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In reply to the discussion: Charlie Hebdo suspect said Abu Ghraib torture pics drove him to enlist in Jihad against USA in 2008 [View all]Octafish
(55,745 posts)42. Does anyone bring up the CONNECTIONS between the House of Bush and House of Bin Laden anymore?
QUESTIONABLE TIES
Tracking bin Laden's money flow leads back to Midland, Texas
by Wayne Madsen
In These Times, 2002
On September 24, President George W. Bush appeared at a press conference in the White House Rose Garden to announce a crackdown on the financial networks of terrorists and those who support them. U.S. banks that have assets of these groups or individuals must freeze their accounts, Bush declared. And U.S. citizens or businesses are prohibited from doing business with them.
But the president, who is now enjoying an astounding 92 percent approval rating, hasnt always practiced what he is now preaching: Bushs own businesses were once tied to financial figures in Saudi Arabia who currently support bin Laden.
In 1979, Bushs first business, Arbusto Energy, obtained financing from James Bath, a Houstonian and close family friend. One of many investors, Bath gave Bush $50,000 for a 5 percent stake in Arbusto. At the time, Bath was the sole U.S. business representative for Salem bin Laden, head of the wealthy Saudi Arabian family and a brother (one of 17) to Osama bin Laden. It has long been suspected, but never proven, that the Arbusto money came directly from Salem bin Laden. In a statement issued shortly after the September 11 attacks, the White House vehemently denied the connection, insisting that Bath invested his own money, not Salem bin Ladens, in Arbusto.
In conflicting statements, Bush at first denied ever knowing Bath, then acknowledged his stake in Arbusto and that he was aware Bath represented Saudi interests. In fact, Bath has extensive ties, both to the bin Laden family and major players in the scandal-ridden Bank of Commerce and Credit International (BCCI) who have gone on to fund Osama bin Laden. BCCI defrauded depositors of $10 billion in the 80s in what has been called the largest bank fraud in world financial history by former Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau. During the 80s, BCCI also acted as a main conduit for laundering money intended for clandestine CIA activities, ranging from financial support to the Afghan mujahedin to paying intermediaries in the Iran-Contra affair.
When Salem bin Laden died in 1988, powerful Saudi Arabian banker and BCCI principal Khalid bin Mahfouz inherited his interests in Houston. Bath ran a business for bin Mahfouz in Houston and joined a partnership with bin Mahfouz and Gaith Pharaon, BCCIs frontman in Houstons Main Bank.
The Arbusto deal wasnt the last time Bush looked to highly questionable sources to invest in his oil dealings. After several incarnations, Arbusto emerged in 1986 as Harken Energy Corporation. When Harken ran into trouble a year later, Saudi Sheik Abdullah Taha Bakhsh purchased a 17.6 percent stake in the company. Bakhsh was a business partner with Pharaon in Saudi Arabia; his banker there just happened to be bin Mahfouz.
CONTINUED...
http://inthesetimes.com/issue/25/25/feature3.shtml
Tracking bin Laden's money flow leads back to Midland, Texas
by Wayne Madsen
In These Times, 2002
On September 24, President George W. Bush appeared at a press conference in the White House Rose Garden to announce a crackdown on the financial networks of terrorists and those who support them. U.S. banks that have assets of these groups or individuals must freeze their accounts, Bush declared. And U.S. citizens or businesses are prohibited from doing business with them.
But the president, who is now enjoying an astounding 92 percent approval rating, hasnt always practiced what he is now preaching: Bushs own businesses were once tied to financial figures in Saudi Arabia who currently support bin Laden.
In 1979, Bushs first business, Arbusto Energy, obtained financing from James Bath, a Houstonian and close family friend. One of many investors, Bath gave Bush $50,000 for a 5 percent stake in Arbusto. At the time, Bath was the sole U.S. business representative for Salem bin Laden, head of the wealthy Saudi Arabian family and a brother (one of 17) to Osama bin Laden. It has long been suspected, but never proven, that the Arbusto money came directly from Salem bin Laden. In a statement issued shortly after the September 11 attacks, the White House vehemently denied the connection, insisting that Bath invested his own money, not Salem bin Ladens, in Arbusto.
In conflicting statements, Bush at first denied ever knowing Bath, then acknowledged his stake in Arbusto and that he was aware Bath represented Saudi interests. In fact, Bath has extensive ties, both to the bin Laden family and major players in the scandal-ridden Bank of Commerce and Credit International (BCCI) who have gone on to fund Osama bin Laden. BCCI defrauded depositors of $10 billion in the 80s in what has been called the largest bank fraud in world financial history by former Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau. During the 80s, BCCI also acted as a main conduit for laundering money intended for clandestine CIA activities, ranging from financial support to the Afghan mujahedin to paying intermediaries in the Iran-Contra affair.
When Salem bin Laden died in 1988, powerful Saudi Arabian banker and BCCI principal Khalid bin Mahfouz inherited his interests in Houston. Bath ran a business for bin Mahfouz in Houston and joined a partnership with bin Mahfouz and Gaith Pharaon, BCCIs frontman in Houstons Main Bank.
The Arbusto deal wasnt the last time Bush looked to highly questionable sources to invest in his oil dealings. After several incarnations, Arbusto emerged in 1986 as Harken Energy Corporation. When Harken ran into trouble a year later, Saudi Sheik Abdullah Taha Bakhsh purchased a 17.6 percent stake in the company. Bakhsh was a business partner with Pharaon in Saudi Arabia; his banker there just happened to be bin Mahfouz.
