3/27/10

what do you mean you lost His Highness?

Remember this post from the other day: teevee pimps? Regarding the Georgian station Imedi?

To quickly recap, Imedi ran that stunt recently simulating a Russian attack on Georgia. The post was about who owned the station, which is a matter of some confusion.

Joseph Kay claimed to be the long lost nephew and executor of the original Georgian oligarch owner, Badri Patarkatsishvili.

Patarkatsishvili was the owner of the Imedi TV station which was stormed by special forces on 7 November 2007. On his death Kay announced that Patarkatsishvili, whom he claimed was a relative (the claim is disputed), had given him control of Imedi.

Kay last year then said - in a statement subsequently underlined by Mikheil Saakashvili's own office - that he had sold 90% of Imedi to the sovereign wealth fund of the Gulf emirate Rah Al-Khaimah. 

The 90% ownership interest, Ras Al-Khaimah Invesment Authority (RAKIA), is (one of?) the (many) sovereign wealth fund(s) of the absolute monarchy of the United Arab Emirates.

Now that things have gone sort of pear-shaped after that teevee stunt, RAKIA claims to have nothing to do with Imedi.

But allegedly, through a series of unfortunate mishaps and poor spelling choices and barely plausible explanations, as though these guys can't afford laywers or something, RAKIA now claims they do not never have never did have anything to do with any of this no way. Nope. Never heard of it. It was RAAK, not RAK, and not RAKIA. Innocent mistake. Sorry we missed it, we're just really busy counting our money. ' Kay?


And now, I couldn't make this up if I tried, we learn that the head of ADIA (and RAKIA?) has gone missing when his glider crashed in a lake in Morocco.

The United Arab Emirates state news agency says the head of Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund — the world's largest — is missing after his glider crashed in Morocco.
The official Emirates News Agency said that Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's glider went down in a lake in Morocco on Friday. The pilot of the aircraft was rescued in good condition, but authorities continued the search for Al Nahyan.
Al Nahyan is the managing director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. He is also the younger brother of Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the leader of the United Arab Emirates. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority could not be immediately reached for comment.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed al Nahyan, managing director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA)
Tina Hager/Arabian Eye (BusinessWeek)

o_O

Wow that's really really strange huh? He just disappeared in the lake?

One of these lakes?

And he had just restructured the board last week.

And his brother reportedly died in a helicopter crash in 2008.



^^^^^^^

I'll be honest and say I do not understand how all these funds are structured. Very very confusing. For an idea of how much money the UAE has to invest, start at #25 on this list. RAKIA seems to be a separate and much smaller fund than ADIA, but both are UAE funds.

25.Abu Dhabi Investment Council/ADIC - Abu Dhabi/UAE - 100% Government of Abu Dhabi - oil rich Emirate - Abu Dhabi the world's richest city - ADIC bought a 90% stake worth some $800 Million in the Chrysler Building, one of New York's most iconic skyscrapers

...25a)Abu Dhabi Investment Authority/ADIA - Abu Dhabi - with estimated $900 Billion ADIA is actually the world's largest SWF, providing Citigroup with $7,5 Billion /4,9% joining the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation's /GIC injection of $6,9 Billion - total provided $14,4 Billion, holds 8% stake in EFG Hermes/investment bank and 10% pre IPO stake in Apollo Management/ private US equity firm - ADIA filed an arbitration claim against Citigroup saying it was misled when it invested the $7,5 Billion in the bank two years ago, seeking rescission of the investment or damages in excess of $4 Billion - U.S.- bank considers claim entirely without merit, but apparently failed in its relation with this important investor

25b)Mubadala Development Co. - Abu Dhabi -$14,7 Billion - increasingly powerful state investment company -invested $1,4 Billion/7,5% into US private equity firm Carlyle Group/ triangular industry-government-defence (top defence tecnologies, energy supply and strategic information tecnology)

And way down the list... after 26(f):

27. RAK Investment Authority/Rakia - Ras al-Khaimah/ UAE - $1,2 Billion

It's almost like a little leftover pile of fun money.

^^^^^^^

In 2008, the ADIA made a big deal with Citigroup (links removed).

