Charles Taylor the late dictator of Liberia is at this moment in chains and winging his way back to Monrovia and then on to either Sierra Leone or The Hague. One of the financial backers and business partners, Pat Robertson, is concerned that Taylor will not get a fair trial on the charges of war crimes. Robertson has been a consistent backer of Taylor from the beginning of their partnership in a gold mining venture, inaccurately named Freedom Gold.
Does it make you wonder about Pat, like it does me?
Saturday, September 22, 2001
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A7124-2001Sep21But in May 1999, Robertson, through Freedom Gold Limited, an offshore company registered in the Cayman Islands but based at CBN headquarters in Virginia Beach, signed an agreement with Taylor and key cabinet members allowing the for-profit Freedom Gold to explore and receive mining rights in southeastern Liberia, where gold is believed to be in the ground.
It's a great deal for Liberia, which is now an economic basket case thanks to the long civil war and Taylor's corruption. It's also good for Freedom Gold, which was formed by Robertson in 1998. Liberia -- and for all practical purposes we're talking Taylor -- gains 10 percent ownership of Freedom Gold.
July 11, 2003
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/11/national/main562915.shtmlReligious broadcaster Pat Robertson accused President Bush of “undermining a Christian, Baptist president to bring in Muslim rebels” by asking Liberian President Charles Taylor, recently indicted for war crimes, to step down.
“How dare the president of the United States say to the duly elected president of another country, 'You've got to step down,'" Robertson said Monday on “The 700 Club,” broadcast from his Christian Broadcasting Network.
“It's one thing to say, we will give you money if you step down and we will give you troops if you step down, but just to order him to step down? He doesn't work for us.”
11/12/01
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/baroneweb/mb_011112.htmPat Robertson's tie to Charles Taylor is based on a financial connection. In 1999 Robertson's Freedom Gold company signed a deal to mine an area in southeastern Liberia. The Liberian government, i.e. Taylor, has a 10 percent interest in Freedom Gold. "I pray that this investment may become a wonderful blessing to the people of Liberia," Robertson said in a press release. More likely the government's 10 percent share will go to maintain Taylor's of the Sierra Leone diamond trade–and its big customer, al Qaeda. Colbert King of the Washington Post has written two columns criticizing Robertson for associating with the likes of Taylor. In reply, a Freedom Gold vice president faxed King, "Freedom Gold Limited was formed in response to Liberia's need to spur economic activity after their long and devastating civil war. Dr. Robertson remains a friend of Liberia and is working to alleviate the suffering of the Liberian people. Dr. Robertson's first and foremost goal is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations."
http://www.theliberiantimes.com/article_2006_03_26_5318.htmlMar 26, 2006
One Taylor friend and advocate, television evangelist Pat Robertson, who enjoyed gold mining rights in Liberia, when Liberians did not have food to eat, is expected to call for “a fairer trial”, citing Taylor’s concerns that a United States funded and UN backed war crimes Court in Freetown may be prejudiced against him. Robertson is digging in his heels and probably remaining convinced that Taylor may not get a fair trial. Robertson, noted for making bizarre comments, recently said it would be better if the United States Central Intelligence Agency assassinated Venezuela’s Marxist president, Hugo Chavez. His comments were later disowned by the US State Department.