
Methodology
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"An international certification process for rough diamonds, known as the Kimberley Process, was initiated by the Government of South Africa in May 2000; since that time, there has been more and more participation among the regional stakeholders and to date, more than 35 nations have been meeting on a regular basis to develop the system, which was established in 2003. In Sierra Leone, the diamond certification system was instituted in October 2000, four months after the UN Security Council passed a resolution that banned diamond exports until a certification system was established; during the year that followed after the system was introduced, legal exports increased from $1.3 million to $25.9 million worth of diamonds; nevertheless, authorities continue to believe that many of the better quality diamonds are still being smuggled and are not going through the official certification system."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Adebajo, A. (2002). Liberia's civil war: Nigeria, ecomog, and regional security in West Africa. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner.
• Auty, R. M. (1993). Sustaining development in mineral economies: The resource curse thesis. New York: Routledge.
• Milward, H. B., & Raab, J. (2003). Dark networks as problems. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory,13(4), 413.
• Neuman, W. L. (2003). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches, 5th ed. New York: Allyn & Bacon.
• Thorp, M. B., Gamble, D. P., Harris, R. L. (2006). Western Africa. (2006). In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved June 11, 2006, from Encyclopaedia Britannica Premium Service: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-55395.

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