It was a whirlwind of negotiations for Citigroup and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). For a week, dealmakers from both sides, some dressed in traditional white Arab robes and others in Western suits, worked furiously across the globe. Then, on the Monday after Thanksgiving they signed a deal, with the biggest bank in the U.S. agreeing to sell a 4.9% stake to the world's largest sovereign wealth fund in ADIA's new headquarters, the tallest skyscraper in Abu Dhabi. Citigroup (C) chairman Robert E. Rubin, on hand as Citigroup's top official, shook hands on the deal with Sheikh Ahmed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ADIA's managing director and the 12th son of Abu Dhabi's late patriarch Sheikh Zayed, before dashing off to meet the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan. Forty eight hours later, the investment arm of the richest Gulf emirate, wired $7.5 billion to a Citigroup account. 
Our pain is their gain.

The dollar looks sick, and U.S. stocks are getting pummeled. But those jitters are merely wetting the appetite of ADIA and other sovereign wealth funds for U.S. investments. These mega investors can afford to take a long term view. "The short term for us is three to five years forward," says Sheikh Ahmed in his dark mahogany paneled office, after a servant poured small cups of Bedouin style cardamom-flavored coffee. "We find (the American market) very attractive.
...Abu Dhabi wants to be among the world's most attractive destinations, and ADIA's Sheikh Ahmed is pushing the giant fund to be best in class as well. So ADIA is tapping the best financial brainpower. And with huge fees and potential capital stakes at stake, top Wall Street players are more than willing to oblige. In recent months, veteran investor Wilbur Ross, BlackRock (BLK) CEO Larry Fink, and Goldman Sachs (GS) CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein all have visited executives at the fund.
When this article was written in 2008, money people considered ADIA extremely thorough and saavy investors. ADIA had already made many prominent investments, outmaneuvering Wall Street firms. ADIA created smaller investment vehicles for certain high risk projects.

I think that's where RAKIA fits in.

I can see how it makes sense to set up separate funds for risky investment that may or may not turn out to be good ideas. Like theoretically buying a teevee station and using it for blatant psyops against Russia.

Still it's hard to believe that this has anything to do with Sheikh al Nahyan disappearing, but still, what a coincidence.

UPDATE: A few more details about ADIA and how sovereign wealth funds work...


Back to October 2008, the Santiago Principles govern the way sovereign wealth funds are supposed to behave themselves as they gobble up assets of the industrialized world.

Given the massive size of some of these entities, many industrialized countries are justifiably concerned about how these can be used to achieve geopolitical objectives which may have little to do with investing in the sense SWFs were originally intended for--preserving and enhancing sovereign wealth.

Independence - us Westerners don't like you foreigners using SWFs to further your national objectives by buying our firms in the defense, transportation, energy, and natural resource sectors. Your financial interests in them may diminish our "national security," although we don't feel the need to define these considerations too specifically;
Transparency - insofar as us Westerners cannot really regulate the activities of your SWFs, we would at least appreciate it if you could tell us what they're investing in so we can take action if necessary (nevermind that we don't demand similar levels of transparency from our hedge funds);
Accountability - us Westerners know that you authoritarian regimes can pretty much use your SWFs to invest in whatever you please. Maybe you should be more "democratic" so that the populace can have greater discretion about where their sovereign wealth is invested in.


In April 2009, ADIA hired a senior investment banker from Rothschild, Alex Carré de Malberg as head of investment banking to lead its advisory business for Middle East and Africa.

"Opportunities are emerging when families and corporates reposition their portfolios. In times of crisis, you only keep parts of your business that fit your long term objectives, and you sell anything that is not synergistic."...Carré de Malberg, who worked for over a decade at independent family-owned investment bank Rothschild, said investors often need "a second, non-conflicted" opinion on cross-border situations in developed markets, alongside U.S. or European investment banks or lending banks...Carré de Malberg developed an intimate knowledge of the Middle East as he set up Rothschild's operations in the United Arab Emirates. ...M&A activity went relatively quiet in the last half of 2008 as the global economic crisis unfolded and credit dried up, but signs are emerging that companies, family offices and private equity firms are on the hunt for acquisitions as asset valuations have fallen...He has advised family offices, companies and private equity firms on M&A and leveraged buy-outs, helped governments with privatization programmes, worked on initial public offerings and arranged pre-IPO financing.
In November 2009, playing the role of "trusted adviser" to Gordon Brown and others, the Rothschild family.

Baron Rothschild shares most people’s view that there is a new world order. In his opinion, banks will deleverage and there will be a new form of global governance. “But you have to be careful of caricatures: we don’t want to go from ultra liberalism to protectionism.”

