(Pat) Robertson Defends Liberia's President

[kskiska]

Charles Taylor, the Liberian president who has been indicted by an international court for crimes against humanity, has few remaining supporters in the United States. But one prominent American who has stuck with the West African leader is religious broadcaster and Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson.

In recent broadcasts of his cable TV show "The 700 Club," watched by an estimated 1 million households, Robertson has defended Taylor as a fellow Baptist and Liberia's "freely elected" leader. The "horrible bloodbath" taking place in Liberia, he has repeatedly said, is the fault of the State Department.

"So we're undermining a Christian, Baptist president to bring in Muslim rebels to take over the country. And how dare the president of the United States say to the duly elected president of another country, 'You've got to step down,' " Robertson said to his viewers on Monday.

What Robertson, 73, has not discussed in these broadcasts is his financial interest in Liberia. In an interview yesterday, he said he has "written off in my own mind" an $8 million investment in a gold mining venture that he made four years ago under an agreement with Taylor's government.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35786-2003Jul9.html

[I AM SPARTACUS]

1. d'ya reckon that Pat is familiar with the expressions "damned"...

and "damned out of his own mouth"...

[NYC]

2. People with $8 million interests in an agreement made with

Taylor should not be in a position to influence whether Taylor stays or goes. Conflict of interests.

See interesting article re U.K. conflict of interests.

Excerpt:

It followed an unprecedented ban issued by Charles Falconer, the lord chancellor and constitutional affairs secretary, preventing her from probing whether the prime minister and cabinet ministers have had conflicts between their private interests and public duties.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=6108&mesg_id=6108&page=

[Scurrilous]

3. Poor Pat Robertson. Lost $8 million.

He'll recoup his loss by cranking out yet another 700 Club Telethon and putting the screws to his donor base.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. That's why Pat doesn't mind losing money in his private investments

Seems that the CC is a cash cow for the Rev, but in his private businesses, all he does is throw away millions and rarely turns a profit. I guess when your running CIA fronts, who cares if you ever make any money. Just get on your personal TV network, and close your eyes real tight, and pretend to pray, and the money will just come rolling in.

[w4rma]

4. Oops, I should have read the article more carefully. Gold mines. (n/t)

.

[IndianaGreen]

18. Pat Robertson is the new version of white slave traders in Africa

Pat Robertson has had business deals with several African despots in Zaire, Rwanda, Liberia, etc.

Google Pat Robertson and Africa, and you will literally hit a gold mine of info on how Robertson has sunk into a new version of white slave traders in Africa. Many of those that work in the mines in which Robertson has a financial interests are kept under conditions of slavery. Slavery is alive and well in Africa (should we mention other countries outside of Africa in which there is a slave trade)!

One of Pat Robertson's Latest Frauds

Unanswered Questions: Evangelism or Just Doing Business?

Robertson was President and sole stock holder of African Development Co. which was chartered in Bermuda (a center for offshore banking-corporate activity) in June, 1992. In the summer and early fall of 1994, Robertson began soliciting support for the Operation Blessing outreach in Africa on his Christian Broadcasting Network, and eventually dispatched six volunteer teams of medical personnel to treat refugees from Rwanda. Donations were asked from viewers in order to fund a "Flying Hospital" plane.

In August, 1996, the Operation Blessing ministry purchased three DeHaviland Caribou planes. The ministry retained ownership of two of the cargo transports, while a third was transferred to another Robertson corporation known as Africa Air. What happened next has prompted considerable speculation. A month after purchasing the airplanes, all three (painted with the Operation Blessing name) were flown to Zaire, and reportedly put up for sale. From September, 1994 until February, 1995, the three planes were allegedly then used mostly in in-country flights ferrying mining equipment and support materials used by African Development Corp. According to the chief pilot, only two flights were related to any humanitarian enterprise; they consisted of a medicine delivery, and retrieval of stranded missionaries.

In October, 1994, Operation Blessing purchased a Lockheed L-1011 and began outfitting that plane as its "flying hospital." But the two Caribou planes, unsold and still linked to Operation Blessing, reportedly continued working mostly on behalf of ADC.