CONTINUED...
http://inthesetimes.com/issue/25/25/feature3.shtml
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Charlie Hebdo suspect said Abu Ghraib torture pics drove him to enlist in Jihad against USA in 2008 [View all]
Octafish
Jan 2015
OP
And we believe mass murderers now? Look...some people just like to kill, and like to find
msanthrope
Jan 2015
#2
Like the US leadership gives a rats ass about the millions of civilians they've killed either.
NewDeal_Dem
Jan 2015
#117
Well, shit.....people never lie in court, or come up with excuses for their anti-social behavior! nt
msanthrope
Jan 2015
#12
Agreed. Like how Dennis MILLER and his ilk claim they turned wingnut over 9-11. n/t
UTUSN
Jan 2015
#7
Without the invasion of Iraq, those determined to kill would have to find another excuse.
msanthrope
Jan 2015
#44
So you don't think anyone was motivated by the Abu Ghraib tortures and murders?
riderinthestorm
Jan 2015
#66
I think plenty of people take tragedy and murder and use it as motivator to do the really
msanthrope
Jan 2015
#73
That's fine but the State department has specifically said there's been blowback
riderinthestorm
Jan 2015
#77
The comment was made in 2008 to explain why he wanted to become a jihadist
riderinthestorm
Jan 2015
#213
george w bush made it to iraq though, with divisions. speaking of mass murderers.
NewDeal_Dem
Jan 2015
#120
I'm in full agreement with your post. (And with this OP in general as well)
dissentient
Jan 2015
#40
I totally see how you could mistake French cartoonists for US Army reserves. nt
msanthrope
Jan 2015
#13
"starting with April Glaspie" -- actually, I think you need to go back a bit farther in time, at
KingCharlemagne
Jan 2015
#38
Thanks (I think). I'm not sure there's any way to 'love' a specific post the way
KingCharlemagne
Jan 2015
#58
We could push the starting point back to 1953 when the CIA and FDR's grandson
KingCharlemagne
Jan 2015
#83
prescott's dad sam: war industries board WWI, rockefeller/harriman associate,
NewDeal_Dem
Jan 2015
#128
Just think if the BFEE would have stuck to the Afghanistan war and left Iraq alone.
Rex
Jan 2015
#37
Does anyone bring up the CONNECTIONS between the House of Bush and House of Bin Laden anymore?
Octafish
Jan 2015
#42
I suspect they are defending the status quo, meaning the Military Industrial Complex.
Octafish
Jan 2015
#96
Why do alleged progressives think that right wing homophobes, anti-Semites and racists are credible?
SidDithers
Jan 2015
#171
Why do alleged progressives laugh about the BFEE and try to pretend it doesn't exist?
Rex
Jan 2015
#172
You're just going to ignore the promotion of blatant homophobe shitbag Wayne Madsen?...
SidDithers
Jan 2015
#180
Beside giving your word, you have failed to show where he is any of those things.
Octafish
Jan 2015
#183
Interesting, that same asshole was instrumental if fucking up the BOG when it first started
Rex
Jan 2015
#98
The source was ''In These Times.'' You really don't contribute a thing, do you, SidDithers?
Octafish
Jan 2015
#95
Because you have an agenda? What do you think about Bush, Bin Laden and HARKEN?
Octafish
Jan 2015
#107
No. I was not shocked because you never give a shit how loony or disgusting your source is.
zappaman
Jan 2015
#108
Wayne Madsen is a homophobic, anti-Semite who writes for a Holocaust denial site.
zappaman
Jan 2015
#136
Is that the same rense your Tag Team buddy SidDithers of DU quoted in post 75?
Octafish
Jan 2015
#148
Why are you deflecting from your support of a writer who is a homophobic, anti-semite?
zappaman
Jan 2015
#150
You are acting desperate, zappaman. As the facts aren't on your side, understandable.
Octafish
Jan 2015
#154
Never. That's why I post on the BFEE and the crimes of the national security state.
Octafish
Jan 2015
#193
No. Our difference is that I don't give legitimacy to homophobes, racists and anti-Semites...
SidDithers
Jan 2015
#203
You could wipe out my entire state and I still wouldn't travel to another country and kill people.
randome
Jan 2015
#55
And they made easy targets for terrorists who were on the No-Fly List for Years.
Octafish
Jan 2015
#129
So the years of the little bush were a massive give-away to the...
Dont call me Shirley
Jan 2015
#181
If it was me, I would have self deleted when shown I was using turds as sources.
zappaman
Jan 2015
#124
I never knew the staff at Charlie Hebdo worked at Abut Ghraib... N.T.
Donald Ian Rankin
Jan 2015
#190
Poor sociopath needs a map of the world. He's got the 2 sides of the Atlantic ocean mixed up
Pooka Fey
Jan 2015
#197
We have and still are the driving force behind their recruitment efforts in the ME. We are still
jwirr
Jan 2015
#207
Yes, out corporations and their stockholders are making bundles off of endless war and they finally
jwirr
Jan 2015
#211
In 2009, Gen. Jones reported Al Qaeda was down to less than 100 members in Afghanistan.
Octafish
Jan 2015
#216