Aidan Monaghan

The public was asked to accept even the thinnest alleged links between Osama Bin Laden's Al Qaeda and Iraq as justification for war there, while apparently being asked to accept as coincidence, the extensive and close ties between the Bush political dynasty and the family of Osama Bin Laden.

From the Center For Cooperative Research:

http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/timeline.jsp?timeline=complete_911_timeline&financing_of_al-qaeda:_a_more_detailed_look...

September 11, 2001: Bin Laden Brother Attends Carlyle Group Conference

The Carlyle Group is a large private-equity investment firm, closely associated with officials of the Bush and Reagan administrations ... This morning it is holding its annual investor conference at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Washington, DC. Among the guests of honor is investor Shafig bin Laden, brother of Osama bin Laden. [Observer, 6/16/2002; London Times, 5/8/2003] Former President George H. W. Bush, who makes speeches on behalf of the Carlyle Group and is also senior adviser to its Asian Partners fund [Wall Street Journal, 9/27/2001], attended the conference the previous day.

January 2000: Former President Bush Meets With bin Laden Family On Behalf Of Carlyle Group

Former President George H. W. Bush meets with the bin Laden family on behalf of the Carlyle Group. He had also met with them in November 1998 (see November 1998), but it is not known if he meets with them again after this. Bush denies this meeting took place until a thank you note is found confirming that it took place. [Wall Street Journal, 9/27/2001; Guardian, 10/31/2001]

November 1998: Former President George H. W. Bush Meets With Bin Laden Family

Former President George H. W. Bush meets with the bin Laden family on behalf of the Carlyle Group. The meeting takes place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. [Sunday Herald (Glasgow), 10/7/2001]

June 4, 1992: FBI Investigates Ties Between George W. Bush And Saudi Money

The FBI investigates connections between James Bath and George W. Bush, according to published reports. Bath is Salem bin Laden’s official representative in the US.[Houston Chronicle, 6/4/1992]

1988: Bin Ladens Bail Out George W. Bush?

Prior to this year, President George W. Bush is a failed oilman. However, in 1988, the same year his father becomes president, some Saudis buy a portion of his small company, Harken, which has never performed work outside of Texas. Two major investors in Bush’s company during this time are Salem bin Laden and Khalid bin Mahfouz. Salem bin Laden is Osama’s oldest brother. [Intelligence Newsletter, 3/2/2000; Salon, 11/19/2001]

Mid-1980s: Osama’s Brother Is Allegedly Involved In The Iran-Contra Affair

Quoting a French intelligence report posted by PBS Frontline, The New Yorker reports, “During the nineteen-eighties, when the Reagan administration secretly arranged for an estimated $34 million to be funneled through Saudi Arabia to the Contras in Nicaragua, [Osama’s eldest brother] Salem bin Laden aided in this cause.” [PBS Frontline, 2001; New Yorker, 11/5/2001]

October 1980: Osama’s Oldest Brother Allegedly Involved In ‘October Surprise’

Salem bin Laden, Osama’s oldest brother ... is involved in secret Paris meetings between US and Iranian emissaries this month, according to a French report. Rumors of these meetings have been called the “October Surprise” and some have speculated that in these meetings, George H. W. Bush negotiated a delay to the release of the US hostages in Iran, thus helping Ronald Reagan and Bush win the 1980 Presidential election. [PBS Frontline, 2001]