Bin Laden Took Part in 1986 Arms Deal

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/03/31/ST2008033102952.html

By Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 1, 2008; Page A12

Osama bin Laden flew to London in 1986 to help negotiate the purchase of Russian-made surface-to-air missiles to be used by Arab fighters then battling the Soviet military in Afghanistan, according to a new book on the bin Laden family.


Bin Laden and his half brother, Salem, met several times with the contacts at the luxury Dorchester hotel in London, according to "The Bin Ladens," by journalist Steve Coll. "Don't do any jokes with my brother," Salem is said to have told the others. "He's very religious."

The deal for Russian SA-7 missiles was arranged via "contacts" with the German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch, through an associate of Salem bin Laden, the book says. It suggests that payment for the weapons was made by the government of Saudi Arabia and that the weapons eventually were purchased in South America.

At the time of the weapons shipments, both the U.S. and Saudi governments were supporting Afghan and Arab forces resisting the Soviet Union's occupation of Afghanistan. But while the Reagan administration supplied Stinger missiles to the Afghans, the book says that the Afghans did not want the Americans providing such weaponry directly to Arab groups that had joined the fight, including forces organized by Osama bin Laden.

"We have made no bones about our support for the mujaheddin" fighters, Saudi Embassy spokesman Nail al-Jubeir said yesterday. "We matched the Americans dollar for dollar." But "in terms of what was bought, I really don't know," he said, adding that the Arabs eventually did receive the SA-7s.

[wildbilln864]

1. Is that brother Salem...

the same Bin Laden brother who was involved with Bush's first business venture Arbusto?

[wildbilln864]

3. yes...

"In 1979, Bush’s first business, Arbusto Energy, obtained financing from James Bath, a Houstonian and close family friend. One of many investors, Bath gave Bush $50,000 for a 5 percent stake in Arbusto. At the time, Bath was the sole U.S. business representative for Salem bin Laden, head of the wealthy Saudi Arabian family and a brother (one of 17) to Osama bin Laden. It has long been suspected, but never proven, that the Arbusto money came directly from Salem bin Laden. In a statement issued shortly after the September 11 attacks, the White House vehemently denied the connection, insisting that Bath invested his own money, not Salem bin Laden’s, in Arbusto."
link :hi:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

4. He is also the same Salem who died in a mysterious airplane crash in Texas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_bin_Laden

[KJF]

2. Very interesting

Thanks for posting.

[DemReadingDU]

5. NPR Fresh Air: 'The Bin Ladens,' A Complicated Family Tree

4/1/08 'The Bin Ladens,' A Complicated Family Tree

In his new book, The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in The American Century, author Steve Coll details the complicated family history of Osama bin Laden, one of 54 children born to Mohamed bin Laden.

The elder bin Laden transformed himself from an illiterate bricklayer into an immensely wealthy and powerful businessman.

Mohamed bin Laden died in a plane crash in 1967, leaving each of his sons a 2.7 percent share of the company assets, and each daughter a 1 percent share. While most of his brothers began working for the family company, Osama instead focused on Islamic political causes.

Coll is a two-time Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist who has written for The Washington Post (where he also served as managing editor) and The New Yorker. He is the president and CEO of The New America Foundation, a non-partisan think tank based in Washington DC.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89271287

Also included is an excerpt from the book

[seemslikeadream]

6. Thanks so much DemReadingDU

:hi: