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1776Forever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-29-08 08:21 AM
Original message
While the rest of the world deals with economic crisis Dubai throws 20 Million $ Party.....


Let the fireworks begin! While the rest of the world deals with the mounting economic crisis, stars partied it up at a $20 million party for the grand opening of the Atlantis on Dubai's Palm Island, an artificial island in the shape of a palm tree. The $1.5 billion marine-themed resort was aglow during an unprecedented pyrotechnics show, witnessed by some of the world's hottest stars...photos here:

http://www.nydailynews.com/money/galleries/stars_flock_to_dubai_for_worlds_biggest_party/stars_flock_to_dubai_for_worlds_biggest_party.html

Credits: Brunskill/Getty
Published: 11/20/2008 18:03:21
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Deja Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-29-08 08:28 AM
Response to Original message
1. Wow. They must really like virgins.
And given the silhouette in the middle of the building, it only hardens the belief...
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1776Forever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-29-08 08:41 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. It seems Virgin (airway) really loves them too - here is a link from their webiste:
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/whereintheworld/destinationinformation/dubai.jsp

Of course, what Corporate entity wouldn't with that kind of money being thrown around. The Citibank deal sure sweetened that pot!

Peter J. Cooper’s Weblog
November 23, 2008
Citi UAE reassures depositors of government guarantee
Filed under: UAE Stocks, US Dollar — peterjcooper @ 6:09 pm

http://arabianmoney.net/2008/11/23/citi-uae-reassures-depositors-of-government-guarantee/

Citibank UAE today confirmed that all customer deposits at all its branches in the country are guaranteed by the UAE Government in line with the UAE Federal Cabinet’s decision of Oct 13, 2008 which guarantees bank deposits, including deposits with national banks and foreign banks which have significant operations in the UAE.

Mohammed Al-Shroogi, Managing Director for the Middle East and Chief Executive Officer for Citi in the UAE, said: “Citibank N.A, UAE is a branch of Citibank N.A and has been licensed in the United Arab Emirates since 1964. We remain the bank of choice for millions of depositors worldwide, evident in a strong deposit base (approximately $780 billion at the end of the third quarter) diversified across products and regions, with more than two thirds of it outside the U.S. including UAE.”

“Our universal banking business model has been proven to be robust and has certainly won the approval of major investors,” continued Mr. Al-Shroogi. “Over the past 15 months, Citi has added $75 billion in new capital: $50 billion through public and private offerings and $25 billion from the U.S. government’s TARP program. As a result, Citi maintans a very strong capital and liquidity position and a unique global franchise, including a growing Middle Eastern franchise.”

.........

And then there is this little tidbit:

http://www.teeth.com.pk/blog/2008/05/18/how-citibank-laundered-asif-zardaris-money

How Citibank Laundered Asif Zardari’s Money
Posted by Teeth Maestro
May 18, 2008 | 641 views

I just came across this write up found on Chowk published on November 7th 2007, its definitely worth reading.

In addition to Mr. Shaukat Aziz, current Prime Minister of Pakistan, numerous former Citibankers occupy highly influential positions in the government and the private sector in Pakistan.

Citibank is one of the largest banks, and operates one of the largest private banks in the US and globally. Of the 40 private banks reviewed by the Federal Reserve during its industry wide examination of private banking in the 1990s, only one — Citibank — was reviewed in detail by Federal Reserve examiners three years in a row. It is a private bank that has struggled with a wide range of anti-money laundering issues. Although Citibank, under Shaukat Aziz’s leadership (from May 1997 to October 1999) and his successors’ has done much to tighten controls, it was beset by numerous scandals during the 1990s.

A 1999 US Congress investigation (exact reference given at end) into Citibank, provides a fascinating inside look at how Citibank helped launder the ill-gotten gains of four high profile corrupt figures: Raul Salinas, brother of the former president of Mexico, Carlos Salinas, Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan (reproduced below), El Hadj Omar Bongo, the elected president of Gabon since 1967, and Mohammed, Ibrahim, and Abba Sani Abacha, three sons of General Sani Abacha, who was the military leader of Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998.

Of the four case histories provided in the Report, the following is a complete excerpt of the Case History for Asif Zardari. The report also provides photocopies of signed documents, banks records, etc. (listed below, at the end).

.......

It makes you wonder just how many of those "stars" that flocked there for this 20 M party have any idea what is really going on.
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liberal N proud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-29-08 08:50 AM
Response to Original message
3. From our pockets through gas pumps directly to Dubai
Example of concentration of the wealth.
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1776Forever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-29-08 09:08 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. And it makes you wonder just how these entities will try to influence our govenrment actions.
Obama is going to stand tall I am sure but there has been a lot of interaction from President Clinton with Dubai and its rulers. Just saying.....link:

http://manfredeye.com/?p=348
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midnight Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-29-08 09:13 AM
Response to Reply #3
5. You make a very good point, but what do you think about all
the money Paulson asked for and would not say where it was going?
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liberal N proud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-29-08 09:23 AM
Response to Reply #5
6. Paulson's money grab will someday be described as
the biggest heist in American history.
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1776Forever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-29-08 10:43 AM
Response to Reply #5
9. I am hoping that when President Obama gets in we will hear where most of it went - disgusting so far
Like everything else will we ever know? The Big Boys in these circles are so well set up now they don't care what we do here or what we think of them. It will take a monumental push to bring back the might of our nation to its past glory.
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SpiralHawk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-29-08 09:27 AM
Response to Original message
7. "COOL. We are making the Dubaisters honorary republicons. Smirk" - Commander AWOL
"Good on 'em. You betcha. That's just the way we republicons like to do it. Smirk."

- Commander AWOL & fatcat republcion cronies
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1776Forever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-29-08 10:38 AM
Response to Reply #7
8. Definitely! I am sure if they could vote it would be Repub all the way!

'Slave Labour' In Dubai's Building Boom

Video

* SkyNews The Slave Labour Catering For Dubai's Wealthy 6:11

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Slave-Labour-In-Dubais-Building-Boom/Article/20070841281723?lpos=Home_Article_Related_Content_Region_2&lid=ARTICLE_1281723_Slave_Labour_In_Dubais_Building_Boom


11:41am UK, Wednesday February 27, 2008

Catherine Jacob, Sky News Correspondent

If you're one of the million British tourists who visit Dubai every year, spare a thought for the hordes of migrant workers who are behind its spectacular building boom.
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Octafish Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-29-08 10:45 AM
Response to Original message
10. Mafia gangsters tip big and they're popular 'round the neighborhood.
They throw money around because it's not theirs.
Just like George Walker Bush and his crew.
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Mudoria Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-29-08 10:48 AM
Response to Original message
11. I'd like to have gotten an invitation....
party like it's 1542!
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