Hillary closed a deal to sell 29 BILLION dollars of military equipment to Saudi Arabia

[Bonobo]

Putting aside the fact that Saudi Arabia gave 25 million dollars to the Clinton Foundation --- there is NO PROOF of a quid pro quo, so I won't even go there, BUT

Saudi Arabia is a brutal, authoritarian regime that some (and I am one of them) believe had some kind of inside relationship to the 9/11 attack.

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/hillary-clinton-foundation-state-arms-deals

The Saudi transaction is just one example of nations and companies that had donated to the Clinton Foundation seeing an increase in arms deals while Hillary Clinton oversaw the State Department. IBT found that between October 2010 and September 2012, State approved $165 billion in commercial arms sales to 20 nations that had donated to the foundation, plus another $151 billion worth of Pentagon-brokered arms deals to 16 of those countries—a 143 percent increase over the same time frame under the Bush Administration. The sales boosted the military power of authoritarian regimes such as Qatar, Algeria, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, which, like Saudi Arabia, had been criticized by the department for human rights abuses.

From the IBT investigation:

As secretary of state, Hillary Clinton also accused some of these countries of failing to marshal a serious and sustained campaign to confront terrorism. In a December 2009 State Department cable published by Wikileaks, Clinton complained of "an ongoing challenge to persuade Saudi officials to treat terrorist financing emanating from Saudi Arabia as a strategic priority." She declared that "Qatar's overall level of CT cooperation with the U.S. is considered the worst in the region." She said the Kuwaiti government was "less inclined to take action against Kuwait-based financiers and facilitators plotting attacks." She noted that "UAE-based donors have provided financial support to a variety of terrorist groups." All of these countries donated to the Clinton Foundation and received increased weapons export authorizations from the Clinton-run State Department...

[onehandle]

1. You spelled President Obama wrong in your title.

Her boss? You may know of him.

[morningfog]

3. I love it. When Obama and Bill Clinton did something great,

credit Hillary's involvement. When it was something less than great, Hillary was either working for her boss, or it's sexist to attribute her husband's positions to her.

[onehandle]

4. It's not great, but all Presidents sell them arms. Many Presidents back, and future ones.

This isn't some 'big revelation.'

I heard that the President rides in million dollar limos!

What a 'scandal.' Is the bus not good enough for that 1%er?

[Bonobo]

6. "A 143 percent increase over the same time frame under the Bush Administration."

And that is the kind of thing you have EVERY RIGHT TO EXPECT if Hillary becomes POTUS.

You would be a fool NOT to expect it. It is PROMISED.

But some of us will not give our approval to that. It is what we have fought against our entire political lives and it ain't going to change simply because she says she is on our side.

I am a Democrat to the core. But that core HAS a core set of beliefs and increasing arms sales in the ME to monsters like Saudi Arabia isn't part of it.

[onehandle]

8. So has any other candidate stated that they will cut Saudi Arabia off?

This one seems to suggest the U.S. continue support:

Once again, this war is a battle for the soul of Islam and it's going to have to be the Muslim countries who are stepping up. These are billionaire families all over that region. They've got to get their hands dirty. They've got to get their troops on the ground. They've got to win that war with our support. We cannot be leading the effort.

I want to make sure that our young men and women are not fighting a never-ending war in the region, not getting killed. I want to make sure the leaders of the effort are in fact Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan and the UAE. I want the Muslim nations to take the lead. I want their troops to be on the ground. I want them to be aggressive. I want them to be spending the money necessary to defeat ISIS. I want us to be in a supportive role but not leading the effort.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2015/02/11/bernie_sanders_this_war_is_a_battle_for_the_soul_of_islam_and_it_should_be_muslim_countries_sending_troops.html

Hmm. Support, but not our own troops. What could that possibly be?...

[Bonobo]

9. No, but if I thought they would increase them over BUSH of all people (brother of the Saudi Prince!)

then it would be a non-starter.

Really, is there ANYTHING that you would not excuse if it is for the candidate you have chosen to meld yourself with?

[onehandle]

10. Oh, so we're changing the perspective of the outrage.

The OP was about selling to them period.

But now it's about the details of the sale itself.

How convenient.

[Bonobo]

11. Ha, your position is absurd.

You are defending massively increasing arms sales to authoritarian regimes how? What is your defense!?

Wait for it....

Your absurd argument is that there is no difference between a small amount of arms sales and a massive amount of arms sales, so it doesn't matter HOW big it gets.

Hold me while I try to stop laughing.

I know ONE candidate running for POTUS that would not be selling hundreds of billions of dollars in arms sales to the Middle East. And it is NOT Hillary.

[Scuba]

2. She was just following orders (and lacked the moral conviction to resign).

[onehandle]

5. So attacking the morals of President Obama?

The boss. That gave the order.

