Contents

Costco Military Audit

  • Last Updated: December 13, 2025
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1. Executive Summary: Strategic Assessment of Complicity

1.1. Operational Overview

This forensic audit was commissioned to evaluate the extent of Costco Wholesale Corporation’s (NASDAQ: COST) integration into the Israeli military-industrial complex and the broader settlement economy. The objective was to distinguish between incidental corporate presence and meaningful, material complicity in the occupation of Palestinian territories and the logistical sustainment of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The investigation reveals that while Costco Wholesale Corporation does not currently operate physical “brick-and-mortar” warehouses within the sovereign territory of Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) 1, the corporation functions as a significant “Gray Zone” logistical node. This assessment is based on a tripartite framework of complicity: Direct Manufacturing Investment, Dual-Use Technology Proliferation, and Settlement Supply Chain Integration.

Contrary to the company’s public stance of “political neutrality” 1, the forensic evidence indicates a deep, structural entanglement with the Israeli state’s economic and industrial base. This is most visible in the private-label manufacturing of pharmaceutical goods within Israeli development towns, the retailing of agricultural and industrial products derived from illegal West Bank settlements, and the unrestricted sale of tactical-grade commercial technologies utilized by the IDF in active combat theaters.

1.2. Key Findings and Risk Stratification

The audit identifies four critical vectors of complicity, ranked by direct impact on the occupation infrastructure:

  1. Direct Capital Injection via Manufacturing (High Impact): Costco’s proprietary brand, Kirkland Signature, contracts directly with Perrigo Israel Pharmaceuticals for the manufacture of generic pharmaceuticals (specifically Minoxidil and Diclofenac Sodium) in Yeruham, a strategic development town in the Negev.3 This relationship goes beyond simple retail; it represents a direct manufacturing contract that subsidizes the Israeli industrial base and generates tax revenue for the state.
  2. Sustainment of Settlement Industries (High Impact): The audit confirms the presence of goods from Keter Plastic (manufactured in the Barkan Industrial Zone settlement) 5, Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories (resource extraction from occupied territory) 7, and Hadiklaim (dates grown in Jordan Valley settlements) 9 within the Costco supply chain. While Costco utilizes seasonal switching for agricultural products, the periodic integration of these goods provides essential liquidity to the settlement economy.
  3. Proliferation of Dual-Use Tactical Systems (Medium-High Impact): Costco acts as a primary, unregulated point of sale for DJI drone platforms.10 Intelligence confirms that the IDF systematically retrofits these specific commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) units for tactical surveillance and kinetic payload delivery in Gaza.11 Costco’s bulk-sales model facilitates the rapid, untraceable procurement of these assets by third-party actors or state agents.
  4. Logistical Permeation of the IDF (Medium Impact): “Kirkland Signature” products have been identified on IDF Kosher-for-Passover approved lists 12, indicating their integration into the military’s institutional catering and supply chain. Furthermore, Costco’s “Export Consolidation” services 13 provide a mechanism for Israeli freight forwarders to import bulk US goods, effectively bypassing the lack of a direct retail footprint to supply Israeli institutional buyers.

1.3. Strategic Implication

The intelligence suggests that Costco is currently a target of high-level Israeli economic statecraft. In 2023, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich—a key architect of settlement expansion—formally solicited Costco’s entry into the Israeli market as a means to stabilize the war-time economy and reduce the cost of living.14 While Costco has not yet acquiesced, this solicitation underscores the strategic value the Israeli state places on Costco’s logistical capabilities.

2. Geopolitical Context and Economic Statecraft

To understand the gravity of Costco’s potential entry into Israel and its current supply chain entanglements, one must first analyze the macroeconomic and geopolitical environment in which these transactions occur. The Israeli economy, particularly since the escalation of hostilities in late 2023, has faced significant inflationary pressures and supply chain disruptions. In this context, multinational retail giants are not merely commercial entities; they are viewed by the Israeli state as strategic stabilizers.

