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There are only sketchy reports of the targets that the US and its Arab allies struck overnight in Syria. But if they want to do meaningful harm to the terrorist group known as the Islamic State (also, ISIL or ISIS), they should consider taking aim at the oil and refining installations through which the group funds itself.
But it has been difficult to interdict the oil: it is moved on tankers and makeshift pipelines along longstanding, informal smuggling routes (this is one of the best accounts out there [paywall]). The two main routes go into southern Turkey and Iraqi …
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