Do tell us more...

[Bonobo]

7. I think you misunderstand.

He was being sarcastic.

You see, "just following orders" is a rather well-known inexcusable excuse for bad behavior.

You should google it.

[ismnotwasm]

26. So we're playing invoke Goodwin's law as early as possible are we?

You are seriously comparing Hillary to Hitler?

[Bonobo]

29. Is that what you think I did?

But no, I didn't. That would be silly as hell.

Not in a million years do I think Hillary is even a really bad person, let alone an evil one.

[ismnotwasm]

31. Actually, you compared Obama to Hitler

Hillary is "just following orders". Wow.

On edit--you didn't start it I see. Just expounded on a theme.

[Bonobo]

32. LOL. Okay, whatever you want. nt

[ismnotwasm]

33. LOL. Okay, whatever I want. nt

[Bonobo]

34. Actually I was merely arguing against the "She was told to do it, so..." defense.

I don't think it is a good defense.

It makes Hillary look like she is weak and, historically, morally, it is no defense for immoral actions.

Can you at least agree with that in theory?

[Sheepshank]

35. so as an employee of the State, I am at fault for Bush's lies?

Clinton in this case does not act in a vacuum, she does not act of her own free will and design. She does not make the final call or implement the final deal. She prepresents the will of the President. The OP already has an established track record of fervent dislike, and for manufacturing some anti Hillary propoganda that would make Freepers proud.

[Sancho]

12. Just another of the regular "bash" Hillary posts - nothing new; won't change anyone's mind...

We all recognize the complexity of mid-east foreign policy going back decades has problems. Cherry-picking this one military sale to one country and making it out to be another CT is silly. Whether we should or should not support Saudi Arabia is something you can read books on and argue for the rest of the year.

The Clinton Foundation does good work, and many women, church goers, and minorities know of the Clinton's through their commitment to help people.

Bernie doesn't have enough real foreign experience to even have an international record. That's one of his big weaknesses. Hillary can walk into the capitals of many, many countries - like her or not, they know her and she knows them. Bernie could walk down the street in many state capitals wearing a sign that says, "I'm Bernie" and not be recognized. He has a long way to go if he wants to win a Presidential election.

Frankly, one reason there are not many attack ads against Bernie is because opponents don't want to give him any name recognition if they don't have to do so. If he gets traction, there will be plenty of real critical media - and Bernie's weak international experience combined with a few questionable decisions (like the Israel issue already posted a few times), will be examined.

[Bonobo]

13. Yes, Hillary's record as a senator and SOS is just "bashing".

We shouldn't even be able to talk about it. It is IRRELEVANT!!!!

[Sancho]

15. Yes, her record is relevant...I'm sure you know it's easy to look up...

http://correctrecord.org/secretary-clinton-working-for-middle-east-peace/

BROKERED A CRITICAL CEASE-FIRE BETWEEN ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS

Sec. Clinton helped avert an all-out war in Gaza by negotiating a cease-fire between Israelis and Palestinians. According to Politico, “Secretary of State Hillary Clinton got a Gaza cease-fire right at the moment hope seemed dead for a rapid end to the violence — and next time, President Barack Obama will probably have to do it without her.” [Politico, 11/21/12]

Sec. Clinton left an East Asian summit in Cambodia to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and negotiate an emergency cease-fire. According to The Telegraph, “Washington announced that Mrs. Clinton would break off from an East Asian summit in Phnom Penh and arrive in Jerusalem tonight. She will meet the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday morning before visiting the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank before travelling to Egypt, which has led efforts to forge a ceasefire deal.” [The Telegraph, 11/20/12]

WORKED CLOSELY WITH REGION’S LEADERS TO SECURE CEASE-FIRE

Sec. Clinton met with Netanyahu, Abbas, and Morsi in Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Cairo. According to the State Department’s DipNote blog, “Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Cairo on November 20-21, 2012. She met with regional leaders, including with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas, and Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, to consult on the situation in Gaza. Today, while in Cairo, Secretary Clinton and Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr announced an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza.” [DipNote blog, state.gov, 11/21/12]

Sec. Clinton “has built strong working relationships with many of the key” international players in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which played a crucial role in the negotiations. In an article titled, “Hillary Clinton scores Gaza cease fire success,” Politico reported that Secretary Clinton “made clear her intention to leave the State Department soon — and while that won’t leave Obama and his administration starting from scratch, it will mean they’ll have to continue without a woman who has built strong working relationships with many of the key players over years. And coming off of a salvaged truce at a critical moment, the impact of that looms large over the White House’s next four years of dealings with the Middle East.” [Politico, 11/21/12]

The “cease-fire deal was reached only through a final American diplomatic push.” According to the New York Times, “The cease-fire deal was reached only through a final American diplomatic push: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton conferred for hours with Mr. Morsi and the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, at the presidential palace here.” [New York Times, 11/21/12]

Brokered the Cease-Fire with Egypt’s Morsi

Sec. Clinton stressed the pivotal role of Egypt in any negotiated cease-fire. According to the Washington Post, “In her remarks to Netanyahu, Clinton also stressed the pivotal part Egypt stands to play, saying that ‘as a regional leader and neighbor, Egypt has the opportunity and responsibility to continue playing a crucial and constructive role in this process.’” [Washington Post, 11/20/12]

Egypt became the sponsor of the cease-fire agreement. According to NBC News, “Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire Wednesday, ending eight days of fighting that killed more than 140 Palestinians and five Israelis… Egypt is the ‘sponsor’ of the cease-fire agreement.” [NBC News, 11/21/12]
CEASE-FIRE DEAL CAME AT A CRITICAL MOMENT AMONG ESCALATING VIOLENCE

Sec. Clinton: “This is a critical moment for the region.” In remarks after meeting with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr, Sec. Clinton said, “I want to thank President Morsi for his personal leadership to de-escalate the situation in Gaza and end the violence. This is a critical moment for the region. Egypt’s new government is assuming the responsibility and leadership that has long made this country a cornerstone of regional stability and peace. The United States welcomes the agreement today for a ceasefire in Gaza. For it to hold, the rocket attacks must end, a broader calm return.” [Remarks with Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr, state.gov, 11/21/12]

Sec. Clinton: It was “essential to de-escalate the situation in Gaza.” In remarks after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sec. Clinton said, “Thank you very much, Prime Minister. I look forward to a productive discussion this evening at such a critical moment for Israel and the region. President Obama asked me to come to Israel with a very clear message: America’s commitment to Israel’s security is rock solid and unwavering. That is why we believe it is essential to de-escalate the situation in Gaza.” [Remarks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, state.gov, 11/20/12]

Sec. Clinton “got a Gaza cease-fire right at the moment hope seemed dead for a rapid end to the violence.” According to Politico, “Secretary of State Hillary Clinton got a Gaza cease-fire right at the moment hope seemed dead for a rapid end to the violence — and next time, President Barack Obama will probably have to do it without her.” [Politico, 11/21/12]

The Gaza cease-fire averted a “full-scale Israeli ground invasion.” According to the New York Times, “Under intense Egyptian and American pressure, Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas halted eight days of bloody conflict on Wednesday, averting a full-scale Israeli ground invasion of the Gaza Strip without resolving the underlying disputes.” [New York Times, 11/21/12]

Strongly Condemned Ongoing Terrorist Attacks

Sec. Clinton strongly condemned the terror attacks taking place during cease-fire negotiations. According to Sec. Clinton’s press statement on the bus bombing in Tel Aviv, “The United States strongly condemns this terrorist attack and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the people of Israel. As I arrive in Cairo, I am closely monitoring reports from Tel Aviv, and we will stay in close contact with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s team. The United States stands ready to provide any assistance that Israel requires.” [Remarks on Bus Bombing in Tel Aviv, state.gov, 11/21/12]

Sec. Clinton: “The people of this region deserve the chance to be free of fear and violence and today’s agreement is a step in the right direction that we should build on.” According to Politico, “Clinton even announced the agreement standing next to Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr. She hailed the agreement as an important step to bringing stability and peace to a region that has seen major upheaval and transformation in the past two years. ‘The people of this region deserve the chance to be free of fear and violence and today’s agreement is a step in the right direction that we should build on,’ Clinton said.” [Politico, 11/21/12]

SUPPORTED ISRAELI SECURITY

Entering negotiations, Sec. Clinton emphasized the U.S.’s “rock solid and unwavering” commitment to Israeli security. According to Sec. Clinton’s remarks with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, “I look forward to a productive discussion this evening at such a critical moment for Israel and the region. President Obama asked me to come to Israel with a very clear message: America’s commitment to Israel’s security is rock solid and unwavering. That is why we believe it is essential to de-escalate the situation in Gaza. The rocket attacks from terrorist organizations inside Gaza on Israeli cities and towns must end and a broader calm restored.” [Remarks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, state.gov, 11/20/12]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Sec. Clinton for supporting the Iron Dome defense system “that’s been saving lives.” In remarks following a meeting with Sec. Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “I want to welcome Secretary Clinton once again to Jerusalem. I want to thank President Obama, you, and the American Government and people for their strong support for Israel in this hour of need. I want to also thank you especially for your support of Iron Dome that’s been saving lives, and we are in a battle to save lives.” [Remarks with Israeli Prime Benjamin Minister Netanyahu, state.gov, 11/20/12]

The Administration supported $205 million “for the purchase of up to ten Iron Dome batteries.” According to the Congressional Research Service, “In March 2010, the Obama Administration announced that it would support $205 million in defense assistance to Israel for the purchase of up to ten Iron Dome batteries.” [“The Middle East: Selected Key Issues and Options for the 112th Congress,” pg. 3, fas.org, 1/3/11]
An Iron Dome battery consisted of launchers and interceptors “that determines a rocket’s trajectory within seconds of launch.” According to Bloomberg, “Iron Dome, made by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd, is designed to intercept and destroy rockets capable of flying as far as 70 kilometers (44 miles). Israel has fielded its first four batteries consisting of launchers and interceptors costing as much as $90,000 apiece, according to the nonpartisan U.S. Congressional Research Service. Iron Dome’s effectiveness depends on a battle management system that determines a rocket’s trajectory within seconds of launch, based on radar and electro-optical sensors. In the same instant, the system determines whether the rocket is headed toward a populated area, making an intercept necessary.” [Bloomberg, 11/17/12]
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: Sec. Clinton is a “champion of peace.” In remarks at a press availability with Sec. Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “It’s my pleasure to welcome Secretary of State of the United States Hillary Clinton to Jerusalem. Welcome, Hillary. You are a great friend and a great champion of peace. I think that we owe a vote of thanks to you, to George Mitchell, to your staffs, and of course, to President Obama and the entire Obama Administration for the tireless efforts to re-launch the peace process – the peace process between us and the Palestinians, and between us and the Arab world – following the President’s vision of a regional peace.” [Remarks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, state.gov, 10/31/09}

COMMITTED TO PEACE BETWEEN ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS

Resumed Peace Negotiations for First Time Since 2008

Sec. Clinton “opened the formal return to Middle East peace talks” in September 2010. According to the Christian Science Monitor, “It is Hillary Clinton, the once-assumed and later vanquished future president, who opened the formal return to Middle East peace talks in Washington this month by urging the Israeli and Palestinian people to rise above ‘the disappointments of the past’ to become ‘champions’ for peace.” [Christian Science Monitor, 9/25/10]

Sec. Clinton worked to bring Israeli and Palestinian leaders together in direct talks for the first time in two years. According to the Washington Post, “Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced Friday that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are expected in Washington on Sept. 2 for what will be the first face-to-face negotiations between the sides in two years.” [Washington Post, 8/21/10]

Sec. Clinton collaborated with foreign leaders and representatives from international organizations to encourage the sides to return to the negotiating table. According to the New York Times, “Mrs. Clinton has been working the phone in recent days to clear the final hurdles, speaking Thursday with Jordan’s foreign minister, Nasser Judeh, and with Tony Blair, the special representative of the Quartet, the group of Middle East peacemakers comprising the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia. Late on Wednesday, she spoke with the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, Salam Fayyad. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that on Thursday night President Abbas called a meeting of the Fatah Central Committee, the party’s main decision-making body, at which ‘developments in the peace process’ were discussed.” [New York Times, 8/20/10]

Sec. Clinton “wore down the reluctance of the Palestinians to come to the table and drummed up support from Arab neighbors.” According to the New York Times, “The tableau of Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Abbas chatting amiably Thursday in front of the marble fireplace in her office, officials said, testified to her relentless phone calls in recent weeks as she wore down the reluctance of the Palestinians to come to the table and drummed up support from Arab neighbors like Jordan and Egypt. ‘One of the best indications that this could succeed is that Hillary Clinton is willing to get involved,’ said Stephen J. Hadley, who served as national security adviser to President George W. Bush. ‘Because that makes me think two things: She thinks it’s possible and, because she is as skilled as she is, it increases the likelihood of success.’” [New York Times, 9/4/10]

NSC Chief of Staff Denis McDonough: “The decision-making and policy-making that got to these talks were really handled between the two of them [Sec. Clinton and Obama] personally.” According to the New York Times, “The choreography last week, a White House dinner followed by talks at the State Department, bore the imprint of Mrs. Clinton, officials said. The administration debated having her travel to the Middle East to restart the talks, but she persuaded Mr. Obama to take a central role. ‘The decision-making and policy-making that got to these talks were really handled between the two of them personally,’ said Denis McDonough, the chief of staff of the National Security Council.” [New York Times, 9/4/10]

WORKED REPEATEDLY AND DIRECTLY WITH COUNTRIES IN THE REGION

Secretary Clinton traveled to the Middle East and Northern Africa 16 times:

