Follow the Money

[Vadatajs]

Washington Monthly Link

Two decades ago, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) was a highly respected financial titan. In 1987, when its subsidiary helped finance a deal involving Texas oilman George W. Bush, the bank appeared to be a reputable institution, with attractive branch offices, a traveler's check business, and a solid reputation for financing international trade. It had high-powered allies in Washington and boasted relationships with respected figures around the world.

All that changed in early 1988, when John Kerry, then a young senator from Massachusetts, decided to probe the finances of Latin American drug cartels. Over the next three years, Kerry fought against intense opposition from vested interests at home and abroad, from senior members of his own party; and from the Reagan and Bush administrations, none of whom were eager to see him succeed.

By the end, Kerry had helped dismantle a massive criminal enterprise and exposed the infrastructure of BCCI and its affiliated institutions, a web that law enforcement officials today acknowledge would become a model for international terrorist financing. As Kerry's investigation revealed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, BCCI was interested in more than just enriching its clients--it had a fundamentally anti-Western mission. Among the stated goals of its Pakistani founder were to "fight the evil influence of the West," and finance Muslim terrorist organizations. In retrospect, Kerry's investigation had uncovered an institution at the fulcrum of America's first great post-Cold War security challenge.

All those talking points about how Kerry is weak on terrorism, and how he didn't achieve anything in the senate are horsesh!t. It gets better:

Make no mistake about it, BCCI would have been a player. A decade after Kerry helped shut the bank down, the CIA discovered Osama bin Laden was among those with accounts at the bank. A French intelligence report obtained by The Washington Post in 2002 identified dozens of companies and individuals who were involved with BCCI and were found to be dealing with bin Laden after the bank collapsed, and that the financial network operated by bin Laden today "is similar to the network put in place in the 1980s by BCCI." As one senior U.S. investigator said in 2002, "BCCI was the mother and father of terrorist financing operations."

I'd much rather have Kerry at the helm when it comes to terrorism, Bush has been a miserable failure.

 

[Crimson]

Originally posted by: Vadatajs
Washington Monthly Link

Two decades ago, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) was a highly respected financial titan. In 1987, when its subsidiary helped finance a deal involving Texas oilman George W. Bush, the bank appeared to be a reputable institution, with attractive branch offices, a traveler's check business, and a solid reputation for financing international trade. It had high-powered allies in Washington and boasted relationships with respected figures around the world.

All that changed in early 1988, when John Kerry, then a young senator from Massachusetts, decided to probe the finances of Latin American drug cartels. Over the next three years, Kerry fought against intense opposition from vested interests at home and abroad, from senior members of his own party; and from the Reagan and Bush administrations, none of whom were eager to see him succeed.

By the end, Kerry had helped dismantle a massive criminal enterprise and exposed the infrastructure of BCCI and its affiliated institutions, a web that law enforcement officials today acknowledge would become a model for international terrorist financing. As Kerry's investigation revealed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, BCCI was interested in more than just enriching its clients--it had a fundamentally anti-Western mission. Among the stated goals of its Pakistani founder were to "fight the evil influence of the West," and finance Muslim terrorist organizations. In retrospect, Kerry's investigation had uncovered an institution at the fulcrum of America's first great post-Cold War security challenge.

All those talking points about how Kerry is weak on terrorism, and how he didn't achieve anything in the senate are horsesh!t. It gets better:

Make no mistake about it, BCCI would have been a player. A decade after Kerry helped shut the bank down, the CIA discovered Osama bin Laden was among those with accounts at the bank. A French intelligence report obtained by The Washington Post in 2002 identified dozens of companies and individuals who were involved with BCCI and were found to be dealing with bin Laden after the bank collapsed, and that the financial network operated by bin Laden today "is similar to the network put in place in the 1980s by BCCI." As one senior U.S. investigator said in 2002, "BCCI was the mother and father of terrorist financing operations."

I'd much rather have Kerry at the helm when it comes to terrorism, Bush has been a miserable failure.

Wow.. his discovering of Osama's checkbook really did a lot of good.. He's got MY vote now!

 

[conjur]

Bravo, Kerry!

While Bush was playing oil baron with daddy's and the Saudi's checkbooks, Kerry was pre-emptively attacking terrorists' funding sources!

 

[smashp]

Originally posted by: Vadatajs
Washington Monthly Link

Two decades ago, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) was a highly respected financial titan. In 1987, when its subsidiary helped finance a deal involving Texas oilman George W. Bush, the bank appeared to be a reputable institution, with attractive branch offices, a traveler's check business, and a solid reputation for financing international trade. It had high-powered allies in Washington and boasted relationships with respected figures around the world.

All that changed in early 1988, when John Kerry, then a young senator from Massachusetts, decided to probe the finances of Latin American drug cartels. Over the next three years, Kerry fought against intense opposition from vested interests at home and abroad, from senior members of his own party; and from the Reagan and Bush administrations, none of whom were eager to see him succeed.

By the end, Kerry had helped dismantle a massive criminal enterprise and exposed the infrastructure of BCCI and its affiliated institutions, a web that law enforcement officials today acknowledge would become a model for international terrorist financing. As Kerry's investigation revealed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, BCCI was interested in more than just enriching its clients--it had a fundamentally anti-Western mission. Among the stated goals of its Pakistani founder were to "fight the evil influence of the West," and finance Muslim terrorist organizations. In retrospect, Kerry's investigation had uncovered an institution at the fulcrum of America's first great post-Cold War security challenge.

