Argentina's Carlos Menem faces bombing trial (former President)

[Judi Lynn]

Source: BBC News

30 March 2012 Last updated at 21:50 ET
Argentina's Carlos Menem faces bombing trial

Former Argentine President Carlos Menem is to stand trial for allegedly obstructing an investigation into an attack on a Jewish cultural centre in Buenos Aires, officials have said.

Argentina blamed on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah for the 1994 bombing, which killed 85 people.

But prosecutors say evidence indicating the involvement of local accomplices in the attack was covered up.

No-one has ever been convicted of the car bombing.



Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17570484

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Bush Friend Arrested for Illegal Arms Trafficking
by Ana Simo

JUNE 7, 2001. A long-time friend of former U.S. President George H. Bush was arrested today on charges of illegal arms trafficking. If found guilty, he could face a jail term of up to ten years. Only a phone call from the new Bush White House might spare him the indignity, he thinks. But the phones aren't ringing.

The friend in trouble is the former President of Argentina, Carlos Menem, a golfing partner and business benefactor of the elder Bush. He is suspected of having illegally sold 6,500 tons of arms to Croatia and Ecuador between 1991 and 1995, in violation of international arms embargoes. Menem, who was put under house arrest today by a Buenos Aires federal judge, said in his defense last weekend that the U.S. knew all about the arms sales.

More:
http://www.thegully.com/essays/argentina/010607bush_menem.html

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Don't Cry for Bush, Argentina

George W. may not recall the names of world leaders, but when it comes to foreign affairs, he knows the value of his own family's name.

—By Lou Dubose and Carmen Coiro
| March/April 2000 Issue

Texans watched with interest last winter as Governor George W. Bush was home-schooled on international affairs by former Secretary of State George Shultz and other veterans of his father's foreign-policy team. Even Carl Bildt, the former prime minister of Sweden, was brought in for a tutorial at the governor's mansion, in the hope that his recent U.N. experience in the Balkans could help Bush understand that Kosovars are not "Kosavarians" and that Greeks are not "Grecians."

But no one had to prepare a prompt card to remind him who stepped down as president of Argentina in December. Shortly before Bush announced his own campaign for president, he had received a visit from Carlos Saul Menem, the right-wing leader of Argentina for the past decade. The two men retired to an Austin country club, where they were joined by Bush's father. Governor Bush had the flu, so he contented himself with riding along as the former president and Menem played a round of golf.

The capitol press corps trailed along, dutifully recording the governor's cordial relationship with a visiting head of state. Unknown to the assembled reporters, however, was the story of how Bush and his family became immersed in Argentine politics. The little-known tale begins with George W. making a phone call to secure a $300-million deal for a U.S. pipeline company -- a deal that provoked a political firestorm in Argentina, drawing scrutiny from legislators and a special prosecutor. The episode marked one of George W.'s first ventures into foreign affairs, demonstrating the fundamental rule by which the Texas governor and his family conduct business: Always know that the Bush name is a marketable commodity.

More:
http://motherjones.com/politics/2000/03/dont-cry-bush-argentina

[Ken Burch]

1. Is there a theory that Menem himself may have been involved in the bombing?

Or, perhaps that some of his more out-there supporters may have had some connections to it?

The Peronist Party has not always had the sanest approach to politics.

[UpInArms]

2. great post, Judy Lynn

some day - I can only hope that justice is served.