Friday, September 11, 2009

9/11/9




Prince Bandar and the al yamamah contract . Go ahead, google these things. I just watched a PBS Frontline episode about international bribery called 'black money'. Very interesting stuff. Prince Bandar is a Saudi Prince and former ambassador to the United States. He would not interview for this program but was video taped a few years ago by PBS defending corruption. He says that corruption dates back to adam and eve, if only $50B out of $400B is used for corrupt practices than thats ok and "we are not as bad as you think". He seems to be at the center of much U.S. money being transfered and spent in ways that the justice department disagrees with... because it's illegal. The Corrupt Foreign Practices Act says so. The problem here is that the bribery seems to effect people like Tony Blair. I watched an interview where Tony, accompanied by then president W. Bush, tried to explain to British reporters that a certain case had been dropped due to pressure from the Saudi royal family. Wow. A head of state explaining to the people that their ties to another country are more important than the rule of law in their own country. What also seemed to be suggested by the Saudi's was that if the investigation wasn't dropped they would be less inclined to prevent terror attacks. This sounds like at any moment they can push a button and 9/11 times a 100 (91,100) could be unleashed. I hope my Team America reference isn't taken the wrong way since today is 9/11 and all. I mean no disrespect to those who lost someone eight years ago. May your life have meaning for so many reasons.

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