Bin Laden Family Could Profit From a Jump In Defense Spending Due to Ties to U.S. Bank

Wall Street Journal Online ^ | September 27, 2001 | DANIEL GOLDEN, JAMES BANDLER and MARCUS WALKER

[Beep]

If the U.S. boosts defense spending in its quest to stop Osama bin Laden's alleged terrorist activities, there may be one unexpected beneficiary: Mr. bin Laden's family.

Among its far-flung business interests, the well-heeled Saudi Arabian clan -- which says it is estranged from Osama -- is an investor in a fund established by Carlyle Group, a well-connected Washington merchant bank specializing in buyouts of defense and aerospace companies.

[Howlin]

Very cute. But after comparing what LARRY said that the WSJ said with what the WSJ actually SAID, I'd say I'd have to go back over and look at some of the things he said about Clinton.

After all, not a WORD of what Klayman has said about ANYTHING has ever been proven in court.

[Mercuria]

But after comparing what LARRY said that the WSJ said with what the WSJ actually SAID...

I'm still just trying to get over what YOU said!!!

[eccl1212]

well said. all of us are noticing it. interesting.

The bush bashers are reemerging after the "revolting" (to them) display of support for our president in a time of crisis. pretty soon, they will start touting how THEIR candidate in the last election would have done better or has a better grasp of the situation... or has the moral authority to ... blah blah blah...

puke.

[Howlin]

You mean the fact that I might be willing to consider the fact that if I SEE a lie that Larry told he might have told one I didn't recognize?

[Beep]

TeeHee! Ummmmmmmmm -- I don't think so?! ;-}

[Mercuria]

Nope...just that you'd give Slickmeister the benefit of the doubt just because you have a personal beef against Klayman.

In any case...202-646-5172. Call up Judicial Watch and demand they provide the evidence of the meetings or retract what they said.

Shouldn't be difficult. Your vindication - or Klayman's - could be just a phone call away.

[Fulbright]

Great post. A very disturbing story, particularly the way Bush Sr. folded his tent when confronted with evidence of the January 2000 meeting.

[Beep]

I didn't see any tent-folding. He said he wasn't sure. He remembered one meeting for certain, and wasn't sure beyond that. His own secretary came up with the other one; I have no doubt he asked for help in recalling the meeting. Why hide it? Osama is the bad seed; that doesn't make the entire clan wicked. At one point in my life, if people had judged my parents for what I was doing -- they would have been way off base. I made my own decisions, my own mistakes. My family had nothing to do with it. They hated it. They should have! They were right.

It's just a matter of what you are inclined to believe. I admit to being inclined to believe George HW Bush.

[Fulbright]

If you read the original story in the WSJ, it was developed by a entire team of their reporters. They diplomatically relegated it to page three.

In light of holocaust visited upon this nation, this isn't "business as usual," as the principals mentioned in this story are very well aware.

[Beep]

"If I read the original?" I subscribe, I found it, and I posted it! Of course I read it! ;-p "An entire team of reporters" -- three people contributed. Oooohhhhhh!! An entire team!! Methinks you're being overly dramatic. Where was all the drama and outrage when Bubba was in office -- lying, cheating, and perjuring?! This story doesn't even involve the President, but former Presidents, including a Democrat. And it doesn't involve terrorists, but the family of one. And they have disowned the guy! Or -- didn't you read it?! ;-}

[Irma]

Thanks for the post, SLJP, and thanks for the flag, Howlin.   I think you both know that I'm not surprised that JW is embellishing its stories here.  I've been showcasing for months now some of the outrageous headlines Larry uses in his "fund raisers"........errrrrrr, I mean "press releases".

I do give Larry credit early on for uncovering some of Clinton's dirty deeds, but for over a year now, more specifically during the presidential campaign, Larry's focus changed.  It began around the time he decided to hold a presidential debate and no major candidate showed up to debate.  Remember how he trashed Bush and praised Gore because Bush stated early that he  would not participate  in the debate?  Then Gore didn't show?  LOL.

BTW, why was JW holding presidential debates in the first place? According to EVERY press release they are  "Judicial Watch, the public interest law firm that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and abuse,".  and not "Judicial Watch, the public interest law firm that hosts presidential debates".

I have felt for a long time that Klayman has deep 3rd party ties  (thus the employment of Russ Verney), but this is only a guess.  I will post some of my research on this next, but that is why I believe that Klayman became more interested in making political headlines in the hopes of creating a scandal  than actually investigating one.  Larry starting appearing everywhere.  Wherever there was a hot political news item, Larry was there.  How can he possibly be investigating everyone and every news story?

If  one takes the time to carefully read Larry's complaints of the last year, most of the "proof" in his "investigations" amount to only a news story in a newspaper or a letter sent to a group or individual in which Larry made demands and the group or individual did not comply.  The Tom Delay complaint comes immediately to mind.  In most of these cases, any citizen could have filed the same complaint as Larry did (especially the Condit Anne Marie Smith grand jury request).  He just gets more bang for his buck because he's Larry Klayman.

[Irma]

I began this research months ago when The Guild was still more of an investigative group and we were discussing McCain/Perot/Klayman and campaign finance.  I never did post it on the Guild and dropped the research, but  I thought I'd post what I have  here since Klayman's motives for trashing the Bushes may be an issue.  Please keep in mind that although based on fact, some of this is my own speculation meant for discussion purposes.

---

In April, 2001, we witnessed the union of the former leader of Perot's Reform Party with Judicial Watch:

RUSS VERNEY TO JOIN JUDICIAL WATCH

Former Perot Aide to Run Southwestern Regional Headquarters
and Serve As National Advisor

Of particular note IMO are Klayman's comments on  grass roots organizing and campaign finance............

“Russ Verney’s expertise in grassroots organizing, campaign finance, and in the too often corrupt federal elections process will make him an invaluable asset to Judicial Watch."

Now why would Klayman be interested in grassroots organizing? (except to organize a political party or to raise funds of course).

Right around the time Verney joined JW, Republicans........ especially Tom Delay who is adamant on stopping McCain's Campaign Finance Reform bill in the House...... started to take bigger hits by JW. This IMO, is an effort to clip Delay's wings on the issue of campaign finance reform.

I thought that perhaps Verney's former association with Perot and now JW could also tie in some way to this June 4, 2001 post:

Sen. John McCain has asked members of his 2000 presidential campaign to approach Texas billionaire Ross Perot about puchasing any mailing lists or direct mail materials from his Reform Party archives, according to a former McCain 2000 volunteer.

There is also the fact that Verney was once the executive director of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, so I don't trust him at all! He worked for  DEMOCRATS for Gawd's sake!

And then from a CNN  Transcript, Verney states:

WOODRUFF: Very quick, one word answer: Will a
                third party be a factor in 2004?

VERNEY: An independent candidate could be a factor
                in 2004. Probably not a party.

That "independent candidate" being McCain???  What better limelight for Klayman than to be part of a national presidential campaign?

There has always been sort of a McCain-Klayman connection IMO due to the campaign finance issue.  For example, back in September, 1999, this was in one of JW's press releases:

Senator John McCain told Judicial Watch that one of the reasons that Chinagate won't be seriously investigated by Congress is because Republican donors are involved.

But we might have the last laugh after all.  Wait until McCain realizes that IF his campaign finance bill should become law, guess who will be standing in the wings waiting to take credit?

JUDICIAL WATCH LAWSUIT AGAINST COMMERCE DEPARTMENT SPARKED CAMPAIGN FINANCE SCANDAL  LEADING TO McCAIN-FEINGOLD PASSAGE TODAY

Hahahahahaha!

[looscannon]

Wow. Ever thought of heading up your own investigation firm? (Maybe that's what you DO already?)

[Iwo Jima]

I'm with you on this on. George H.W. Bush ought to have severed all ties with this group as soon as his son became president. In fact, GWHB ought to have withdrawn from all money-making ventures and put his stocks in a blind trust so that no one could pick on President Bush about things like this. It's just the proper thing to do.

Having said that, this hit piece by Judicial Watch is pure BS. It seems that this sort of journalistic terrorism is all that JW is capable of doing nowadays.

Someone asked if Klayman is stupid or delusional. It's more the latter. Larry Klayman is very intelligent, brillant even, in the same way that Bill Clinton is. In fact, Klayman is the most like Bill Clinton of any person I've ever met (no sex scandals, though). Klayman is so psychologically screwed up that his keen intellect works against him. He enjoys lying to people and getting away with it, and becomes violently ill-tempered (not physically)when caught in a lie.
.
Klayman believes that most people, including his supporters, are stupid and easy marks, and that the others are out to get him. He's a cross between Elmer Gantry and Captain Queeg. He must be exposed before he takes away more money from well-intentioned people who are susceptible to his scam. Thanks for helping to do that.

[Iwo Jima]

It is shocking to see just how much hatred Ross Perot must have for anyone named Bush that he would get involved with a man like Larry Klayman. If you didn't know of the Perot-Klayman connection before,Russ Verney's presence pretty much says it all.

[Irma]

(Maybe that's what you DO already?)

LOL....not hardly, Mr. Cannon. Anyway, it probably wouldn't be fun if I HAD to do this. I only check out the suspicious when I think the "truth" may be taking a back seat to the "story".

Know what I mean?

[WIMom]

Thanks for the flag, excellent find SLJP. This is just insulting garbage from JW.

[Beep]

Holy BubbaNess!! I'm still new here, and have only been fighting the good fight on my own until now. No wonder a friend of mine tried to lead me over here! I had no idea all that mess was going on. I'm begining to think, more and more, that 'Know they enemy" is the most prudent strategy I've ever heard! After all, you can't fight what you can't see! Thanks for all the info, Irma!!

[Beep]

P.S. Love the **Blink**! I'll have to remember that! (Too cool!) *G*