US officials want to know why Islamists love Toyotas

[unhappycamper]

http://www.france24.com/en/20151009-us-officials-want-know-why-islamists-isis-love-toyotas



US officials want to know why Islamists love Toyotas
Latest update : 2015-10-09

US authorities have been in talks with Toyota to find out how and why Islamist militant groups across the Middle East are using fleets of brand new vehicles made by the Japanese company.

Toyota pickup trucks, in particular the Hilux and Land Cruiser brands, have long been a favourite of jihadist groups operating in rugged terrain from the hills of Afghanistan to the Syrian and Iraqi deserts.

The vehicles are often seen in jihadist propaganda videos, complete with high-calibre weapons bolted onto the truck beds.

According to a CNN report this week, the US Treasury's Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, which monitors transfers and the flow of goods, officially asked Toyota how Islamic State group militants had got their hands on so many shiny new pickup trucks.

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Of course our 'US authorities' could just ask the NSA why Islamists love Toyotas. The NSA has every keystroke and every telephone call made in the USA since 2002.

Courtesy of the internet's cloud, companies have been able to move data around so it is available to the NSA. They have the answers.

[BeyondGeography]

1. I was thinking about that

when I was riding up a mountain doing 75 mph in fourth gear in my Tacoma a couple of years ago. It's got an in-line four cylinder motor that's famous for being uncomplicated and indestructible.

[amerikat]

4. My 4runner ran great after 22 years.

Rust killed it. NO winter and salt on roads in Syria. How come they never asked this question
about Afghanistan? All they used there also. Just the best bang for the buck.

[BeyondGeography]

6. Militants are not looking at vehicles as an emotional purchase

I think this is an easy one...

[TreasonousBastard]

2. And why are they worried about this? Are they miffed that...

our Jeeps aren't good enough?

Or maybe since they can't figure out where they get the arms from, this would be easier.

[NCjack]

3. Really? That has to be explained? Start with: a) the militants have ruled out

purchases from North America and European, esp. when better stuff can be bought elsewhere. They feel no need to support the economies of their enemies. b) they get price breaks when they order units by the hundreds.

[amerikat]

5. Also

It's hard to find a place to mount a big gun on a Maserati.

[pipoman]

7. Toyota has been the largest supplier of all terrain vehicles

To most of the world for generations. They have the toughest, most trouble free, and longest lasting vehicles on the market worldwide without exception. About the only maker even close on all terrain vehicles is Range Rover. Any US officials actually wondering must not have been paying attention for the last 50 years....

[KeepItReal]

8. The Toyota Hilux is indestructible

Top Gear proved it:

[truebluegreen]

9. Our Tacoma has 200,000+ rough miles on it

with nary a problem. It'll probably go another 100,000. My husband says he wants to be buried in it.
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Our crack Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence needs to investigate why ISIS likes Toyota?

[Eugene]

10. They contacted Toyota about this?

Toyotas are extremely popular throughout the developing world and they last for decades.

Our tax dollars at work.