Here an F.O.B., There an F.O.B.
There is no shortage of tycoons looking to do Bill Clinton favors. Another is Frank Giustra, a Canadian entrepreneur who founded Lions Gate Entertainment, the movie production company. Giustra has given millions to the Clinton Foundation, and is currently planning a March fund-raising gala for the charity in Toronto.
A spokesman for Giustra tells NEWSWEEK the two men first became acquainted in January 2005, when Giustra organized a tsunami-relief fund-raiser. He asked the former president to provide a videotaped thank you to the event's contributors. The men became friends. Later that year, Giustra, whose broad business interests include mining, was negotiating a deal to mine uranium in Kazakhstan. In September 2005, Giustra and Clinton flew to Kazakhstan on Giustra's jet. Clinton gave a press conference announcing an AIDS initiative with the Kazakh government. He also took the opportunity to praise the country's president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, an authoritarian ruler with a poor human-rights record, for "opening up the social and political life of your country."
At the time, Nazarbayev was campaigning for re-election; Clinton lauded him for promising "free, fair and transparent" elections. After a late-night meeting with Kazakh dissidents, Clinton flew out the next day. One day later, UrAsia Energy, a mining company in which Giustra was a major shareholder and director, signed two "memoranda of understanding" to mine uranium in Kazakhstan. Last year, UrAsia merged with a large Canadian mining company. According to Canadian press accounts, the value of Giustra's stock rose to more than $45 million.
Giustra's and Clinton's spokesmen both say the former president had no part in helping Giustra land the deal. Clinton knew that Giustra had mining interests in Kazakhstan, Clinton's spokesman says, but the men had never discussed details. It could be that Clinton and Giustra both had separate interests and agendas in Kazakhstan at the same time, and Bill was just catching a ride on his buddy's plane. That's what friends are for.
With Sarah Elkins and Daniel Stone
© 2008
Loading Menu
Member Comments
Posted By: Ramvad @ 04/16/2008 7:40:07 AM
Comment: It is the reality of life that people who take up Govt. offices ( elected to do so) do so after a long and at times ardous road. They do have to make sacrifices in their respective Jobs/profession to reach that office. This can be translated to financial gain/loss etc. But, after leaving their office they should be left alone to persue their life ( like an aging and out of actor) ...After all they did play a part in making history ...( irrespective whether it is good or bad for the world) .. and so their version of events is what many will pay to hear ...Or may be it is like a Medal on your jacket.. to have an ex- president to address an event or be at the dinner etc...whatever ! They have the full right to be free to associate with whomever they wish..... this may include old enemies when he or she was in office.....Money is great attraction .. specially when you have rubbbed shoulders with the Mega rich when in office and living on Govt. Salary and expenses...There is no reason why he or she should be denied the opportunity to earn money and maintain their status....
Regards to all.
Posted By: Gallatinone @ 03/04/2008 2:01:44 AM
Comment: Senator Jon Testors and Senator Max Baucus' schedules, full of appointments with Matt's daddy and all of his friends including President of NY Life Insurane Sy Stenberg of New York. Flying all the way to the Big Sky State of Montana to meet with McKenna.
ALso, a company in McKenna's slum home town of Butte, Montana is a company named MSE. In 2000 MSE was found guilty by the Justice Department of "money laundering" and campaign fraud. McKenna, Baucus, Testor, and people from MSE who are now suddenly NY Life Agents all meeting in Montana. MSE is and has always been funded by federal money: pork and earmarks. FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD
Posted By: Gallatinone @ 03/04/2008 1:54:24 AM
Comment: Hillary's new claim regarding "Homeland Security" is pretty funny. Bill's new campaign spokesman is Matt McKenna. McKenna's mom and dad suddenly have numerous positions with the government:
Daddy McKenna:
New York Life Insurance Agent (full time/mentoring 3 agents)
Federal Security Director of Montana (insurance agent to Homeland Security)
Appointed Gallatin County Airport Authority (not advertised to public: 2 ayes 1 nay)
RAF (Charity/Nonprofit): Acquiring land for his private CHARITY for the sake of pilots. Publiicly seeking donations of property, money, life insurance policies, anything of value. Recently obtained property from an "elderly couple" who bequeathed their property to him for his RAF (Recreational Aviation Foundation). Read the bylaws! WOW...
Owns his own airport. Mc Kenna Airport Montana
Delinquint on his property taxes in Montana where he owns millions of dollars worth of property.
Matt worked on Governor Schweitzer's campaign and Senator Jon Testor's campaign.
Matt followed Conrad Burns around with a camera for weeks, accusing burns of corruption because of his connections to Abramoff. Yet, Testors campaign has been linked to Hsu...
Matt's mommy is also a full time NY Life Agent.
She was rewarded by Governor Schweitzer for Matt's nasty camera work, with an appointment to the DOT Aeronautical Division. (What a joke). But this will assist daddy McKenna with his Charity/Non-profit RAF in its effort to acquire property, and grants. He's already acquired the Wolfe Grant.
Sister McKenna who happens to have just graduated from college two years ago has already recieved the PRESTIGIOUS NY LIFE LIFETIME AWARD for sales in Montana. Wow, only like 26 years old too! Recently appointed to the ???Board??? of Big Brothers and Sisters??? just like MOMMY. I doubt she has ever wiped a kid???s nose in her life.