We know the ways and means to destroy the Islamic State. But we’re not doing it.

By all accounts, ISIS is the wealthiest terrorist organization in the world. By far. In round numbers, ISIS is said to have a $2 billion stash, which is keeping it afloat. Most of it comes from oil sales. Much of it comes from plundered banking funds. And the rest of it comes from taxing locals, selling stolen antiquities and kidnapping ransoms.

The big question is what are we — the United States — doing about it?

Taking away the money would go a long way toward winning the war. But thus far our record is lousy.

This past week, the U.N. Security Council, including the U.S. and Russia, put together a resolution to strengthen financial sanctions against anyone who does business with terrorist groups — mainly ISIS. But these are repackaged sanctions that have been in place for more than a dozen years and haven’t done any good.

According to The New York Times, the draft U.N. resolution calls on countries to describe what steps they are taking to prevent terrorist organizations from making money. Huh? Is this a book report? Are we supposed to believe that various Middle East rivals are going to do anything to cut off the money?

Recent history suggests otherwise.

“Show me the money” is the movie line sports agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) made famous. But we already know where most of the new ISIS money is coming from: oil sales. And much of those sales take place inside Turkey, our alleged ally.

The U.S. has done next to nothing to bomb oil trucks carrying ISIS’ most valuable resource and principal funding mechanism. Why? Because the Obama administration wants to stop “collateral damage.” That means the oil-truck drivers are civilians who are off limits in this war. It’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.

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Source: Lawrence Kudlow, http://humanevents.com