BAE faces criminal inquiry in US over £1bn payments to Saudi's Prince Bandar

[babylonsister]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/baefiles/story/0,,2102558,00.html

BAE faces criminal inquiry in US over £1bn payments


Justice department alarmed at claims over MoD's role

David Leigh and Rob Evans
Thursday June 14, 2007
The Guardian

The US department of justice is preparing to open a corruption investigation into the arms company BAE, the Guardian has learned. It would cover the alleged £1bn arms deal payments to Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia.

Washington sources familiar with the thinking of senior officials at the justice department said yesterday it was "99% certain" that a criminal inquiry would be opened under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Such an investigation would have potentially seismic consequences for BAE, which is trying to take over US arms companies and make the Pentagon its biggest customer.

The sources say US officials were particularly concerned by the allegations in the Guardian that UK Ministry of Defence officials actively colluded in the payments. One said: "The image of all these Bob Cratchits in Whitehall sitting at their high stools processing invoices from Bandar has been a startling one to us."

The Guardian has revealed allegations that BAE used the US banking system to transfer quarterly payments to accounts controlled by Prince Bandar at Riggs Bank in Washington. Another senior US source said this brought the payments within the ambit of the FCPA. "Prosecutors have previously taken the view that the FCPA does reach that far," the source said.

Any decision to investigate BAE would be taken by assistant attorney general Alice Fisher, who heads the criminal division. An investigation would most likely be handled by the chief prosecutor of FCPA cases, Mark Mendelsohn, deputy chief of the justice department's fraud section.

more...

[Solly Mack]

1. uh...uh...

never mind

[blm]

2. Proving that BCCI never stopped thanks to the cover given BushInc by Dems the last 15yrs.

http://consortiumnews.com/2006/111106.html

And those who still try to claim none of this is relevant really ARE in bed with the enemies of democracy.

[seemslikeadream]

4. you know I try

:(

[seemslikeadream]

5. Bank with close ties to Bush administration engulfed in scandal

Is this the only photo of Jonathan Bush?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1110692




Bank with close ties to Bush administration engulfed in scandal
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=775366

NEW details of Thatcher coup plot: London Evening Standard
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=777970

SEC probes Marathon Oil payments in Equitorial Guinea (and HQ burns down)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=728495

Du Toit admits meeting Thatcher
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=775274

Terrorist Stocks?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=775943

'Petroleum lures dogs of war to Africa'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=775315

BBC News: Thatcher charged
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=775499

Margaret Thatcher's Son Released on Coup Plot Charges (Update2
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=775803

Exiled leader in Spain denies any link to coup attempt
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=780228

Scorpions say have more info on Equatorial Guinea coup
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=781763

Financiers conspired to overthrow oil-flush African government
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=771532

Mark Thatcher: The money trail
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=780222

Thatcher case twist as list of alleged coup backers vanishes
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=779708

Thatcher: Spain 'secretly backed coup by sending warships'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=780346

WaPo: Allbritton Loses Riggs Bank (front page, day 3)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=691609

E Guinea 'coup plot' verdict due + update/result
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1023049

I feel like a corpse in a river, says Mark Thatcher as he faces court...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1020857

Thatcher to face coup questions
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1018687

Phone links Thatcher to alleged plot

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1008002
There was no coup plot, says Du Toit
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=997545

Thatcher to ask Britain to help halt extradition
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1005084

Thatcher charged over coup plot
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1001670

Thatcher to be tried in absentia
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=994305

Britain knew in advance of Equatorial Guinea coup plot: report
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=987556

Tories Demand Answers on 'Coup Plot'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=991361

Mandelson faces questioning over 'link' to coup plot
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=975777

Legal Woes Cut Into Bottom Line at Riggs
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=974861

Mugabe flies to Equatorial Guinea (coup plot latest)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=964525

Despots, Deposits & Directors - Riggs Bank
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=924033

SABC asks to broadcast Thatcher court case
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=926588

Spain calls on EU to warn Equatorial Guinea - Riggs Bank
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=916444

Raids 'break up' £20m theft gang
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=906579

Thatcher coup plot: Mandelson, CIA & State Department named
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=900168

Archer 'link to coup plot'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=899574

Britain accused of failing to investigate Africa coup
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=901850

Pentagon link to Guinea coup plot
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=867591

[bobthedrummer]

32. KICK

[havocmom]

3. Kick

Be back when I have the time this deserves!

[Gregorian]

6. Get this to the greatest.

Big stuff. Bandar Bush needs scrutiny in a big way.

