I see that Clarice Feldman has an interesting post up on Joe Wilson's earlier trip to Niger. It's well worth reading, but I think that some commentators are seizing upon this anecdote to a degree that Feldman never intended make the allegation that Wilson was actively involved with al-Qaeda:
“Wilson’s company was headquartered out of the offices of an investment company, Rock Creek Corporation, which was run by Mohammed Alamoudi who helped him gain access to markets in Africa ‘for his business’. ”
Now readers of this blog should know me well enough by now to have some idea of my opinion of Wilson. I'm not going to get into a debate on this, let's just say that I've developed it as a result of either "inference or unrelated personal experiences," and kudos to those who actually get that reference.
Now I know more than enough about Alamoudi to know the kind of pond scum the man was even before he was busted working with Libyan intelligence to set up an al-Qaeda plot to assassinate then-Crown Prince Abdullah. He was also tied into the biggest al-Qaeda financiers at the hip, including Yassin al-Qadi, Youssef Nada, and Ahmed Nasreddin, which is one of a great many reasons why I'm not shedding any tears for the man now that he's behind bars. But for those who are curious why neither political party has been willing to touch the issue of Alamoudi you need to have some understanding as far as just who all you can make the allegation that Alamoudi was in cahoots with to a far, far greater degree than Wilson, a short list of which would include quite a lot of people in the White House from current administration as well as Grover Norquist, Hillary Clinton, Carl Levin, John Conyers, Chris Cannon, and so on just going off memory. So don't expect any major political figure to get into any discussions about Wilson and Alamoudi at this point.
This is also the reason why the Democrats completely veered away from attacking the White House or Norquist during the last election on the issue of Alamoudi for those who are curious. The man was extremely powerful and influential during his time in Washington, which means he did enough legitimate business when he wasn't moonlighting as one of bin Laden's underlings to the point where he's too toxic for either side of the political spectrum.
Just my $0.02.
Swift Boat Vets on Wilson: Unfit for Ambassadorship. Doubtless Wilson's commendation from Bush-41 will turn into Kerry's Purple Hearts.
Next up, Swift Boat Vets on Rosa Parks: Unfit to Sit.
A shorter DD: "Wilson is more accomplished than I, has more class and disagrees with me and my handlers. Therefore I will impugn his character and his motives - without any basis in fact for the allegations, of course. Dissent cannot be tolerated. Dissent equates with treason. Dissentors will be destroyed. They cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the New American Reich er um Century".
shorter avedis version: If Bush had the connections with the Sauds and al-Qaeda that Wilson has, this would be relevant.
"If Bush had the connections with the Sauds......"
You mean Bandar Bush? If Bush had connections with the Sauds..????
LOL. PD, your freakin' kidding me, right?
And as far as this Wilson/Al Qaeda connection...that is some twisted and sick crap. Go ahead and shout your conspirancy theories/character assassinations from the roof tops.
Most Americans will see this for the stupid mean spirited and desparate garbage that it is. It will only reflect badly on you and weaken your cause. Furthermore, your prediliction for seeing the al qaeda boogey man behind every circumstance that you find distasteful will erode the people's trust in your ability to call the shots.
As a result of Wilson's backbone, certain entities of the neocon persausion are in hot water. This is how the chickenhawks strike back; like women, through slander and inuendo and lies.
PD, don't be a dupe of these entities. Be a man. Be an American.
That's quite a lot of righteous outrage over conspiracy theories coming from someone who believes that the Likud party currently has control from US foreign policy ...
In any event, the whole point of this post (which appears to have been missed) is that Alamoudi was an extremely successful lobbyist during his time in Washington and did far greater amounts of business with any number of people, including officials in the current White House, than he did with Joe Wilson.
Avedis #2 - yes, heaven forbid that we should criticize our betters. Dissent is reserved for those in the inner circles, and the rest of us should - do what, exactly?
A.L.
A.L. put knuckle to forehead and look downward respectfully. Muttering something like "Yer Lordship" is considered good form.
Yes, and true. Or if it isn't, I assume you'd be willing to enlighten us with a good debunking?
I see avedis that you do think connections to the Saudis are relevant and that you are not above charges of dual loyalty, at least as they apply to Bush.
So how many degrees of separation between Wilson and the Saudis?
Bonus question: Why does he tell Vanity Fair that he doesn't work for Rock Creek?
Alternative Path:
You think Michael Moore might make a movie?
And why did the CIA pick Wilson?
Pulled from Lexis Database
Africa News
October 24, 1997
SECTION: NEWS, DOCUMENTS & COMMENTARY
LENGTH: 432 words
HEADLINE: Ethiopia;
World Bank, US Gov't Honours Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al--Amoudi
BYLINE: Addis Tribune (Addis Ababa)
Addis Ababa -- Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al--Amoudi, Founder and Chairman of the MIDROC Ethiopia Group, was honoured at a luncheon at the World Bank on 1 October, according to a press release from the Washington--based
Westar Group, Inc. It was sponsored jointly between the US State Department and the World Bank Group. Mr. Isaac K. Sam, a senior World Bank official heading Private Sector Finance operations, co--hosted the event. In welcoming Mr. Al--Amoudi, he said, "This is the first time ever that the World Bank has hosted a luncheon for a private sector investor."
Ms. Regina C. Brown, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and co--host of the luncheon on behalf of the US State Department, invited US government officials to speak about the priorities and aspirations of their agencies.
The speakers expressed admiration for Sheikh Mohammed's private sector initiatives, saying, "He represents the best of
the private sector entrepreneurs and he is proof that much is happening in African development."
In response, Sheikh Mohammed said that, "Africa is coming into its own and will play an important role in the world economic community in the 21st century," and urged other private companies to follow him with large investments in
Africa.
Sheikh Mohammed observed that training is Africa's single most critical need and it is the area where major international donors should concentrate their efforts and their generosity. He stressed that "if Africa is to develop in the next century, people must acquire the skills and governments must create the environment to make it happen." He concluded by saying, "Investment in people is of the utmost importance, because, in the final analysis, people matter."
Guests included the Ambassadors from Ethiopia and Morocco, key officials from the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, The International Finance Corporation, the African Development Foundation, the African Development Bank, the Export--Import Bank of the US, the Overseas Private Insurance Corporation and the US Trade and Development Agency.
Representatives of the Clinton Administration, were also present, including Ambassador Joseph Wilson, who is National Security Advisor for Africa and Mr. Bernard Gaillard from the US Department of transportation, who will visit several African countries in coming months, including Ethiopia. Key staff members of the US House of Representatives were on hand, as were members of the business community and private NGOs having an interest in Ethiopia specifically and Africa broadly.
The Indian Ocean Newsletter
January 10, 1998
SECTION: POLITICS; ETHIOPIA; N. 794
LENGTH: 199 words
HEADLINE: Al Amoudi's American Connection
Ethiopian--Saudi millionaire Mohamed Al Amoudi, who owns the holding company Midroc and is Ethiopia's leading foreign investor, is brushing up his connections with the United States and US citizens. Sources report he is believed to have signed up former US ambassador to Ethiopia Irvin Hicks to work on preparing a major conference on the theme "Investing in Africa". It would be held in the Addis Ababa Sheraton -- which the Al Amoudi Group owns -- on March 8 to 10. Passing through Kampala at the end of December, Al Amoudi apparently dropped in head of state Yoweri Museveni and took the opportunity to invite him to the conference. Hicks, who is no longer a member of the US Administration, is thought to be in line to be board chairman of the Addis Sheraton. In October 1997, Al Amoudi had been guest of honour at a meeting held at the World Bank offices in Washington and organized by the Washington--based Westar Group Inc, of which he is chairman. Participants, apart from representatives of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, included members of the US Administration such as US president Bill Clinton's special adviser on African affairs, Joseph Wilson IV.
Africa News
March 13, 1998
SECTION: NEWS, DOCUMENTS & COMMENTARY
LENGTH: 202 words
HEADLINE: United States and Africa;
Interview: Joseph Wilson, the US Director of African Affairs
BYLINE: Addis Tribune (Addis Ababa)
Addis Ababa -- Addis Tribune interviewed Mr. Joseph C. Wilson, special Assistant to the US President and Senior Director of African Affairs.
Asked why the US President has chosen not to come to Ethiopia, Mr. Wilson said Clinton doesn't have enough time. Ethiopia, as far as the US is concerned, has positive economic reforms, and political liberalisation. This would make it an ideal country for a presidential visit; however, Clinton just doesn't have the time.
