There was an interesting story on CNN the other day about a US Treasury Department investigation into ... of all things ... where the so-called Islamic State* is getting all the Toyota pickup trucks that appear in their propaganda videos ...
"Toyota has a strict policy to not sell vehicles to potential purchasers who may use or modify them for paramilitary or terrorist activities, and we have procedures and contractual commitments in place to help prevent our products from being diverted for unauthorized military use,"
but nevertheless, the group seems to have acquired many hundreds of Toyota vehicles and modified them for use as improvised fighting vehicles, or "technicals."
But why Toyotas? Why not mighty Dodge Rams or Chevy Silverados, or massive Ford F-150s with crew cabs and all the other bells and whistles? Perhaps they're turned on by the slogan ... Toyota's current sales slogan is "let's go places," and the peaceful and benevolent members of ISIS are certainly doing that ... currently to places like Syria, Libya, and Iraq.
Maybe because the Toyota models are smaller than the other huge pickups, they send the subliminal message of the plucky little guy standing up to a bully. Of course, when you're a violent religious bully yourself, that message gets a bit thin, but who's going to call them on it?
Perhaps Toyota trucks can be more easily equipped with such desirable options as mounted machine guns, armor plating, slave-proof doors**, detachable bulldozer blades for demolishing historic sites, and compasses that always point to Mecca.
Perhaps Toyota has a new truck model called "The Caliphate" for sale in the Middle East.
Or maybe it's just that they can't stand trucks made by the Great Satan.
I wish it wasn't just trucks that could be recalled by the Maker.
Have a good day. Keep on truckin' ***. More thoughts tomorrow.
Bilbo
* Also known as "ISIS," "ISIL," or "Those Crazy, Murderous Bastards from the Seventh Century."
** Child-proof doors are so Western.
*** No, "Islamic State"/ISIS/ISIL, not you.
Yes, how have they wound up with so many Toyota trucks? How do they get them there?
ReplyDeleteI guess Toyota has more availability in the Middle East than Ford or Chevrolet. But it's a question that needs definitive answer. Sinister connections?
ReplyDeleteJust because Toyota says they don't sell for this purpose, can we believe them?
ReplyDeleteI had the same thought as Linda Kay.
ReplyDeleteToyota is undoubtedly just as trustworthy as, say, Volkswagen.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting question. Imagine them being leased. I bet they'd lose a lot of value at trade in. War, let alone the desert, is bound to be hard on a vehicle.
ReplyDeleteToyota's strict policy is probably just as principled as any other corporation's strict policy.
ReplyDeleteMike is on target, as usual!
ReplyDeleteSomebody's pants are on fire.
ReplyDelete