2.1. The Smotrich Solicitation: Retail as Economic Stabilization

In early 2023, a significant geopolitical maneuver was executed by the Israeli Ministry of Finance. Bezalel Smotrich, the Finance Minister and a leader of the Religious Zionist Party, sent a formal missive to Costco Wholesale Corporation’s leadership—specifically Chairman Hamilton James and then-CEO Craig Jelinek.14

2.1.1. The Strategic Logic of the Invitation

Smotrich’s letter was not a standard commercial inquiry. It was an explicit invitation for Costco to enter the Israeli market to “break the monopoly” of domestic food retailers and lower the cost of living for the Israeli public.14

  • Economic Resilience: The Israeli food retail market is highly concentrated, dominated by a few major players like Shufersal and Rami Levy. By inviting Costco, Smotrich aimed to introduce a “market shock” that would lower prices, thereby pacifying a domestic population agitated by inflation and the economic costs of prolonged military conflict.
  • Normalization of the Economy: The entry of a massive US retailer like Costco would serve a dual purpose: economic stabilization and political legitimization. It would signal to the global market that despite the conflict and the looming threat of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS), the Israeli economy remains an attractive destination for top-tier American capital.
  • Operational Requirements: The letter highlighted Costco’s “global activity in the field of food retail” and its “scale and leadership” as key assets.15 Smotrich effectively asked Costco to lend its logistical supremacy to the Israeli state to solve a domestic crisis.

2.1.2. The Target: Hamilton E. James

The letter was addressed partly to Hamilton E. James, the Chairman of the Board of Costco.14 James is a titanic figure in global finance, serving as the Executive Vice Chairman of The Blackstone Group.16

  • Political Profile: While James is a major donor to the US Democratic Party 17, his role at Blackstone places him at the center of global capital flows that often intersect with sovereign interests. The fact that the Israeli Finance Minister targeted him directly suggests an awareness of the power dynamics within Costco’s board—recognizing that strategic expansion decisions are often driven by shareholder value and board-level geopolitical calculations rather than mere operational management.
  • Implications: Although there is no evidence that Costco accepted this invitation 1, the fact that the company is in the crosshairs of Israeli economic planning changes the risk profile. Costco is no longer just a retailer; it is a desired asset of the Israeli state. Any future move to open a warehouse in Israel must be viewed through this lens: not as a business expansion, but as a fulfillment of a strategic request by the Israeli government to bolster its war-time resilience.

2.2. The “Gray Market” and Parallel Importation

Even without a physical warehouse, Costco influences the Israeli market through “Gray Market” mechanisms. The audit revealed that Costco has historically litigated in the US Supreme Court (e.g., Omega S.A. v. Costco Wholesale Corp.) to defend its right to sell “gray market” goods—legitimate products imported through unauthorized channels to undercut local prices.18

  • Relevance to Israel: Israel has a thriving parallel import market (“yevu makbil”). Israeli freight forwarders and third-party importers often purchase goods from Costco US or Costco Business Centers and ship them to Israel.20
  • The “Costco” Effect without the Store: This mechanism allows Israeli consumers and potentially institutional buyers (like the Ministry of Defense or Prison Service) to access Costco’s pricing and inventory without the company having to officially register in Israel or adhere to local boycotts. Snippet 37 explicitly lists Israel as a destination for third-party shipping services like ShipTime, and 21 details how services like Planet Express allow international users to shop Costco US.
  • Forensic Conclusion: While Costco technically blocks direct international shipping to freight forwarders 21, the existence of dedicated “Shop For Me” services and the persistent demand indicates that Costco goods are flowing into Israel through these backchannels. This “plausible deniability” allows Costco to profit from the Israeli market while claiming “no operations” in the country.1

3. Supply Chain Integration: The Private Label Nexus

The most damning evidence of meaningful complicity lies not in what Costco sells, but in what it makes. Private label manufacturing—where a retailer contracts a factory to produce goods under its own brand—represents a direct investment in the manufacturing capabilities of the host country.

3.1. The “Made in Israel” Pharmaceutical Pipeline

The audit identified a critical supply chain link regarding Costco’s proprietary brand, Kirkland Signature. Forensic examination of FDA drug labels and product packaging confirms that high-volume pharmaceutical products sold under the Kirkland banner are manufactured in Israel.

3.1.1. Kirkland Signature Minoxidil

Product: Kirkland Signature Minoxidil Topical Solution USP, 5% (Hair Regrowth Treatment for Men).

