So the other day I tried to use my credit card to buy something, and it was denied even though I knew perfectly well my credit card was just fine.

So I called my credit-card company to find out what was up with all this, and it turned out I had made the unpardonable mistake of making two payments on my card in the same billing period. So they froze my card, according to the person I spoke to, because Homeland Security rules say if you pay twice in one period they will lock up your account for 10 days. Apparently paying twice in the same period is the sort of thing terrorists do in some effort to undermine our American way of life.

I’m fairly sure they meant “anti-terrorism financing rules” not “homeland security rules” but why quibble? I’m also fairly sure paying down debt is not high on the list of jihadi priorities. Some CT analyst correct me if I’m wrong, but I would think that keeping up the ol’ credit score isn’t a high priority if one is getting ready to go to their just reward. When everyone and his brother is trying to track you down why bother with the ancient, trusted, and untraceable Hawala system when you can use Visa?

About the Author

Michael Tanji

Michael Tanji spent nearly 20 years in the US intelligence community. Trained in both SIGINT and HUMINT disciplines he has worked at the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the National Reconnaissance Office. At various points in his career he served as an expert in information warfare, computer network operations, computer forensics, and indications and warning. A veteran of the US Army, Michael has served in both strategic and tactical assignments in the Pacific Theater, the Balkans, and the Middle East.