What was going on during this time period with Robertson and Mobutu? The African strongman had been in charge since 1964 when, with the help of the Central Intelligence Agency, he emerged successfully in the civil war which had torn apart the nation, formerly Republic of the Congo. In 1971, Mobutu renamed the country Zaire, and turned it into a base of operations for efforts to fuel the civil war in neighboring Angola. He quickly developed a reputation for ruthlessness and megalomania, renaming himself Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku wa za Banga, "the all-powerful warrior who, because of his enduring and inflexible will to win, will go from conquest to conquest leaving fire in his wake." For twenty years, his domestic policy outraged human rights advocates, and by 1993 his shoddy record resulted in the withdrawal of economic assistance from France, Belgium and even the U.S. In 1994, the U.S. Department of State charged that Mobutu was behind massive violations of human rights including torture, murder, censorship and religious persecution.

http://www.skeptictank.org/robem2.htm

For more information on slave trade in the 21st century:

http://www.anti-slaverysociety.addr.com/slavetrade.htm

[ze_dscherman]

6. Jesus Mania sweeps Liberia

Jesus mania swept Liberia. For eight nights last December the nation's TV channels--both of them--simultaneously showed programs created by Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network. There was the Prodigal Son parable told from a Nigerian point of view; animated Bible episodes; stories about people who said they'd had out-of-body experiences and come face to face with the Almighty; and the true tale of a Mexican family who stayed together thanks to God. For two nights the stations simply broadcast testimonials from Liberians detailing Jesus' role in their lives. Those without televisions (the vast majority of the country) could catch the same fare at local " video clubs" --converted storefronts where people paid the equivalent of a few pennies to gather around a TV and VCR.

That was just the buildup. In February, at a national three-day prayer-and-fast rally partially funded by Robertson, Liberia's President--a U.S. prison escapee who, according to Human Rights Watch, has run " the whole gamut of human rights abuses" --declared he had seen the light. " We in Liberia recognize that there is a higher authority," said Charles Taylor, decked out in a short-sleeved white suit and standing on a red-carpeted stage at the center of the Samuel K. Doe stadium in Monrovia. " I am not your President. Jesus is!" He instructed the estimated 65,000 people in the crowd to prostrate themselves and join in a song that he would lead despite his position--face down on the carpet. As the rally ended, Taylor presented a ceremonial plate to an American preacher named John Gimenez who had helped organize the event. " Thank you," Taylor said. " Tell Pat Robertson, and please present this to him as a token of our appreciation."

From: http://www.fortune.com/fortune/articles/0,15114,373597,00.html

[mumon]

13. ...three-day prayer-and-fast rally partially funded by Robertson...

I guess it takes alot of money to get people to talk to a deity and not eat.

I'm not an expert on this, I'm not sure what the break-down in expenses would be, but I'm sure it takes alot of money that you can ONLY make by owning gold mines and diamond mines, and making cuddly with dictators.

[lebkuchen]

7. Robertson used planes from his Christian organization for self-profit

He and Taylor were business partners in the diamond trade.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Robertson also used his Operation Blessing planes

to help Ollie North and the Iran Contras.

[Michael Daniels]

8. Gotta give Pat a point for this....

"And how dare the president of the United States say to the duly elected president of another country, 'You've got to step down,' " Robertson said to his viewers on Monday."

Admittedly, it was said in self-interest but it's good to see someone on Bush's side actually make this comment.

[0007]

20. Your point is well taken, LOL!!

You'd have thought he'd be smart and keep his mouth shut.

[nannygoat]

10. Wasn't Saddam sort of a "duly elected leader", too?

About as duly elected as * and Pat never had a problem with that...