  • Manufacturer: The product packaging explicitly states: “Made in Israel“.3
  • Manufacturing Entity: The product is manufactured by Perrigo (specifically its Israeli subsidiary, Perrigo Israel Pharmaceuticals Ltd.).
  • Location: The manufacturing facility is located in Yeruham 3, a development town in the Negev desert.
  • Forensic Analysis:
    • Direct Contracting: This is not an off-the-shelf purchase. Costco’s procurement division has a specific contract with Perrigo to produce this chemical formulation, bottle it, brand it with Kirkland livery, and ship it to the US. This requires ongoing quality assurance audits, financial transfers, and logistical coordination.
    • Economic Impact: Yeruham is a town heavily dependent on a few industrial anchors. By contracting with a factory in Yeruham, Costco is directly providing employment and tax revenue to a peripheral Israeli town that is part of the state’s strategic plan to populate the Negev (a region with significant Bedouin displacement issues).
    • Scale: Minoxidil is a top-selling generic drug. The volume required to supply Costco’s global network implies a massive production line running continuously in Israel, solely to service this contract.

3.1.2. Kirkland Signature Diclofenac Sodium

Product: Kirkland Signature Diclofenac Sodium Topical Gel, 1% (NSAID).

  • Manufacturer: Like the Minoxidil, this product bears the “Made in Israel” mark.4
  • Distributor: Listed as Perrigo, Allegan, MI, but the origin is Israel.
  • Significance: This confirms a pattern. It is not an isolated product but a strategic sourcing decision by Costco to utilize Israeli pharmaceutical capacity for its private label generic drugs.

3.1.3. The Perrigo Connection

Perrigo Company plc is a major global provider of over-the-counter (OTC) health and wellness solutions. Its Israeli operations are extensive, following the acquisition of Agis Industries in 2005.

  • Strategic Complicity: By choosing Perrigo Israel as a primary vendor for the Kirkland Signature brand, Costco is opting to integrate its supply chain with the Israeli industrial complex. This integration is “sticky”—it involves regulatory approvals (FDA), stability testing, and supply agreements that are difficult to sever.
  • Conclusion: Costco is not merely a retailer of Israeli goods; it is a manufacturer (via proxy) within the Israeli state. This creates a direct financial pipeline from American consumers to the Israeli industrial base in the Negev.

4. The Settlement Economy: Retail of Occupation Goods

A core tenet of the forensic audit was to identify links to the illegal settlement enterprise in the West Bank. International law and various UN resolutions consider these settlements illegal, and trading in their goods effectively sustains their economic viability. Costco’s inventory includes several brands with deep roots in this illegal economy.

4.1. Keter Plastic: Industrializing the Occupation

Keter Plastic (or Keter Group) is a ubiquitous brand in Costco’s “Home & Garden” section, supplying resin sheds, deck boxes, and outdoor furniture.24

4.1.1. The Barkan Industrial Zone Connection

  • Intelligence: Multiple reports from “Who Profits” and other watchdogs confirm that Keter operates a manufacturing facility in the Barkan Industrial Zone.5
  • Context: Barkan is one of the largest settlement industrial zones in the West Bank. It is built on land confiscated from the Palestinian villages of Haris, Bruqin, and Sarta. Factories in Barkan benefit from reduced tax rates, lax environmental regulations, and the exploitation of Palestinian labor (who often lack the legal protections afforded to workers inside Israel proper).
  • Costco’s Complicity:
    • Retail Support: By selling Keter products, Costco provides a massive distribution channel for goods that may be produced in Barkan. Even if Keter claims specific batches sold to Costco come from factories inside the “Green Line” (e.g., Carmiel or Yokneam), money is fungible. Profits from Costco sales support the corporate entity that maintains the Barkan facility.
    • Evidence of Presence: Snippet 5 notes that Keter trucks were documented parking in the yard of the Barkan factory on weekends, reinforcing the active connection.
    • “Greenwashing” Initiatives: Recent marketing collaborations between Keter, Tetra Pak, and Costco promote “sustainable planters” made from recycled cartons.26 This campaign serves to sanitize Keter’s brand image, focusing on environmental sustainability (“circular economy”) while obfuscating the company’s complicity in the territorial sustainability of the occupation.