All those talking points about how Kerry is weak on terrorism, and how he didn't achieve anything in the senate are horsesh!t. It gets better:

Make no mistake about it, BCCI would have been a player. A decade after Kerry helped shut the bank down, the CIA discovered Osama bin Laden was among those with accounts at the bank. A French intelligence report obtained by The Washington Post in 2002 identified dozens of companies and individuals who were involved with BCCI and were found to be dealing with bin Laden after the bank collapsed, and that the financial network operated by bin Laden today "is similar to the network put in place in the 1980s by BCCI." As one senior U.S. investigator said in 2002, "BCCI was the mother and father of terrorist financing operations."

I'd much rather have Kerry at the helm when it comes to terrorism, Bush has been a miserable failure.

But, But, But...........


"Indeed, Bush?s delayed explanation for his Harken sale is questionable, especially in the context of financial misconduct by several others in his family and of Bush?s lack of credibility concerning a recent campaign impropriety. Also questionable were, as The Wall Street Journal detailed, Harken?s links to the infamous Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BBCI), which was shut down in 1991 after a $10 billion global looting spree"


TRUST OR HUSTLE: The Bush Record

 

[Crimson]

Originally posted by: conjur
Bravo, Kerry!

While Bush was playing oil baron with daddy's and the Saudi's checkbooks, Kerry was pre-emptively attacking terrorists' funding sources!

I thought we were against pre-emptive attacks? Are you claiming that Kerry taking Bin Ladens money may have prevented something from happening the in future? **Sniff** I smell something.. anyone else smell something?

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: Crimson

Originally posted by: conjur
Bravo, Kerry!

While Bush was playing oil baron with daddy's and the Saudi's checkbooks, Kerry was pre-emptively attacking terrorists' funding sources!

I thought we were against pre-emptive attacks? Are you claiming that Kerry taking Bin Ladens money may have prevented something from happening the in future? **Sniff** I smell something.. anyone else smell something?

Yet again, a Bush-God fanboi fails to understand the truth.

Bush pre-emptively invaded a sovereign nation, causing the deaths of thousands of people (including nearly 1,000 of our own soldiers) and creating an enormously costly welfare state.


Kerry pre-emptively closed down a bank that contained bank accounts of terrorists (although, he didn't know it at the time.) Kerry did the right thing. BCCI was worse than Enron. Yet, here we have a Bush-God fanboi defending a corrupt business entity.

I guess you think Ken Lay should have charges dropped and be given a hefty compensation package?

 

[Vadatajs]

Originally posted by: Crimson

Originally posted by: conjur
Bravo, Kerry!

While Bush was playing oil baron with daddy's and the Saudi's checkbooks, Kerry was pre-emptively attacking terrorists' funding sources!

I thought we were against pre-emptive attacks? Are you claiming that Kerry taking Bin Ladens money may have prevented something from happening the in future? **Sniff** I smell something.. anyone else smell something?

Is the strawman the only form of argument you idiots know? Try actually READING the article before you go spouting that nonsense here.

Or, would you rather BCCI were still around to fund terrorism?

 

[maluckey]

Another BCCI related link,

More of Kerrys dealings with BCCI

I posted this link many moons ago. It casts a different light on BCCI and Kerry.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: maluckey
Another BCCI related link,

More of Kerrys dealings with BCCI

I posted this link many moons ago. It casts a different light on BCCI and Kerry.

And shines a bright light on the Reagan and Bush, Sr. administration's hand in the deception waged by BCCI.

 

[Jhhnn]

BCCI specialized in shady dealings and money laundering for anybody who could afford their services. The source and destination of funds they handled was of absolutely no consequence whatsoever to the principals...

Just one facet of the pure unregulated free market Capitalism so adored by many posters... Such services are still available, one merely has to go offshore to obtain them-

http://www.finor.com/

Just one example. How did you guys think that the wealthy avoid taxation, anyway?

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Jhhnn
BCCI specialized in shady dealings and money laundering for anybody who could afford their services. The source and destination of funds they handled was of absolutely no consequence whatsoever to the principals...

Just one facet of the pure unregulated free market Capitalism so adored by many posters... Such services are still available, one merely has to go offshore to obtain them-

http://www.finor.com/

Just one example. How did you guys think that the wealthy avoid taxation, anyway?

That's okay, when a billionaire screws you over, you can pay the private courts for justice

That's nearly my favorite discovery all day!!!

It's right up there with the market-value of 'not dying'.

 

[GoPackGo]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: maluckey
Another BCCI related link,

More of Kerrys dealings with BCCI

I posted this link many moons ago. It casts a different light on BCCI and Kerry.

And shines a bright light on the Reagan and Bush, Sr. administration's hand in the deception waged by BCCI.

Remember...

In the 80's, Bin Laden was "our" boy

In the 90's & 00's, Chalabi was "our" boy

I am personally tired of financing these people...lets go back to good old fashioned spywork

 

[conjur]

Ayup...there's been WAY too much U.S. heavy-handed use of supporting coups or not supporting coups, supporting death squads or not supporting death squads...all when it benefited the acting administration.

 

[maluckey]

For perhaps the first time, I agree with Conjur. We need to be a little more cautious about the "Support the lesser of two evils doctrine".

I have no real solutions as to how, but the current practices gave us Arafat, Amin, Hussein, Khadafi (now the darling of the Arab World), Fahd and Feisel, Noriega, and a few others. What a great honor roll is that!!!