Thursday, June 7, 2007

Bandar on the take

Just file this under "And you are surprised by this? That's so stupid it's cute!"

It turns out that the British arms dealer BAE has been kicking back ₤120,000,000 a year to Saudi Prince Bandar. This arrangement started right after Bandar negotiated a deal for 100 war planes to be purchased from the British arms merchant in 1985. In case you are wondering – that comes to ₤2.64 Billion over the last 22 years.

The BBC has the details.

Including how Tony Blair quashed the investigation into the deal by the Serious Fraud Office last winter.

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And credit where credit is due: emptywheel at The Next Hurrah gets major props for catching this story back in mid December. I flat wasn't paying attention. I was busy with the latkes and the menorahs and the gelt and the dreidels and the matzo balls and the granddaughter. Marcy, when I get one this right a full Friedman ahead of everyone else, I strain something patting myself on the back. Major, major hat-tip to you, Ma'am.


[Crossposted from WTWC]

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