Remember this?
http://www.salon.com/comics/tomo/2003/01/06/tomo/index.html

[phillybri]

12. Exactly....

I don't remember him sticking up for Saddam since he was an elected leader...:grr:

[UpInArms]

11. Pat Robertson is

no christian - he has been involved in the murder of thousands - see:

http://www.religion-online.org/cgi-bin/relsearchd.dll/showarticle?item_id=927

Robertson never hid his feelings on the matter. He frequently likened the contras to freedom fighters. and when the U.S. Congress balked at providing more aid in 1985 he went on television to denounce the "craven submission of our leaders and Congress to the demands of communism, makes you sick to your stomach." Robertson also visited a contra training camp in Honduras to preach his fundamentalist gospel and distribute good cheer. "I think God is in favor of liberty and justice and He is against oppression, he told the troops, comparing the contra struggle to the American Revolution. "If we can do something to help these men fight for freedom, I think it is perfectly in God’s plan." The visit, which was later shown on U.S. television, shocked some religious leaders because of the way Robertson seemed to be saying that the contras had God’s blessing. Richmonds Bishop Walter Sullivan, among the most outspoken Catholic opponents of U.S. aid to the contras, was so outraged that he publicly criticized Robertson, saying ‘‘I cannot imagine Jesus reviewing troops.

[hatrack]

14. Well, he kissed Mobutu Sese Seko's ass for literally decades

So I suppose it's not surprising that he'd kiss the ass of another brutal dictator in another broken-back African state, just so long as he can shroud his web of personal financial interests in a cloud of Jesus Juice, "live" broadcasts and weepy testimonials.

There's an extra-long barbeque fork with bonus barbs that Satan's heating up in hell for Pat Robertson. What a puke-inducing hypocritical draft-dodging phony FUCK!!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

24. hatrack ..ya gotta read new book "The Iron Triangle" by Dan Briody

Inside the Secert World of the Carlyle group....Frank Carlucci personally had patriece Lumumba of Ziari(congo)killed in 1965 and placed the monster Mobutu in power....an incredible book ... i can't begin to wrap my brain around most of the evil shit ..bush and his ilk are capable of :(...everyone MUST read this just released book!

[seemslikeadream]

15. Charles Taylor

Is this the same felon Charles Taylor, escapee from the Plymouth County Jail that I've been reading about in GD? Well I 've heard about learning some tricks in jail but how to become president of a African country is a bit over the top!

[The Magistrate]

22. That Trick He Learnt In Libya

Funny sort of Baptist, eh?

[yellowcanine]

16. But he still has a thieving heart

Robertson may have "written off" the 8 million in his mind but he still has a thieving covetous heart. Who else would think of "spinning off" for profit companies using the assets bought with the donations from trusting souls to his non-profit "ministries"?

[Maeve]

17. Guess he's figured out which master to serve

Mammon! <insert Pink Floyd's song "Money" here>

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. Claims he never met Taylor...I'd love to see him caught in a lie

[DoYouEverWonder]

25. He has just gotten more careful in his old age

But he did hang out with Mobutu in Africa and he even partied with Mobutu on his yacht. I'd love to find some pics of that encounter.

[study_war_no_more]

21. manifest destiny of white christians

is what justified slavery in the first place. Now we leave the slaves in their country of origen and move the corporations and factories there. Its a double win we create wage slavery here through unemployment and indebtedness there assuring they will never be free of our tentacles. If anyone complaigns scream terrorist and send them to cuba.

[UTUSN]

23. 'Course, O'Whorely Links Jesse JACKSON, But Not ROBERTSON

******QUOTE*****
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,91578,00.html

BILL O'REILLY, HOST: .... And guess who knows Taylor real well? Our pal, Jesse Jackson.

Joining us now from Washington is Kenneth Timmerman, the author of the book Shakedown: Exposing the Real Jesse Jackson, a book that is not friendly to the reverend. OK. ....

O'REILLY: And of course there are rumors all over the place that Jackson himself was given diamonds to put a positive spin on Taylor and the other guy in Sierra Leone. Do you have any evidence that Jackson was bribed?

TIMMERMAN: Well, there's no hard evidence that I can point to. What I can tell you is this, is that U.S. intelligence officers and their assets on the ground in Liberia have reported back to the United States government. And I have this on solid sourcing from multiple U.S. intelligence officers, both in service and retired, that Taylor was using diamonds to bribe members of the Congressional Black Caucus, black leaders in America, leaders around the world. And he was using diamonds to do this. ....

*****UNQUOTE****