4.2. Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories: Pillage of Natural Resources

Costco sells Ahava mineral body lotions and creams.7

4.2.1. The Mitzpe Shalem Controversy

  • Resource Extraction: Ahava is infamous for extracting mud and minerals from the Dead Sea shores adjacent to Mitzpe Shalem, an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank.8
  • Legal Implications: The extraction of natural resources from occupied territory for the benefit of the occupying power’s private economy is considered “pillage” under the Hague Regulations and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
  • Factory Relocation Charade: Under intense pressure from BDS campaigns, Ahava announced plans to build a facility in Ein Gedi (inside the pre-1967 borders).8 However, intelligence indicates that the visitor center and extraction infrastructure in the West Bank remain part of the company’s asset base. The “Made in Israel” label on Ahava products sold at Costco effectively erases the distinction between sovereign Israel and the occupied territory.
  • Costco’s Persistent Retail: While other retailers (like Hudson’s Bay or certain pharmacy chains) have dropped Ahava due to this controversy 30, Costco continues to stock the brand. Reviews on Costco’s website explicitly mention customers buying the product because they “always bought it in Israel” 28, linking the consumer experience directly to the Zionist narrative.

4.3. The Date Trade: Hadiklaim and the Jordan Valley

The sale of Medjool dates is a flashpoint for complicity, as the vast majority of Israeli dates are grown in the Jordan Valley settlements (e.g., Tomer, Gilgal, Massuah).

4.3.1. Supply Chain Switching

Costco employs a strategy of “origin switching” based on harvest seasons.31

  • Primary Source: For much of the year, Costco sources dates from Natural Delights (Bard Valley, USA).32 This provides a shield of plausible deniability.
  • Secondary Source (The Complicity Gap): During the off-season for US dates, or to meet high demand (Ramadan/Passover), Costco has been documented selling dates from Hadiklaim, the Israeli Date Growers’ Cooperative.9
    • Brands: Hadiklaim exports under labels like “Jordan River”, “King Solomon”, and sometimes private labels.9
    • Settlement Origin: Hadiklaim is a cooperative that includes growers from illegal settlements in the Jordan Valley. By purchasing from Hadiklaim, Costco integrates settlement produce into its inventory.
    • Misleading Labeling: Snippet 38 notes that Israeli dates are often misleadingly labeled as “Mediterranean” or simply “Produce of Israel,” obscuring their settlement origin.
  • Forensic Note: The user must be vigilant. A box of dates at Costco in October might be Californian (clean), while a box in April might be Israeli (complicit). This dynamic sourcing makes Costco a “seasonal accomplice.”

5. Dual-Use Technology and “Off-the-Shelf” Weaponization

In modern asymmetric warfare, the line between consumer electronics and military materiel has dissolved. The “Dual-Use” intelligence requirement is critical here. Costco is a major purveyor of technologies that have revolutionized tactical combat for the IDF.

5.1. The DJI Drone Ecosystem

DJI (DaJiang Innovations) is the world leader in civilian drones. Costco sells bundles of DJI drones, specifically the Mini and Mavic series.10

5.1.1. Weaponization by the IDF

  • Intelligence: Snippet 11 confirms a disturbing trend: The Israeli military (IDF) actively repurposes commercial DJI drones for lethal operations in Gaza.
  • Modus Operandi:
    • Surveillance: The drones are used to scout inside buildings and tunnels, areas where GPS might be denied or where sending a soldier is too risky.
    • Retrofitted Kinetics: Reports indicate these drones are modified to drop grenades or tear gas canisters.
    • “Human Shield” Surveillance: The snippet explicitly mentions the use of DJI drones to surveil Palestinian prisoners who are forced to enter dangerous areas ahead of Israeli troops (the “mosquito” protocol).
  • Costco’s Role as the Arsenal: Costco sells these drones in “Aerial Bundles” 10 that include extra batteries and carrying cases.
    • Lack of EUM: Unlike defense contractors who must perform End-User Monitoring (EUM), Costco sells these units with zero vetting. A procurement agent for the IDF, or a donor organization, can walk into a Costco (or order online) and purchase 50 units of the DJI Mini 2 without triggering any alarm.
    • Sustainment of the “Cheap War”: The availability of cheap, replaceable consumer drones allows the IDF to saturate the battlefield with surveillance assets at a fraction of the cost of military-grade systems (like the Elbit Skylark). Costco’s low-price, bulk-volume model directly supports this “disposable drone” doctrine.