So how did the Rothschilds manage to emerge relatively unscathed from the financial meltdown? “You could say that we may have more insights than others, or you may look at the structure of our business,” he says. “As a family business, we want to limit risk. There is a natural pride in being a trusted adviser.”

It is that role as trusted adviser to both governments and companies that Rothschilds is hoping to build on in the region. “In today’s world we have a strong offering of debt and equity,” he says. “They are two arms of the same body looking for money.”
End of November 2009, Rothschild adviser comes on board to restructure Dubai's assets.
Paul Reynolds, head of Rothschild's advisory operations in the Middle East, was this week asked to work for the Dubai government's chief restructuring officer alongside Aidan Birkett of Deloitte, who was appointed on Wednesday. The team is tasked with assessing the group's assets, which is likely to result in a large scale sell-off of assets...The neighbouring emirate of Abu Dhabi is seen as one of the main buyers of Dubai's assets. 
About a week later, Dubai starts to fall apart.

"Dubai will struggle to tap the debt capital market in the near business cycle," Stephen de Stadler, managing director at Fitch Ratings in the Middle East told Zawya Dow Jones. "Now that the bond is rated junk, certain investors will be forced to sell." ...Deloitte's Aidan Birkett has been appointed to restructure Dubai World. Rothschild and Moelis & Co. are also advising on the restructuring.
Two weeks ago, ADIA says as much as 45% invested in the developed world.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the worlds’ largest sovereign wealth funds, has invested as much as 45 percent of its assets in developed markets, the fund said in its first annual review....Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates and home to about 8 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves, is trying to diversify away from oil. ADIA and its Norwegian and Chinese peers are the three largest sovereign wealth funds in the world, managing over $1 trillion between them, Preqin Ltd said March 11. The emirate lent neighboring Dubai $20 billion last year to help it meet its debt obligations.


Thanks to James for the links.

45 comments:

Penny said...

hey ap, I saw this today and I went, huh!

Because, did I just not read the other day about a Dutch fellow gone missing with a bunch of other people's money too?

Somehow he ties into Quatar?
Wondering if it is connected?

Oh and off topic, but, when you saw all the religious people involved in the haitian kidnapping ring, did you think Sabbateans?

A. Peasant said...

hi pen,
hmm i did not see the dutch story, but i've been really trying to multitask here getting my laptop back together. thus i don't know if there's any connection.

re: haiti. well yes at this point, yes. anything related to chabad automatically qualifies, and it goes from there.

"RED" said...

TO THE COMMENT ABOUT HOW SHEIKH AHMED BIN ZAYAD AL NAHYAN WAS "MISSING" IN A LAKE??!! AND THE 'PILOT' WAS IMMEDIATELY, IMMEDIATELY "RESCUED"..UH HUH..SURE...

AND THEN SHEIKH AHMED WAS "MISSING" FOR (4) DAYS???!!..UH-HUH..SURE...

IT DOESN'T TAKE A 'ROCKET SCIENTIST' TO FIGURE THIS OUT.....H..MH..M..H..MM....

A. Peasant said...

yes Red we're down with all that. either he was whacked or he "disappeared" wink wink.

RED said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
RED said...

A:

HOPE MY LAST POST DIDN'T UPSET YOU...WASN'T MY INTENTIONS...THE REMARKS I MADE WERE ALL TAKEN FROM 'THREADS' AND SITES FROM THE NET...THERE WAS MORE BUT DIDN'T WANT TO GO INTO ANYMORE...

TO JAMES:

GREAT READING ON THE INVESTMENT FIRM SHEIKH AHMED AL NAHYAN WAS IN CHARGE OF....

HE OBVIOUSLY WAS A THREAT TO SOMEONE...AND 'THEY' WANTED HIM OUT OF THE PICTURE...

A. Peasant said...

hi Red, no actually i didn't see any of those things online. can you toss a link over?

RED said...

A:

To start check out these (2)...I'll send more after I hear back from you..can't wait to hear your 'input'.

The 1st link check out paragraphs (3), (4) and (5)...very interesting..

http://www.aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=20448

The 2nd link check out the name of the pilot...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Ahmed_bin_Zayed_al_Nahyan

Red

A. Peasant said...

hi Red, very interesting. the julio lopez names sounds totally made up for the benefit of the gringos.

also note the family have a home on or near the lake.

http://www.france24.com/en/20100328-rescuers-search-moroccan-lake-uae-leaders-brother

The pilot, a Spanish national, survived Friday's crash into an artificial lake in an area where the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah dam is located. He remained hospitalised in stable condition Sunday, a statement published by the UAE's state news agency WAM said.

