Prince Alwaleed might very well have interests in backing a "9/11" movie that will blame Clinton instead of Bush because he's heavily invested in companies that have benefited from Bush and Repug Congress. City Bank, Disney, AOL/Time Warner, etc. It might be that he was repaying favors done for his many investments. Alwaleed acquired a 24 percent stake in Euro Disney, valued at about $300 million. He became the second-largest shareholder behind parent company Disney, whose stake was reduced to 39 percent.Here's a link to DU thread questioning who might be funding the ABC Docu-Drama since it will air without commercials with some other speculation:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2066166&mesg_id=2066166Here's what I found doing some searching last night for a Disney connection and the article is fascinating on American Educated Alwaleed's background and experience:
Disney seeks help from Saudi PrinceBy Richard Verrier
Los Angeles Times
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Walt Disney Co. needs a real-life prince.
His name is Alwaleed bin Talal. His grandfather was Saudi Arabia's founding monarch. With huge stakes in companies ranging from Citigroup Inc. to the Four Seasons luxury hotel chain, he is one of the richest men on the planet.
That's why Disney needs him. The company's Paris resort is suffering severe losses. Alwaleed came to the rescue before and is being courted once again.The relationship between Disney and the prince is one of the most unlikely in the corporate world. Disney is notoriously insular and fiercely protective of its brand and its image as America's premier family entertainment company. The prince is outspoken and ostentatious, and his nationality alone attracts controversy these days.
A month after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he found himself at the center of a tabloid dust-up with then-New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. The mayor rejected Alwaleed's $10-million contribution to a victims' fund after the prince urged the United States to support the creation of a Palestinian state - something the Bush administration later would do.But the coupling of Disney and Alwaleed is not about personalities or nationalities. As Disney Chairman Michael Eisner said recently, in a bit of understatement, Alwaleed ``has a pretty sophisticated understanding of capitalism.''
In the mid-1990s, the prince chipped in $300 million to help keep Euro Disney afloat. Now, Eisner would like another helping of his largess.
-snip-
Last year, Forbes magazine ranked Alwaleed the fifth-richest man in the world, with a net worth of nearly $18 billion.
His Kingdom Holding Co. spans four continents. He has held major stakes in companies such as Apple Computer Inc., AOL Time Warner Inc., News Corp. and Saks Inc., parent of retailer Saks Fifth Avenue.-snip-
His office has eight television monitors, two of them tuned to CNN and CNBC. On the wall behind his desk are his ``hundred wives'' - plaques bearing the corporate logos of his various investments.
-snip-
In 1991, Alwaleed bought a $590-million stake in Citicorp, which later became Citigroup, effectively bailing out the financial services giant. The investment, he said, has increased in value sixteenfold.
``He's a good guy to have on your side,'' said Citigroup Chairman Sanford I. ``Sandy'' Weill, who has dealt extensively with Alwaleed.Like other foreign investors, Alwaleed was drawn to the glamour and opportunities of the entertainment world. This led to some high-profile flops, including a $30-million investment in the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain and a movie production company with pop star Michael Jackson that never got off the ground.Much more about his investments and connections here.....
http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:r0633QQ-9jQJ:www.bupipedream.com/012704/wire/w2.htm+Saudi+Investments+in+Disney&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4
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