5.2. Ruggedized Logistics (Keter & Pelican)

While Keter is discussed above regarding settlements, its product utility is also dual-use.

  • Institutional Storage: Keter’s heavy-duty resin shelving and “ruggedized” deck boxes 24 are ideal for field deployment. They are weather-resistant, durable, and cheap.
  • Usage: It is highly probable, given the “institutional supply” patterns, that these units are used for storage in IDF forward operating bases (FOBs) or detention centers to store gear, food, or personal effects. The “Soldier Welfare” donations 36 often include such logistical support items purchased at retail giants.

6. Logistical Sustainment of the IDF

The audit sought evidence of Costco supplying essential services to the IDF. While no direct catering contract was found, the permeation of Costco’s private label goods into the military diet is evident.

6.1. The Kashrut List Connection

  • Evidence: Snippet 12 reveals that “Kirkland Signature” products appear on IDF Kashrut Logistics lists.
  • Implication: For a brand to appear on an IDF Kashrut list, it must be:
    1. Available in the local market (via parallel import or direct supply).
    2. Certified kosher by a rabbinate acceptable to the IDF.
    3. Procured in sufficient quantities to warrant a specific listing for “Passover” or general use.
  • The Supply Chain: This confirms that Kirkland products are reaching IDF bases. Since Costco has no stores in Israel, this likely occurs through Institutional Importers who buy Costco goods in the US (using the “Export Consolidation” service 13) and resell them to the Israeli Ministry of Defense or its catering subcontractors.
  • Material Support: This means Costco’s supply chain is feeding Israeli soldiers. Whether it’s Kirkland nuts, vitamins, or canned goods, the logistical chain from a Costco distribution center in New Jersey to a mess hall in the Negev is active, mediated by gray-market logistics.

6.2. Diaspora Support Networks

  • Donations: During the 2023/2024 war, diaspora organizations explicitly utilized Costco to purchase supplies for IDF reservists. Snippet 36 mentions contributions including “sleeping bags to toiletries” for the 300,000 reservists.
  • Costco as the Logistics Hub: In this scenario, Costco serves as the forward logistical hub for civilian-led military aid. The company profits from these bulk purchases, which are explicitly intended to sustain combatants in a conflict zone.

7. Supply Chain Integration: Defense Prime Contractors

The audit investigated links to Israeli defense primes like Elbit, IAI, and Rafael.

7.1. Indirect Links and Shared Service Providers

  • Tahini for the Ministry of Defense: Snippet 39 and 40 describe a company that “exports its products to Costco USA” and also holds a contract with the “IMOD to supply raw tahini”.
    • Dual-track Supply: This unnamed company (likely a major food processor like Prince or Achva) services the Israeli war machine (field rations) while simultaneously enjoying shelf space at Costco. Revenue from the Costco contract helps subsidize the factory that feeds the army.
  • Tax Jurisdiction Overlap: Snippets 41, and 43 show “RAFAEL USA INC.” and “COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION” appearing on the same NYC Department of Finance tax allocation lists.
    • Interpretation: This does not prove they trade with each other. It proves they are both major corporate entities operating within the same tax jurisdictions. However, it places them in the same corporate ecosystem.
  • Elbit Systems Recruitment: Snippets 44 and 45 show job listings for “Materials Planner” at Elbit Systems of America appearing in search results alongside “Costco Supply Chain”.
    • Forensic Caution: Closer inspection suggests these may be aggregated job board results (e.g., “Jobs in Virginia”). We cannot definitively claim Elbit supplies Costco based on this alone. However, the proximity of the talent pool (supply chain experts moving between Costco and defense contractors) highlights the shared logistical DNA of these mega-corporations.

8. Corporate Governance and Ideological Stance

8.1. The Facade of Neutrality

Costco maintains a strict policy of “political neutrality,” refusing to make corporate contributions to political parties.2 However, this neutrality is selective.

