FTR-310 Bush League - The Associates and Actions of the Georges Bush (Two 30-minute segments) (Sources are noted in parentheses.) $8.50

1. George W. Bush recently appointed Eliot Abrams to the National Security Council. Abrams was one of the convicted Iran-Contra conspirators pardoned by his father shortly before leaving office. ("Iran-Contra Figure Back at White House"; New York Times; 6/30/2001; p. A4.) (For more about the Iran Contra scandal, see among other broadcasts, RFA #’s 29-35, 37, 38, Miscellaneous Archive Shows M35, M39, M40, M41, M43, M44, M47, FTR #’s 01, 29, 168, 174, 181, 248, 249, 255, 268.)

2. Bush also recently selected Robert Mueller, a member of his father’s Justice Department, to be FBI director. ("S.F. Prosecutor Mueller Picked to Lead FBI, Mend Its Image" by Zachary Coile and Bob Egelko; San Francisco Chronicle; 7/6/2001; pp. A1-A12.)

3. In his work for the Bush Justice Department, Mueller was less than vigorous in his role overseeing the prosecution of General Noriega of Panama and the BCCI case. ("In the Running for FBI Director" by Stacy Finz; San Francisco Chronicle; 7/1/2001; pp. A1-A6.) Both the BCCI case and the Noriega case overlap the Iran-Contra investigation and the elder Bush was principally involved in the Iran-Contra imbroglio. Full disclosure concerning the BCCI case could lead to investigation of James R. Bath, the Texas business representative of the Bin Laden family and one of the financiers of George W.’s first oil venture. (See also: FTR #’s 182, 186, 248, 256, 277, 292, 308, 315.) Bin Laden’s forces have formally taken credit for bombing the U.S.S. Cole during the campaign. ("Islamic Militants Brag They Bombed Warship Cole" by Diana Elias [AP]; San Francisco Chronicle; 6/20/2001; p. A8.) Mr. Emory has speculated that the Cole bombing may have been executed for the benefit of the Bush campaign. (See also: L #’s 9, 10.)

4. In that context, the broadcast suggests the possibility that some of the difficulties that the FBI (among other institutions) has encountered in connection with the Cole bombing may result from obstruction by the Bush camp. ("U.S. Faces Hurdles in Approach to USS Cole Probe" by David S. Cloud and Neil King, Jr.; Wall Street Journal; 7/6/2001; p. A10.)

5. Next, the program examines the pro-Bush stance of Fox News, run by George Sr.’s associate Roger Ailes. ("Good Guys on Cable TV" by William German; San Francisco Chronicle; 7/6/2001; p. A25.)

6. That network led the media rush to call Florida as a Bush win, and the Fox political desk was headed by Bush’s cousin, John Ellis. (See also: FTR-259.)

7. The program highlights the bizarre, cult-like initiation ceremony of the elite Skull and Bones society, to which both Georges belonged. ("At Skull and Bones, Bush’s Secret Club Initiates Ream Gore" by Ron Rosenbaum; New York Observer; 4/19/2001; pp. 11-17.) For more on Skull and Bones, see FTR-249.)

8. Revisiting a subject treated at length in FTR-281, the broadcast highlights the recent extradition of a collaborator of Enrique Fuentes Leon, a drug-dealing political ally of George W. Bush. ("U.S. Returns an Ex-Judge to Mexico" by Tim Weiner; New York Times; 6/22/2001; p. A3.)

9. Leon had bribed Ernesto Diaz on behalf of a wealthy Acapulco playboy who had raped, tortured and kidnapped a 6-year-old girl. ("Los Amigos de Bush" by Julie Reynolds; El Andar; Fall, 2000; Vol. 11, #3; p.23;

10. Narco-attorney and Bush ally Roy Barrera, Jr. represented Harry Blackthorne, a Texas multi-millionaire whose ex-wife was stabbed to death in front of her toddler quadruplets. The hit man fled to Mexico and was represented by Enrique Fuentes Leon. (Ibid.; p. 27.) (Recorded on 6/24/2001.)