1. The Middle East and Europe, February 28 – March 8, 2009
2. Middle East, April 23-26, 2009
3. El Salvador, Honduras, Egypt With the President, May 31-June 4, 2009
4. Pakistan, the Middle East, Morocco and Egypt, October 27-November 4, 2009
5. Qatar and Saudi Arabia, February 13-16, 2010
6. Sharm el-Sheikh, Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Amman, September 13-16, 2010.
7. Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, and Bahrain, November 30-December 4, 2010
8. United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Oman, and Qatar, January 8-13, 2011
9. France, Egypt, Tunisia, March 14-17, 2011
10. U.A.E., Zambia, Tanzania, and Ethiopia, June 8-14, 2011
11. Malta, Libya, Oman, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, October 17-23, 2011
12. United Kingdom, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, February 22-26, 2012
13. Saudi Arabia and Turkey, March 30-April 1, 2012
14. France, Afghanistan, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Egypt, and Israel, July 5-17, 2012
15. Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia: October 29-November 2, 2012
16. Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Cairo, November 20-21, 2012

[Bonobo]

17. Clinton Foundation Donors Get Big Weapons Deals

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/hillary-clinton-foundation-state-arms-deals
17 out of 20 countries that have donated to the Clinton Foundation saw increases in arms exports authorized by Hillary Clinton's State Department.

Country Donation Min. ($) FY2006-FY2008 ($) FY2010-FY2012 ($) Difference (%)
Algeria 250,000 649,943,709 2,431,535,005 274
Australia 10,000,000 8,030,754,085 23,953,849,391 198
Bahrain 50,000 219,718,802 630,586,020 187
Brunei 250,000 101,239,902 19,256,846 -81
Canada 250,000 20,975,621,915 24,844,128,294 18
Germany 100,000 9,147,637,319 9,839,619,231 8
Ireland 5,000,000 144,929,678 107,064,341 -26
Italy 100,000 6,195,891,571 12,274,692,168 98
Jamaica 50,000 18,572,209 11,360,582 -39
Kuwait 5,000,000 1,895,298,212 2,109,893,611 11
Morocco 2,000,000 250,045,824 253,096,156 1
Netherlands 5,000,000 3,069,131,994 4,655,490,802 52
Norway 10,000,000 2,718,237,833 3,351,140,380 23
Oman 1,000,000 170,597,237 547,003,781 221
Qatar 1,000,000 271,325,915 4,291,824,236 1,482
Saudi Arabia 10,000,000 4,105,561,815 8,094,719,012 97
Taiwan 500,000 2,612,251,394 3,811,233,565 46
Thailand 250,000 656,266,680 1,113,283,489 70
UAE 1,000,000 2,261,801,903 24,998,754,760 1,005
United Kingdom 1,000,000 26,225,307,395 38,015,933,065 45

[Sancho]

19. Correlation does not imply causality...

Pickles cause death!!!! Just about everyone who died has eaten a pickle!

Lots of people and countries have donated to the Clinton Foundation, the Carter Foundation, the Gates Foundation, etc.

Just about every ally (and most enemies) of the US have gotten arms from the US - something that our Presidents and Congress fund and approve. You can take those lengthy lists and make up anything you want.

It's silly to think that Hillary picked up the phone and said, "send a thousand jet fighters to the following 15 countries because they donated to the fund to cure disease in Africa".

[Bonobo]

20. It implies it all right. It just doesn't PROVE It. nt

[Sancho]

23. It doesn't prove anything, it's a nutty, RW conspiracy theory

Hillary had no authority to send any military equipment anywhere. The Congress approves military equipment to foreign countries.

At any rate, the Clinton foundation efforts are easily documented. If you think that there's a connection, maybe you should join in the Benghazi committee.

Just don't complain when the same type of CT's are heaped on Bernie!!! I'll give you one of a bunch of possible examples just to illustrate. Not that there's any proof, just a random accusation. I don't start conspiracy threads, but sooner or later some GOP PAC or Martin O'Malley will eventually go after Bernie if he really gets anywhere. If you want to support your candidate by crazy attacks on the other candidates, then be prepared to deal with it when your guy is on the receiving end. (BTW, I have no proof of the paste below, but it's a hypothetical example of stretching something into a conspiracy).

Think about this headline:

"BERNIE SANDERS BENEFITS FROM HIS WIFE'S ILLEGAL MONEY SCHEME!! WHAT DID HE KNOW AND WHEN DID HE KNOW IT? WHERE ARE THE EMAILS?"

http://dailycaller.com/2015/03/26/exclusive-bernie-sanders-wife-may-have-defrauded-state-agency-bank/

EXCLUSIVE: Bernie Sanders’ Wife May Have Defrauded State Agency, Bank


Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2015/03/26/exclusive-bernie-sanders-wife-may-have-defrauded-state-agency-bank/#ixzz3c6ccjprk

Documents obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation indicate that the wife of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders may have been able to use her clout to get away with loan fraud, nearly bankrupting the small college she was president of and collecting a sizable severance package in the process.

