Posted on 06/10/2006 11:06:40 AM PDT by ex-Texan
OTTAWA -- Greeted at the airport by limousine drivers holding single-letter "B" signs, global luminaries such as Henry Kissinger, David Rockefeller and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands began arriving in Ottawa Thursday for the annual gathering of the ultra-secretive Bilderberg Group.
Over the next three days, they and other prominent political and business leaders from North America and Europe are expected to discuss issues such as the security threat posed by Iran and the direction of oil markets.
The group's discreet approach was evident as attendees arrived at the Ottawa International Airport.
Outside the airport, a phalanx of limousines queued to ferry guests to the Brookstreet Hotel, where security guards with ear pieces kept watch over the barricaded entrance to the hotel parking lot.
Limos were also dispatched to the nearby Shell Aerocentre to retrieve participants arriving on private aircraft. Some attendees had the single-letter "B" on their luggage tags.
Former U.S. defence policy adviser Richard Perle shot down criticism about the secrecy of the group's meetings.
"It's a private organization," he said. He denied the charge, advanced by Bilderberg critics, that the organization crafts public policy behind closed doors.
"It discusses public policy," he said.
Perle also dismissed suggestions the group's heavy representation from the oil industry gives it influence over global energy prices.
"If it did, I'd be trading on oil futures," he said.
A former assistant secretary of defence to President Ronald Reagan, Perle is still considered an influential adviser in U.S. conservative circles. He advised President George W. Bush and is said to be a close friend of Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
In 2003, he publicly chastised the Canadian government for refusing to send troops to Iraq and warned that "lame-duck" Prime Minister Jean Chretien would be embarrassed once weapons of mass destruction were found.
Also seen arriving Thursday were Jorma Ollila, chairman of Royal Dutch Shell, and Egil Myklebust, chairman of Scandinavian Airlines.
According to an unsigned press release, presumably by Bilderberg organizers, attendees will also include New York Governor George Pataki, former Iraqi deputy prime minister Ahmad Chalabi, the heads of Coca-Cola, Credit Suisse, the Royal Bank of Canada, a number of media moguls, and cabinet ministers from Spain and Greece.
The release confirmed this year's meeting will deal with energy issues, Iran, the Middle East, terrorism, immigration, Russia, European-American relations and Asia.
"The meeting is private to encourage frank and open discussion," said the release. "There will be no press conference."
Security was relatively light at the airport, with only a few uniformed police officers on hand.
But at the Brookstreet, the parking lot in front of the hotel was empty and all entrances to the lot barricaded. A tow truck removed vehicles that did not comply.
Security guards were stationed at various points around the hotel perimeter, including the golf course behind the Brookstreet. A number of Ottawa police officers also provided security.
The event drew a number of regular Bilderberg watchers who follow the organization around the world, few more colourful than James P. Tucker Jr., a 71-year-old writer who says he has covered every Bilderberg conference for the last 30 years. He recently published a book called the Bilderberg Diary.
Tucker said he spent several days this week casing out the hotel, plying Brookstreet bartenders for information.
"For years they denied their very existence," Tucker said. "Well, they certainly influence the world."
Daniel Estulin, who flew from Spain to cover this week's conference, is such a regular on the circuit that he is on a first-name basis with Bilderberg security officials.
"Their main objective is creating a world government ruled by an elite group of people whose main objective is to control all the natural resources of the planet," Estulin said.
The Bilderberg Group, named after the Dutch hotel where it held its first meeting in 1954, was conceived as a forum for building transatlantic ties during the Cold War.
Organizers insist the group's clandestine ways media are barred from the event and attendees are sworn to secrecy enable a freer exchange of ideas.
But critics and conspiracy theorists say the group shows a disturbing lack of accountability considering how many powerful people it brings together.
Ottawa Citizen
We own the world
We own your children
You work for us
Or you stop living
Immigration officials don't need a reason to detain and further question any foreigner who wants to come into their country. Entering into any foreign country is a privilege, not a right. Nobody was "arrested". For all we know, Alex Jones could have a criminal record (even including a DWI), which is a red flag when trying to enter Canada.
Don't forget about the Stonecutters....
Forget about the Bilderbergers, I joined the Stonecutters...
Too bad it's not public...Be nice to meet the people that the President works for...But, no need...These same people are members of the CFR and Trilateral Commission...And those names are published...
Bilderberger Group? Is that like the old Tri Lateral Commission? Just a new name?
I'm inside the hotel and just wrote "FreeRepublic Rules" with soap on the men's room mirror....
Or perhaps the Illuminati?
I was going to attend as well, but my credentials didn't arrive in the mail in time from that nice Nigerian gentleman who I'm helping with some financial matters.
I hope they can get the price of oil lowered.
Take the Jews off your list and, by George, I think you've got it!
I think the Rothchilds are Bilderbergers, Mr. M.
And then there are the blockheads that cannot see beyond their running noses. LOL.
Yeah but they do it out in the open so it's no fun.
I keep getting invitations to join the CFR, and I'm tempted to join so that I can learn the secret handshake.
There have been informative books on the shelves of any library on all these organisations for many, many years.
If you're worried about that plan, you should see some of my plans. Lots of idiots have plans.
All these secret societies sure seem to have a hard time keeping themselves secret. I wouldn't doubt if this just wasn't a bunch of Art Bell fans getting together for a huge laugh.
Next year's meeting is in Manila.
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