[blm]

17. BFEE has operated like this nonstop for decades. Why do even Democrats look the other way

and just complain about what thugs they are instead of sticking to the corruption issues that have been driving every other policy issue they claim as priorities?

[KoKo]

7. The Bush Justice Department? The one where top has resigned and AG is under

investigation? You mean the US Justice Department in the hands of the Bushies who called their budy Bandar/Bush. :eyes: THAT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT?

Dream on. The "Investigation" means shredding alerts and payoffs are already being dispensed.

[blm]

8. You have to hope that some of the good guys will attach themselves to this case.

.

[KoKo]

10. What "good guys" are left at Justice? From what I've read the

best of the career folks have already left in disgust. The morale for those left must be dreadful ...unless they are total Bush Bots who where "loyal enough to Gonzo" that they didn't feel disgust to leave their jobs. Gonzo doesn't even have a deputy AG and other key people at top who might have been honest like Comey are long gone. Gonzo isn't going anywhere and he sure as hell isn't going to have Bandar/Bush involved in anything. That's why Gonzo is hanging on....because Bushies knew that this thing was coming down in Great Britain. Remember how long Tony Blair was here for his "last visit?"

Didn't it seem odd that Blair was rushing over here for a last goodbye to his Master? The urgency for Blair to come meant there was much to clean up before Blair leaves. My guess...plotting the Iran strike and coordinating how to derail the Bandar/BAE/Boeing and RIGGS and Uncle Jonathan story.

There's NO WAY Blair and Bush will let this go forward. We will get trickles and the Guardian's investigation will go hard on Blair...but in the end a "report" will be issued saying there was nothing there that merits further investigation.

But, that's no reason for the blogosphere not to keep on it and keep fighting to get it heard and do a campaign to get investigations going in Congress. We MUST DO THAT.

So I always try to reply when I see a report on this. I posted video last weekend of Andrea Mitchell's report on BAE/BANDAR and I sent it to Josh Marshall along with the Guardian article before anyone had it. I intend to do what I can supporting folks here who keep on it.

[blm]

11. OTOH, the political appointees are tiptoeing around the career attorneys these days.

.

[KoKo]

14. Woo Hoo to both "Seems" and "blm" Check this OUT...Gozno's Justice Investigates Him!

(MAYBE there's hope for that BAE Investigation after all....if Gonzo can be removed....some good guys there in the Justice IGA Office.)

------------------------
Gonzales under Investigation by Internal DoJ Probe
By Paul Kiel - June 14, 2007, 2:14 PM

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is under investigation by his own department's inspector general and Office of Professional Responsibility. From The Washington Post:

The Justice Department is investigating whether Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales sought to influence the testimony of a departing senior aide during a March meeting in Gonzales's office, according to correspondence released today.

In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the two officials who are leading an internal Justice Department investigation of the dismissal of nine U.S. attorneys last year said their inquiry includes the Gonzales meeting, which was revealed during testimony last month from former Gonzales aide Monica M. Goodling.

You can read a copy of the letter here.

Here, to refresh your memory, is Goodling's testimony about the meeting last month. Goodling said that in this private discussion with Gonzales, she asked for a transfer out of her current position because of the scandal. Gonzales said he'd have to think about that, but then started telling Goodling what he remembered about the firing process. He then asked her if she had "any reaction" to his memory. "I didn't know that it was maybe appropriate for us to talk about that," she said, adding that it made her "uncomfortable." When Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL) asked if she thought the attorney general had been trying to shape her recollection of the firings, she said no, but then did say again that the conversation had made her feel uncomfortable.

The Post reports, "The disclosure could represent a serious legal threat to the embattled attorney general. Fine's office is empowered to refer matters for criminal prosecution if warranted."

Update: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy's (D-VT) response was to the point:

"The last time an internal investigation at the Department of Justice got too close for comfort the White House shut it down. I hope this investigation will not suffer the same fate as the OPR inquiry into the warrantlesss wiretapping program. This internal investigation is an important step in getting to the truth behind this matter, and they should be allowed to do their jobs without interference from this Administration."


http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003435.php

[blm]

15. They didn't get rid of ALL the good guys - some keep too low a profile

and wouldn't get caught up in their snares. Just like at the CIA.

[KoKo]

19. Thanks for your Hope on this "blm." I thought what I posted was heartening...

in that somehow ...some Checks & Balances hadn't been thrown out.

[seemslikeadream]

16. La Vérité

is that to much to ask for?

[blm]

21. hey - how did you get that picture of me?

heheh

[mopinko]

12. sadly, i must concur

with every word in your post.

