-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- ROBERTSON, THE MAN OF CHRISTIAN 'COMPASSION' WHO CONS HIS VIEWERS INTO SUPPORTING HIS BUSINESS EMPIRE. NO, SORRY, ASKS THEM TO CONTRIBUTE TO "HELP THE POOR AND NEEDY". Pat Robertson operates a massive media and business empire and it mixes very nicely thank-you with his Christian "Ministry". One of his notorious business arrangements was in the Congo, formerly Zaire, which is now being ravaged yet again by war (see related article). Robertson's business there involved his friend, the vicious and criminal dictator, the late Mobuto Sese Seko. Mobuto raped his country's finances and placed billions of dollars in sequestered accounts in Switzerland and elsewhere. It was said that Mobuto could have solved Zaire's financial nightmare by just writing a personal check. Robertson tried to sell Mobuto as a bastion of Christian anti-communism who was maintaining the line against Marxist guerillas in Africa in support of U.S. interests. The two were close friends, and on one occasion Mobuto wined-and-dined Robertson on his personal yacht during a business trip. Robertson set up the African Development Company to mine diamonds and this was also given lumber concessions by the Zaire government. Mobutu in other words. This is where Robertson's 700 club, operated by his Christian Broadcasting Network, came in so handy. The members and other viewers were told that they were contributing money to "Operation Blessing" to help the needy in Africa. The needy, it seems, being called Pat Robertson if what employees of this operation say is correct. Pilots for Operation Blessing told reporters that apart from a limited number of flights to transport medical supplies, most of their time in the air was spent ferrying mining equipment and other materials required for Robertson's African Development Company. One airman, Robert Hinkle, told the Virginia-Pilot newspaper: "We got over there and we had 'Operation Blessing' painted on the tails of the airplanes but we were doing no humanitarian relief at all. We were just supplying the miners and flying the dredges from Kinshasa out to Tshikapa" (the operations base for the African Development Company). "We hauled medical supplies one time," added Hinkle. "It might have been 500 pounds at the most..." State officials in Virginia have refused to comment on the findings of an investigation into Robertson's charity and his diamond mine venture. The Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs has been "investigating" allegations of impropriety since June, 1997 when a state senator first raised the issue of tax exemptions for Robertson, and possible consumer fraud. According to the Virginia-Pilot newspaper edition of October 1, 1998, State Attorney General Mark Earley refused to disclose any information or findings. Robertson contributed $35,000 to Earley's campaign -- the largest donation from a single individual. Would you take moral lectures from Pat Robertson? Would you even buy a Bible from him? No. But millions do. For more of this part of the story see http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/roberts8.htm and http://www.lnet.net/baptist/patsdiamond.htm and http://www.linkline.com/personal/frice/robem2.htm The response from the Operation Blessing public relations department can be found at http://www.ob.org/news/1997/zaire.htm <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
