Pat Robertson Supporter of Brutal African Dictators

[beetbox]

Psst. Spread the word.



OFFICIALS MUM ON ROBERTSON DIAMOND MINE OPERATION PROBE

The probe focused on possible inappropriate activities involving Robertson's Operation Blessing outreach, and a private corporation he operated known as the African Development Co. Based in Zaire, the firm was established by Robertson during the rule of the late dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. The two men established close ties, and Mobutu wined and dined Robertson during one visit to the country; ADC also received vast forestry and mineral concessions, but the diamond mining operation eventually went bankrupt. Mobutu, after a quarter-century of iron fisted rule, died last year in exile from cancer. He left Zaire bankrupt and impoverished, and since 1994 had even been considered persona non grata in the United States.

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.

What was going on during this time period with Robertson and Mobutu? ....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

PAT ROBERTSON :jack of hearts
(CS, L, B, CH, $) (what do these signs mean?)


Pat and dictators
Charles Taylor was the Liberian president indicted for war crimes and responsible for much of the bloodshed and suffering that has afflicted Liberian and its neighbors for years.

Robertson neglected to tell his listeners that he had invested $8 million in a gold mining venture with Taylor's government, which receives 10% of profits. Defending himself, Roberston said "Freedom Gold has found freedom of religion, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and what appears to be a judiciary dedicated to the rule of law." Even the US Government disagrees. A State Dept. representative said the US "has not encouraged either trade or investment in Liberia due to the absence of the rule of law and President Taylor's support for armed insurgencies."

http://www.deal-with-it.org/hearts/robertson.htm


More At:
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/roberts1.htm

[AllyCat]

1. I heard about this on Mike Malloy last night

Tried to regurgitate the story for fiance, but could remember Mobutu's name, but not the name of the country (d'oh!). Will forward this to him so he realizes I was not just being a wingnut.