Bu$h, Carlyle Group, and the beat goes on...

[SHRED]

<EXCERPT>


http://www.counterpunch.org/stclair05222004.html

"In 2002, Carlyle sold off its biggest holding, United Defense. The sale may have
been prompted by insider information leaked to Carlucci by his pal Rumsfeld. In
early 2001, Carlyle was furiously lobbying the Pentagon to approve contracts for
the production of United Defense's Crusader artillery system, an unwieldy and
outrageously expensive super-cannon. Rumsfeld disliked the Crusader and had it
high on his hit list of weapon systems to be killed off in order to save money
for other big ticket schemes, particularly the Strategic Defense Initiative.

But, as detailed in William Hartung's excellent new book, How Much Are You
Making in the War, Daddy?, Rumsfeld didn't terminate the Crusader immediately.
Instead, he held off on a public announcement of his decision for more than a
year. By that time, Carlucci and Baker devised a plan to take United Defense
public. The sale to unsuspecting investors netted Carlyle more than $237
million. Six months later, Rumsfeld closed the book on the Crusader. By then the
gang at Carlyle had slipped out the back door, their pockets stuffed with cash.
United Defense was able to petition the Pentagon to compensate them to the tune
of several million for cancellation of the contract. Even when you lose, you win.

"So the men behind the Carlyle Group drift through Washington like familiar
ghosts, profiteering off the carnage of Bush's disastrous crusades, untroubled
by any thought of congressional investigation or criminal prosecution, firm in
the knowledge that the worse things get for the people of the world, the less
secure and more gripped by fear the citizens their own country become, the more
millions they will reap for themselves. Perpetual war means perpetual profits.

Let's leave the last word to Dan Broidy, author of The Iron Triangle, an
illuminating history of the Carlyle Group: "It's not an exaggeration to say that
September 11 is going to make the Carlyle investors very, very rich men.""

[izzie]

1. What is up with China and the Bush's?

Whole family seem to be doing business over there. Even the silly young one.Get little hints here and there but no big news stories.