Asked about his impressions of Addis Forum, Mr. Wilson said he was impressed by the large number of interested players. Americans aren't the only ones who want to deploy international resources to Africa, he noted. People from the Middle East also want to play an important role.
Prior to his current position, Ambassador Wilson and Political Advisor to the Commander--in--Chief of the US Armed Forces, in Europe, from 1995 to 1997. He is a career member of the Foreign Service and has held a variety of assignments in Africa before serving as the Ambassador to Gabon and to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe from 1992 to 1995. From 1988 to 1991, Ambassador Wilson served in Baghdad, Iraq, as Deputy Chief of Mission.
LOAD--DATE: March 13, 1998
The Indian Ocean Newsletter
October 23, 1999
SECTION: ECONOMICS & PROJECTS; ETHIOPIA / UNITED STATES; N. 876
LENGTH: 363 words
HEADLINE: Well--connected businessmen
The delegation of American businessmen which is to go to Addis Ababa from November 6 to 14 at the instigation of Ethio--American Trade and Investment Council (an organism managed by Gezahegn Kebede. which is close to the Ethiopian government) has some solid connections with the US Administration. The visit will be sponsored by Osyka Corporation, a Texas oil company whose chairman Michael F. Harness is a member of both EATIC and of National Petroleum Council, an organism charged with advising US secretary for energy Bill Richardson. Another sponsor is F. C. Schaffer & Associates, a sugar company whose chairman Mina Nedelcovych is boss of Corporate Council on Africa which groups American enterprises active in Africa.
Several companies controlled by Saudi--Ethiopian magnate Mohamed Hussein Al Amoudi have helped to organize the trip: Westar Group, which administers Al Amoudi's interests in Washington and is chaired by Derige Mekonen after having been long managed by banker Jeff Wilson, and the Addis Ababa Sheraton whose board includes ex--US ambassador to Ethiopia Irvin Hicks and Al Amoudi's Midroc Ethiopia group. There is also Rock Creek Corporation, an investment company controlled by Al Amoudi and chaired since 1997 by Elias Aburdene, a Lebanese businessman very well introduced in Washington power circles. A former adviser to the Franklin National Bank in Washington DC, Aburdene right from his accession to the top of Rock Creek engaged US president Bill Clinton's former adviser for African affairs, Joseph Wilson IV as adviser. The latter had already met Al Amoudi in 1997 during a meeting organized at the World Bank by the Westar Group (ION 794). Apart from his responsibilities with Rock Creek, Aburdene is executive chairman of the very influential National Association of Arab Americans. A former lecturer at the University of Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, he is also very active with former students of the university where ex--assistant secretary of state for African affairs Chester A. Crocker and US mediator in the Eritrea--Ethiopia border dispute (and former national security adviser to Clinton) Anthony Lake are professors.
SBD
Dan #5,
You know, half the time I am tongue in cheek. I am able to see the ironies, hypocrisies and dissonances in my own words and actions.
You should try it some time. It'll make you a healthier and happier person. A more honest one too.
That being said, I do call 'em as I see 'em.
As I stated on your blog (before I wore out my welcome) I see the Likud as approx. 25% in control of our M.E. foreign policy. Let's try to keep that straight.
Oh BTW, by linking to the article that discusses Wilson's alleged AQ ties, you could be promoting the meme while simultaneously distancing yopurself from it.
So I don't know if I should be paying attention to your "point" or not as I'm not sure what your "point" really is.
At face value, your point is meaningful and has deep ramifications. Just as in the case of Chalabi and countless other shady figures playing multiple sides, our people will associate with anyone as long as there's a quick buck (or some other short term gain) in it for them. This applies to Dem.s as well as Rep.s
Washington is populated by snakes, cheats, and scoundrel of every stripe. There all dirty. And they will do business with birds of a feather both domestic and internationally. Is this news to anyone here?
I agree with Dan. Wilson's association - such that it was - was relatively minor and can be understood without assigning sinister motives. There are far far more damning associations on the right. Do we need to discuss these? Or enough said?
There are far far more damning associations on the right. Do we need to discuss these? Or enough said?
I could play how many degrees of separation between Wilson/Alamoudi/Aburdene and Republican Senator Chuck Hagel. I'm not sure Dan would mind.