Saleh Kamel
The global reach of Saudi millionaire Saleh Abdullah Kamel stretches from Osama bin
Laden to the U.S. Congress. In 2002, the alleged terror financer hired convicted
lobbyist Jack Abramoff to promote Islamic banks to federal agencies. Abramoff earned
his money, arranging for a meeting in Dubai between Kamel and Chairman of the
Judicary committee, Rep. F. James
Sensenbrenner, Jr.
Kamel owns Dallah al Baraka Group (DBG), a Saudi
Arabia-based banking and investment company. The group operates as a holding company
for Kamel’s many real estate, media, trade, industry, and finance businesses
operating in about 40 countries. He’s also chairman of the General Council of
Islamic Banks. Forbes estimates his net worth at $5 billion.
Kamel was
listed on The Golden Chain, a list of al Qaida donors seized by the Bosnian police.
In his 2002 terror financing report to the U.N., private investigator Jean-Charles
Brisard named Kamel as one of the top Saudi sponsors of al-Qaida. According to
Brisard, Kamal helped bin Laden start the Sudan-based al Shamal Islamic Bank to fund
al Qaida operations. Kamel has also supplied funds to Adil Abdeljalil Batterjee,
founder of the Benevolence International Foundation, designated a terror-financing
entity by the Treasury Department.
According to press reports, classified
parts of the September 11 congressional report link Kamel’s DBG to al Qaida. Saudi
businessman Omar al-Bayoumi, who set up
hijackers Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmial-Bayoumi in San Diego, worked for
Dallah Avco, a DBG-owned company involved
with the Saudi Arabia aviation authority.
Kamel was later sued by families
of 9/11 victims who allege Saudi support for terrorism, most of the claims against
him were dismissed on jurisdictional grounds.
DBG also invested $500,000 in
BMI, Inc, a Shariah-compliant financial services company that former National
Security Council advisor Richard Clarke suggests was just a front for terror
financing. BMI investors include Hamas leader Musa abu Marzook and designated al
Qaida financier Yasin al-Qadi. According to the Wall Street Journal, in 1999 a BMI
employee told the FBI that the company financed the bombings of U.S. Embassies in
East Africa in 1998. BMI also invested in Ptech, a software company investigated in
2002 for its links to terror financing.
In 2002, hoping to mitigate some of
the negative publicity, the General Council of Islamic Banks hired disgraced
lobbyist Jack Abramoff to petition the U.S. government. For two years, Abramoff
lobbied 24 federal agencies including Congress, The Department of Justice, the Army,
the U.S. Trade Representative, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the
executive office of the president. The Council paid Abramoff’s law firm Greenberg
Traurig, $200,000 in 2002 for his services. The group also hired AG Consulting
Group, managed by Asim Ghafoor, for
$210,000. As part of his work, Abramoff flew chairman of the Judicary committee, F.
James Sensenbrenner, Jr. to Dubai, where he
met with Kamel.
Categories
International Finance | Terror Funding | 9/11 | Homeland Security | Energy
Sources
- "The World’s Richest People, 2006,” Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/10/1FXS.html
- ”US MUST SHOW 9/11 FAMILIES THE BLUEPRINTS OF SAUDI SUPPORT FOR AL QAEDA,” press release from Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, 3/19/03.
- http://www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/PR01566.html< /li>
- Open Secrets, lobbying filings for The General Council of Islamic Banks.
- “The dysfunctional house of Saud,” The Weekly Standard, 8/18/03.
- “Probing a Saudi Link,” Associated Press, 8/3/03
- “A Lobbyist's Progress,” The Weekly Standard, 12/20/04
- “U.S. probes terror ties to Boston software firm,” The Wall Street Journal, 12/6/02
- Statement of Richard Clarke before the United States Senate Banking Committee, 10/22/03.
- Testimony of Sen. Carl Levin before the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs on Money Laundering and Terrorism, 9/26/01.
- TERRORISM FINANCING Roots and trends of Saudi terrorism financing, Report prepared for the President of the Security Council United Nations, 12/19/02.
- http://www.nationalreview.com/document/document122002.asp
- http://www.bahrainembassy.org/usrelationsnews-04-01.htm