A Moroccan source close to the probe said the search for Sheikh Ahmed and debris from the glider, also not yet found, was complicated by recent heavy rain that had left water levels high and swamped surrounding areas.

"The dam is 100 percent full because of strong rain that recently hit," the source said.

The UAE statement said an Emirati search team was on the scene and was being assisted by rescuers from other countries.

It also warned of "enormous difficulties in its search in a rugged area comprising mountains and vast swampland."

...He has a home in the area where the glider crashed, frequented by members of the family.



i had been wondering about the area, whether remote or built up.

also this:

"The body hasn't been found but the search is under way without cease," a Moroccan gendarmerie official said. "The mud makes the visibility almost zero for the divers, who are working more than 35 metres (115 feet) down."

...On Monday, the gendarmerie official said that the helicopters mobilised for the search were "equipped with metal detectors because the sheikh was wearing a helmet and other metallic objects."


http://www.starafrica.com/news/africa/article/rescuers-search-moroccan-lake-for-uae-le-36205.html

so maybe that pilot was not supposed to survive, is what i'm thinking. i'm interested in your link with the "ligature marks"...

RED said...

James:

Here's an interesting link...it's about the Rothschild Investor you were discussing....

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-15/abu-dhabi-fund-shuts-investment-banking-unit-property-fund.html

REAALLY INTERESTING, HUH??!!

RED

A. Peasant said...

also Red, what's confusing is that there would have to be a third person involved. who where how... in a glider... ? weird, no?

RED said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

A:

The (3rd) Person according to THREADS AND COMMENTS ONLINE were the (Divers) waiting for the Glider and the Sheikh..

According to a THREAD I SAW..hypothetically speaking...they swam away with both...HID BOTH for (4) Days..then reproduced BOTH at the Original Crash Site...

There were supposedly (250) Divers from 5 Countries....searching for the Sheikh in a SHALLOW MAN-MADE LAKE..uh-huh..

Well like the THREAD SAID..if the Divers took 'him' somewhere then of course he couldn't be found...

Here's something else interesting..there's a video that shows the Glider...then there's the German Newspaper that shows a 'Crumpled Plane'....strange, huh?

I have to head out to work now...

Please let me know what you think of the Diver THREAD...interesting, huh??!!

It makes sense though...

Red

A. Peasant said...

Red: i cannot comment without reading the thread.

what is the big deal? just send the link. it takes two seconds. thanks.

RED said...

A:

I have to find the THREADS..right now I don't have time....

It isn't a big deal..it just takes time to find them...

Just wanted your input on the THEORY..

Here's another link tho..

http://www.aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=20448

Red

RED said...

A:

Here you go...another link...

http://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/koepfe/adia-chef-des-weltgroessten-staatsfonds-verunglueckt;2553482

Interesting, huh?

RED

RED said...

A:

Here's another link...

I'll look for the THREADS later..

Please let me know what you think...

http://video.afghanmania.com/video/eVOizia5MAA

RED

A. Peasant said...

hi Red,
thanks for these. i will look it all over and leave you some thoughts, probably will be a couple of hours though...

james said...

Hey Red,
thanks for the link. That the Rothschilds (in th eform of Alex Carre de Malberg) got the boot out of there doesn't surprise me one bit.
My guess is that the Abu Dhabis got stitched up in the Citibank deal and had the goods on them and were then a threat to the bankers, as you suggest and realised that their former business partners are now their clear enemy. That the Rothschilds could ever be a 'disinterested party' is laughable.

But at this highest of levels of business, these players don't pull con jobs on one another. The circle is too small, for a start, and there is always repeat business to think of. But the rules seem to be changing fast with the bankers wanting to take out rivals left, right and centre.

So I am thinking it is 'Buckle your seatbelt, Dorothy" time (to quote Mr. Reagan of the 'Matrix')

A. Peasant said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
A. Peasant said...

also Red, yes it would make sense for divers to be there waiting to sink the body. one early link says the diver was found in "good condition".

http://www.zimbio.com/United+Arab+Emirates/articles/s4Xk_GP3fyv/UAE+head+largest+sovereign+wealth+fund+missing

also, this link (i think you found it) is a little unclear about when and who was discovered in the lake:

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.handelsblatt.com%2Funternehmen%2Fkoepfe%2Fadia-chef-des-weltgroessten-staatsfonds-verunglueckt%3B2553482&sl=de&tl=en

A. Peasant said...

sorry meant to say the *pilot* was found in "good condition" -- presumably not suffering from internal injuries...

