What will al-Saud do with $100 Billion?, CACSA, October 12, 1996

Among the many twentieth century predicaments, faulty judgments, and unintentional outcomes, very few will match the apathy the political international scene, the national security policy makers, and the intelligence apparatus have shown towards the building of the combined wealth of the House of Saud. Never in the history of mankind one family has assembled so much wealth. Not the Rockefellers, not the Rotschilds, and not the Melons. Never in the history of mankind one family so basically inherently different culturally, historically, and politically has assembled the $100 billion the House of Saud has. Our sleepless national security advisers have been sleeping. Our politicians are unwittingly and unknowingly expanding the al-Saud realm of influence, and our intelligence apparatus' blueprint for damage control is… well non existent. 

One hundred billion United States Dollars (King Fahd alone has amassed a wealth of approximately $45 billion) can buy much more than our imagination can imagine. Already, part of that money has bought influence in Washington and London and Paris and ……. Part of that money has financed extremist regimes and terrorist organizations not all with our knowledge (we all remember the Yemen war started by Prince Sultan and his son Bandar). Part of that money has big business expectantly greedy and part of it has politicians hopelessly serving. Part of that money has ego going newspapers editors wishfully thinking and part of it has humanists eternally optimistic. One hundred billion United States Dollars can buy the largest and biggest public relations machine ever to protect and disconnect, to dispel and imply, to charade and veil. And it already has.

If this money ventures outside the norms and crosses a red line as it did in Yemen, the buying of the Chinese Silk Missiles, and the continuance influence peddling in Washington what contingencies do we have to protect ourselves from that unpredictable menace ? What will al-Saud do with $100 billion ? What are the chances that the al-Saud Wahabbis, with such an extreme lifestyle and culture, can turn their money against the US and other western countries ? Are we willing to take the risks even if the odds against the worst scenarios to happen are low ? Is 1% risk acceptable given what is at stake here ?

Today, there are Congressmen who will not act on any matter concerning Saudi Arabia before consulting their commercial advisers who will in turn consult big business such as oil companies, defense contractors, services companies. Why would big business in the US influence Congress so much for a few billion Dollars worth of business with Saudi Arabia that have been far and between in recent years. So why so much influence for so little expectation? The answer is found in the relationships Bandar bin Sultan has nurtured with high level executives working at large US corporations. These relationships have resulted in secret golden parachutes for certain executives deposited in Swiss bank accounts for retirement purposes away from the eyes and ears of Congress, the IRS, and the world. This is why the influence is strong. These executives are being paid individually to influence Congress using their company's strength, money, and power. Not all executives are players in this game but the few who are considered staunch allies of Saudi Arabia in their respective companies are involved. The Board of Directors for each of these companies need to open an investigation of this matter and need to look for that individual who has supported Saudi Arabia the most and they might see the trail of corruptness nurtured by Bandar bin Sultan. Saudi Arabia has influenced Congress using individual executives in US Corporations.