These revelations come amid growing speculation that Sen. Sanders, a self-described socialist who has blasted the U.S. government asan oligarchy run by billionaires and railed against the golden parachutes received by top corporate executives, will contend for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Jane Sanders was the president of tiny Burlington College in Burlington, Vermont for seven years, from 2004 until 2011. During her tenure, Sanders masterminded an ambitious expansion plan that would have more than doubled the size of the school. To do so, she had the college take on $10 million in debt to finance the purchase of a new, far more expansive campus. The move backfired massively, leading to Sanders’ departure from the college and the near-collapse of the institution.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2015/03/26/exclusive-bernie-sanders-wife-may-have-defrauded-state-agency-bank/#ixzz3c6ckMr8Q

http://www.redstate.com/2015/03/27/bernie-sanderss-wife-involved-real-estate-scam/

The story is banal. A woman who has her job because of her husband’s clout finagles a credulous state agency into accepting bogus financial documents. Real estate is purchased. The fraud is discovered. The wife of the powerful man is paid a lot of money to leave. Everyone else is ruined.

For driving the college into near bankruptcy with a fraudulent loan application, Sanders received a severance bonus of $200,000.

But all’s well that ends well. Jane Sanders is $200,000 richer. Bernie Sanders still rails on and on about income inequality and oligarchs and golden parachutes. That’s how socialism works.

HTTP://VTDIGGER.ORG/2011/09/27/JANE-SANDERS-RESIGNS-PRESIDENCY-OF-BURLINGTON-COLLEGE-REACHES-SETTLEMENT/
JANE SANDERS RESIGNS PRESIDENCY OF BURLINGTON COLLEGE, REACHES SETTLEMENT

After Sanders became college president in 2004, Burlington College initially experienced a decline in enrollment and, after a few years, faculty discontent. In an open letter to the trustees released on Sept. 21, former faculty member Genese Grill described the atmosphere in harsh terms. Staff, faculty and students “have been reduced to silence and fear of retribution by what can only be described as a pattern of intimidation, spying, and targeting of critical voices,” she wrote.

Grill described a closed and hostile environment, claiming that Sanders frequently yelled at staff and managed to eliminate anyone who voiced criticism. In the letter, Grill claims that “many concerned voices were forced out by continual abuse and by eventually being offered humiliating and unfair contracts in which they were demoted below people who were, in many cases, less qualified for their positions.”

In the last six years, about 40 people have left the school, Grill estimates, “most (if not all) deeply disillusioned with the institution and its processes, most harboring bitterness and deep regret.”

[ismnotwasm]

27. Excellent post

Thank you

[Le Taz Hot]

14. Thank you, Bonobo.

It's good to be informed of these things.

[Bonobo]

16. Thanks. Hillary's hawkishness is a very, very, real issue for many of us.

Many of us place promoting peace as at the top or very near the top of our demands for our president.

As such, Hillary's behavior over her career is a VERY FUCKING REAL cause for concern and is not bashing, but a real difference between what you WILL get with a President Clinton and a President Sanders.

If you want business as usual with arms sales and projections of force, vote Hillary. That is what you will get and it is as plain as day.

[Le Taz Hot]

18. Of course it's not bashing.

A well-informed electorate is essential in a Democracy. I'm sure the Founders would agree.

[Sancho]

38. I suppose this is the kind of military support and money wasting by a politician that you mean?

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/24583-bernie-sanders-doubles-down-on-f-35-support-days-after-runway-explosion

Bernie Sanders Doubles Down on F-35 Support Days After Runway Explosion

By Carl Gibson, Reader Supported News

03 June 14


Me: “You mentioned wasteful military spending. The other day ... I’m sure you’ve heard about the F-35 catching fire on the runway. The estimated lifetime expense of the F-35 is $1.2 trillion. When you talk about cutting wasteful military spending, does that include the F-35 program?”

Bernie Sanders: “No, and I’ll tell you why – it is essentially built. It is the airplane of the United States Air Force, Navy, and of NATO. It was a very controversial issue in Vermont. And my view was that given the fact that the F-35, which, by the way, has been incredibly wasteful, that’s a good question. But for better or worse, that is the plane of record right now, and it is not gonna be discarded. That’s the reality.”

hat was the exchange I had with US senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at a town hall in Warner, New Hampshire, this past weekend (skip to the 45:30 mark of this video to hear my question). Sanders came to New Hampshire to gauge the local response to his economic justice-powered platform for a presumed 2016 presidential campaign. While his rabid defense of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid and takedown of big money running politics was well-received, he contradicted his position of eliminating wasteful military spending while defending the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.

http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/09/30/the-myth-of-bernie-sanders/

The Myth of Bernie Sanders
Although Sanders may have once been a socialist back in the 80s when he was Mayor of Burlington, today, a socialist he is not. Rather he behaves more like a technofascist disguised as a liberal, who backs all of President Obama’s nasty little wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen. Since he always “supports the troops,” Sanders never opposes any defense spending bill. He stands behind all military contractors who bring much-needed jobs to Vermont.

Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Congressman Peter Welch could hardlycontain their enthusiasm over the news that Burlington International Airport had been named as a possible site to house the Air Force’s new F-35 fighter jet scheduled to replace the Vermont Air National Guard’s aging fleet of F-16s. The new high-tech instruments of death will cost $115 million a pop in sharp contrast to the F-16s which cost a mere $20 million each.

From whom might these F-35s protect Vermont? Possibly, Canada, separatist-minded Quebec, upstate New York, the New Hampshire Free State, or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts? Why on earth would anyone want to invade Vermont? Vermont has no military bases, no large cities, no important government installations, and no strategic resources unless you count an aging nuclear power plant. What if Canada, China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, or even the U.S. Marines were to invade the Green Mountain state? Just what would they do with it? Would all of the black-and-white Holsteins be confiscated, or perhaps the entire sugar maple crop be burned? Imagine trying to enslave freedom-loving Vermonters. Good luck!

——snip————

Sanders is the darling of the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee and the right-wing Likud government of Israel. He has done everything within his power to keep the myth of Islamic terrorism alive. He never questions the U.S. government’s unconditional support of Israeli acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinians. It is as though these are nonevents.

Last, but by no means least, is the U.S. government-owned Sandia National Laboratories. For over two years Sanders and former University of Vermont President Daniel Fogel have been encouraging Sandia to open a satellite laboratory in Vermont. Sandia, whose historical origins can be traced back to the Manhattan Project in World War II, designs, builds, and tests weapons of mass destruction. The Vermont laboratory envisaged by Sanders would not be involved with nuclear weapons but rather would be engaged in projects related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electric grids. Sandia, interestingly enough, is operated under contract by Lockheed Martin, the largest defense contractor in the world. Lockheed Martin produces F-35s and drones. General Dubie, who has close ties to Lockheed Martin, recently received an honorary doctorate from UVM. No one at UVM seems to care whether or not the University gets in bed with a manufacturer of atomic bombs.

————————

http://socialistworker.org/2012/08/09/vermont-says-no-to-the-f35


HUNDREDS OF northern Vermont residents are campaigning against U.S. Air Force plans to base the new F-35 bomber at the Burlington, Vt., airport--and they're getting fierce opposition for their activism from the primary backers of the plan, Sens. Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy and the rest of Vermont's Democratic Party establishment.

The F-35 is designed for stealth, first-strike capability and its capacity to carry 19,000 pounds of materiel, including nuclear bombs. As an attack aircraft, the F-35 is promoted as "unparalleled" and capable of reducing its human targets to "nothing but hair, teeth and eyeballs.”

THESE ISSUES have brought hundreds of people to organizing meetings, rallies and public hearings. Two local school boards passed resolutions against the F-35 basing, and the South Burlington City Council has also condemned the plan. However, to date, Vermont's senators and its Democratic congressman, Rep. Peter Welch, have continued to promote the basing and have yet to take seriously any of the community concerns. All members of the congressional delegation have refused to even meet with F-35 opponents.


What's more, Democratic Party support for the F-35 basing raises a more glaring contradiction. Vermont Democrats campaign on their "antiwar" credentials, but now they are cheerleading a first-strike weapon of mass destruction. Sen. Sanders even deflected questions about his support for the F-35 bomber during a Vermont Public Radio interview by turning to glowing praise for the Vermont Guard's contribution to the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, presumably including the use of Vermont Air Guard F-16s to bomb Iraq as part of the illegal occupation.

But this shouldn't come as a shock. Sanders initially ran for Congress in 1990 while supporting the first Gulf War. Sanders has since aligned himself with several U.S. wars, including the 1990s blockade and bombing of Iraq that killed more than 1 million Iraqis, the war in Yugoslavia and the "war on terror." His views on war and interventions closely mirror those of President Obama.