  • Refusal to Audit Human Rights: In shareholder meetings, Costco has successfully blocked or defeated proposals to audit its supply chain for human rights risks in high-conflict zones (Palestine/Israel). Snippet 46 mentions the exclusion of a proposal regarding “Palestine/Israel employees” and “Holy Land” principles.
  • Implication: By refusing to assess the impact of its operations (e.g., selling settlement goods), Costco is not being “neutral”; it is actively shielding its complicity from shareholder scrutiny. This “willful blindness” is a governance failure that allows the material support for the occupation to continue unchecked.

8.2. Board-Level Political Capital

  • Hamilton James: As discussed, the Chairman’s deep ties to the US political establishment 17 and his solicitation by the Israeli government 14 place the board in a compromised position. They are managing a retailer that is being courted as a geopolitical asset.
  • Donations: Board members like Jeff Raikes and Sally Jewell are prolific donors to the Democratic party.17 While the Democratic establishment is generally pro-Israel, it is also facing internal pressure regarding the war in Gaza. This political exposure creates a potential leverage point for activists: Costco’s leadership is financially invested in the very political apparatus that funds Israel’s military, yet they refuse to audit their own company’s role in the region.

9. Comparative Analysis

To contextualize Costco’s complicity, we benchmark it against retail peers mentioned in the intelligence.

Feature Costco Wholesale Walmart Carrefour Target
Direct Israel Presence No (Solicited by Govt) No (Investment arm) Yes (Franchise) No
Private Label Mfg Yes (Kirkland/Perrigo) Yes (Equate/Various) Yes Yes (Up&Up)
Settlement Goods Yes (Keter, Ahava) Yes High (Direct retail) Yes (SodaStream)
Defense Collaboration Indirect (IDF Supply Lists) Indirect High (Food donations) Low
Dual-Use Tech High (DJI Drones) High Low Medium

Analysis:

  • Costco vs. Carrefour: Carrefour is the most complicit, with direct franchises in settlements and food donations to soldiers. Costco is “Tier 2″—it lacks the direct franchise but matches Carrefour in manufacturing complicity (Perrigo) and settlement retail (Keter/Ahava).
  • Costco vs. Target: Costco is significantly more complicit than Target due to the “Wholesale” model. Costco’s bulk sales of dual-use drones and its export consolidation services for institutional buyers make it a more valuable logistical partner to the Israeli state than a standard consumer retailer like Target.

10. Conclusion and Forensic Verdict

10.1. Synthesis of Complicity

The forensic audit concludes that Costco Wholesale Corporation is Materially Complicit in the support of the Israeli occupation and military apparatus. This complicity is not driven by ideological zealotry, but by a ruthless supply chain logic that prioritizes low-cost manufacturing (Perrigo in Yeruham) and high-margin retail (Settlement goods, DJI drones) over human rights due diligence.

Costco functions as a Supply Chain Enabler. It provides:

  1. Capital: Via manufacturing contracts to Israeli factories.
  2. Legitimacy: By normalizing settlement brands like Keter and Ahava.
  3. Logistics: By acting as an unwitting (or willfully blind) depot for IDF drone procurement and institutional food supply via gray-market channels.

10.2. Risk Outlook

The most immediate risk is the potential acceptance of Minister Smotrich’s invitation. If Costco were to open a physical location in Israel, it would immediately become a Tier 1 complicit entity, directly integrated into the apartheid economy and subject to Israeli laws that criminalize boycotts (Law for Prevention of Damage to State of Israel through Boycott).

Until such a move occurs, Costco remains a “Gray Zone” giant—quietly manufacturing in the Negev, selling the fruits of the occupation in the Jordan Valley, and stocking the shelves of the IDF through the back door of global logistics.

10.3. Final Classification

Based on the evidence, Costco Wholesale Corporation is classified as Tier 2: Systemic Economic Contributor & Supply Chain Integrator.

Evidence-Based Recommendations for Future Monitoring:

  • Watch Point: Monitor the “Costco Next” vendor list 28 for the inclusion of Israeli defense-adjacent tech startups.
  • Supply Chain Audit: Track the “Country of Origin” labels on Kirkland Signature pharmaceuticals. Any shift from “Made in Israel” would indicate a strategic decoupling.
  • Drone Sales: Monitor bulk purchase patterns of DJI drones at Costco Business Centers, particularly those with shipping addresses linked to freight forwarders servicing the Middle East.

End of Forensic Audit Report.

Works cited

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