[blm]

24. to an extent, but we can't let it discourage us from staying on top of it ourselves.

History needs some representation when spin dominates the newsmedia.

[glitch]

9. K & R! nt

[fooj]

13. ReTHUGlicans.

KandR

[KoKo]

18. Lot's to read here...for "folks passing by" just "Bookmark it.....a little post with lotsa Info...

to give a "heads up" or "enlighten."

[KoKo]

20. When the "weekend comes" please add to your Booknotes" the links are worth it.., really!

To get the HISTORY...so that what you read is in CONTEXT!

[bobthedrummer]

31. But that is unAmerican KoKo01, that harms the intellectual property rights of BFEE-kick

;-)

[lala_rawraw]

22. Riggs bank, of course...

If you saw Syrianna, then you saw Riggs bank in action.

[blm]

23. One long, continuing crimewave.

Glad to see you on this thread, lala. ;)

[lala_rawraw]

25. i am always reading...

just not always sure what to add to discussion. glad you are glad that i am here:)

[bobthedrummer]

38. You too blm, kick

[HCE SuiGeneris]

26. Welcome back rawraw...

hoping your health is better and glad to see you here. :hi:

[bobthedrummer]

27. "Switzerland Investigating BAE Arms Deals" by Balz Bruppacher AP 5-12-07

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6628105,00.html

[bobthedrummer]

28. Alice S. Fisher is a criminal heading the Gonzales DoJ Criminal Division

imo, here is a bit of background on her career path.

She was a protege of Michael Chertoff who mentored her for years, she was a HCA lobbyist, she contributed to the Tom DeLay defense effort, she was a recess appointment of the Decider because of objections to her highly held opinions favoring the use of torture.

Installed by the Decider into the Gonzales DoJ Criminal Division and, again, despite objections about her qualifications Alice S. Fisher was given the job of the investigation and prosecution of Jack Abramoff.

Alice S. Fisher profile from Source Watch
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Alice_S._Fisher

She also was named to chair the National Procurement Fraud Task Force/NPFTF, Paul McNulty made that announcement. The NPFTF is tasked with investigation and prosecution of all the US contracts given to companies through Lurita Alexis Doan's GSA-as well as other contracts.

That is why the "decision" re investigation and prosecution of BAE is hers to "make".
The NPFTF has had some success, but it was not due to Alice S. Fisher, in fact the Pentagon announced the formation of another office to look into contractor fraud (duplicating the task of NPFTF) earlier this month.

Here's the DoJ NPFTF PR page.
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/npftf/

Regarding BAE, in March 2002 John Young's cryptome.org website received an anonymous report about the history of money laundering and bribery involving BAE-some of this money wound up financing Osama bin Laden and similar real terrorist organizations. Here is that report from March 2002.
"The Soiled Dove II: A Report"
http://cryptome.org/soil/soiled-dove2.htm

Finally, here's a post about BAE I made in a very interesting parent thread
"One of the most sinister BCCI components is BAE" posted 2-22-2006
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x490176#493385

[bobthedrummer]

29. .

[bobthedrummer]

30. .

[bobthedrummer]

33. kick

[bobthedrummer]

34. The buck stops where, people?????

[bobthedrummer]

35. .

[Hubert Flottz]

36. Saudi's Prince Bandar is the fifth branch of the gubmint...

Bush will order that too.

[bobthedrummer]

37. .

[bobthedrummer]

39. Tony Blair is named to be the latest ME Peace envoy-yet the history of this BAE terrorist

funding and support network (that is just part of the black budget systems) doesn't get much attention.

Kick.

[bobthedrummer]

40. "DARPA Awards Novel Satellite Communications Contract To BAE Systems"

BAE Press Release 1-16-2007
http://www.comspacewatch.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=21683

And for those that didn't review the history upthread here's an encore link-worth bookmarking all by itself
BAE helped fund OBL 4-4-2002
http://cryptome.org/soil/soiled-dove2.htm

Gee, besides paying commissions to Saudi's that are linked to the black budget systems that fund and support OBL and others, I wonder what kind of new tech was being touted in the 1-16-2007 PR?

Then there's the other "inducements" like those previously enjoyed by Randy Cunningham et. al., and offered by former #3 CIA official Foggo et. al.

Now Tony Blair is the newest "envoy for ME peace"-yet the roadmap previously followed was called the Tenet Plan (George Tenet's plan).

And, apparently, Alice S. Fisher is still in the Criminal Division of the Gonzales DoJ along with a lot of other criminals.

Kick.

fair use cited

[bobthedrummer]

41. kick