————————

http://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2015/02/hypocrisy-alert-bernie-sanders-wanting.htm


Hypocrisy alert: Bernie Sanders, wanting to suck on the military teat

No wonder Bernie Sanders wants to run as a Democrat, not a Green; he's too willing to suck at the military teat (near end of story):
Whatever its technical challenges, the F-35 is a triumph of political engineering, and on a global scale. For a piquant illustration of the difference that political engineering can make, consider the case of Bernie Sanders—former Socialist mayor of Burlington, current Independent senator from Vermont, possible candidate from the left in the next presidential race. In principle, he thinks the F-35 is a bad choice. After one of the planes caught fire last summer on a runway in Florida, Sanders told a reporter that the program had been “incredibly wasteful.” Yet Sanders, with the rest of Vermont’s mainly left-leaning political establishment, has fought hard to get an F-35 unit assigned to the Vermont Air National Guard in Burlington, and to dissuade neighborhood groups there who think the planes will be too noisy and dangerous. “For better or worse, [the F-35] is the plane of record right now,” Sanders told a local reporter after the runway fire last year, “and it is not gonna be discarded. That’s the reality.” It’s going to be somewhere, so why not here? As Vermont goes, so goes the nation.
So, Bernie, really? Ohh, it's bad, but I"m not going to oppose out-of-control military spending that makes Ike's "military-industrial complex" that much, because I want Vermont on the gravy train, even if it's a war weapon, even if it's a bloated one.

What else, Bernie? Want to invite the federal prison system to Vermont. You are a border state, and people could be sneaking through from Canada. Why not ask Immigration and Customs to build one, since they're already being nutbar on one town straddling the border with Quebec?

———————————
http://muckraker-gg.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-lockheed-and-sandia-came-to-vermont.html

How Lockheed and Sandia Came to Vermont

On October 2, 2009 Senator Bernie Sanders made one of his classic fiery speeches on the floor of the US Senate. This time Vermont's independent socialist was taking on Lockheed Martin and other top military contractors for what he called “systemic, illegal, and fraudulent behavior, while receiving hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer money.”
Among other crimes, Sanders mentioned how Lockheed had defrauded the government by fraudulently inflating the cost of several Air Force contracts, lied about the costs when negotiating contracts for the repairs on US warships, and submitted false invoices for payment on a multi-billion dollar contract connected to the Titan IV space launch vehicle program.
A month later, however, he was in a different mood when he hosted a delegation from Sandia National Laboratories. Sandia is managed for the Department of Energy by Sandia Inc., a wholly-owned Lockheed subsidiary. At Sanders’ invitation, the Sandia delegation was in Vermont to talk partnership and scout locations for a satellite lab. He had been working on the idea since 2008 when he visited Sandia headquarters in New Mexico.
—snip———
Despite – or, maybe because of – its scope and size, however, Lockheed executives sometimes feel the need to violate rules. As a result, as Bernie Sanders often mentioned in speeches until a Sandia lab for Vermont took shape, it is also number one in contractor misconduct. Between 1995 and 2010 it engaged in at least 50 instances of misconduct and paid $577 million in fines and settlements.
In the mid-1990s then-Rep. Sanders objected to $91 million in bonuses for Lockheed-Martin executives after the defense contractor laid off 17,000 workers. Calling it “payoffs for layoffs” he succeeded in getting some of that money back.
—snip———
Despite – or, maybe because of – its scope and size, however, Lockheed executives sometimes feel the need to violate rules. As a result, as Bernie Sanders often mentioned in speeches until a Sandia lab for Vermont took shape, it is also number one in contractor misconduct. Between 1995 and 2010 it engaged in at least 50 instances of misconduct and paid $577 million in fines and settlements.
In the mid-1990s then-Rep. Sanders objected to $91 million in bonuses for Lockheed-Martin executives after the defense contractor laid off 17,000 workers. Calling it “payoffs for layoffs” he succeeded in getting some of that money back.
———snip---------
Sanders added that “working with Sandia and their wide areas of knowledge – some of the best scientists in the country – we hope to take a state that is already a leader in some of these areas even further.” Lockheed’s past offenses didn't come up.

[raouldukelives]

21. But if we don't keep dumping our old weapons in the middle east

How can we keep them armed for our perpetual wars for profit?

How can arms manufacturers clear room on the shelves for new cool weapons if they are full of old ones?

Its like some of you people never even consider the poor MIC shareholders and the sycophants they subsidize.

[JoePhilly]

22. Wait, you mean the US sells weapons to Saudi Arabia??????

GASP!!!!

[Indepatriot]

24. President Hillary is really, truly, a peace-loving progressive....honest.

Now go back to work and vote for her next November. She's still the one, don't stop thinkin' about tomorrow....yada yada yada.

[DanTex]

25. You should post this 20 more times. Some people still might not know how much you hate Hillary...

[obnoxiousdrunk]

28. +100. n/t

[Bonobo]

30. Mother Jones must hate her. Maybe you should write an angry letter to the editor, Mr. Tex. nt

[Darb]

36. Disingenuous at best.

But you knew that.

And anti-props for furthering that bullshit Repubic meme about the Clinton Foundation.

[Nitram]

37. Are Bernie supporters really that naive and uninformed?

Love the "there is NO PROOF of a quid pro quo, so I won't even go there". such a tried and true method to "go there" while pretending you are above all that. the right wing uses it all the time.