RED said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
RED said...

A:

Thanks for the link you sent...but I think there is a discrepancy in that it says Sheikh Ahmed trained Pilots...I think they meant to say his Older HALF-BROTHER, THE CROWN PRINCE ...SHEIKH MOHAMMED...HE'S THE COMMANDER OF THE UAE ARMED FORCES...

SHEIKH AHMED WAS "LEARNING" TO FLY...

LET ME KNOW IF YOU COME UP WITH ANYTHING ELSE.

THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENT...

RED

A. Peasant said...

hi Red,
thanks for the links and info. yes i think you're right, it's big. i've been working on a post all day trying to sort out the connections. not so much on the accident just more on the family and possible dynamics. i probably won't get into the accident too much so if you can't find the thread that's ok. if you do i'd love to check it out but no worries either way.

i'll be posting it tomorrow sometime. done for today! i will take out that comment before i do, unless you have already.

RED said...

JAMES:

YOU ARE SO RIGHT...AT THIS HIGH LEVEL OF BUSINESS THE PLAYERS DO NOT PULL CONS ON EACH OTHER...

HERE'S THE NEXT "SHOCKER"...I READ TODAY...AN ONLINE 'THEORY'....

WHAT IF SOMEONE OR SOMEONE(S) WANTED TO CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE VERY ENTITY THAT HAD MISREPRESENTED ITSELF?!

WHAT IF SOMEONE OR SOMEONE(S) FROM THAT ENTITY WAS "EXTREMELY FRIENDLY" WITH A DIFFERENT MEMBER(S) OF THE FAMILY??!!

MAYBE IT WAS THEN BROUGHT TO LIGHT AND THE MD OBJECTEDAND HAD THE POWER TO VETO SUCH A REQUEST??!!

WHAT DO YOU THINK JAMES??!!

RED

RED said...

JAMES:

HERE'S ANOTHER INTERESTING ARTICLE...

http://trueslant.com/devonpendleton/2010/04/01/what-abu-dhabis-looming-power-struggle-means-for-dubai/

BUT AS WE ALL KNOW BY NOW...IT IS SHEIKH AHMED'S HALF-BROTHER SHEIKH HAMAD THAT IS NOW THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE FUND..

WOULD LOVE YOUR INPUT ON THIS ARTICLE..

RED

RED said...

JAMES:

CHECK THIS OUT TOO...

LAST PARAGRAPH 1ST) SENTENCE...

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT...

IT'S TIME FOR DOROTHY TO FASTEN HER SEATBELT

RED said...

A:

HERE'S ANOTHER LINK...

http://social.stocktock.com/forum/topics/abu-dhabi-investment-authority?xg_source=activity

RED

RED said...

JAMES:

HERE'S AN INTERESTING LINK...

http://www.financehouse.ae/en/news/finance-house-mourns-the-death-of-sheikh-ahmed-bin-zayed-al-nahyan.html

RED

james said...

Hi RED,
thanks for the links. I'll check them out.

You know, you're looking and sounding familiar. Do I know you? You're not in the 'Eastern Seaboard' time zone are you by any chance?

A. Peasant said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
RED said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
RED said...

JAMES:

YOU SOUND FAMILIAR TOO...

NO I'M ON THE FAR WEST COAST...

HERE'S ANOTHER LINK...
http://www.uaeinteract.com/docs/Mohammed_bin_Zayed_issues_resolution_to_establish_Bureau_for_financial_policies_and_budgeting_in_Abu_Dhabi/40738.htm

THINGS ARE STARTING TO GET "RESTRUCTURED" AREN'T THEY?!!

RED

RED said...

JAMES AND A:

CHECK THIS OUT...THIS WILL MAKE YOU SCRATCH YOUR HEAD...

APPARENTLY INITIALLY SOMEONE 'ELSE' WAS APPOINTED TO HEAD OF ADIA...

http://www.cpifinancial.net/v2/News.aspx?v=1&aid=4742&sec=The%20Economy

(5) DAYS LATER THIS HAPPENS....HMHMHM

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093322168

WHAT DO YOU THINK??!!

RED

RED said...

A:

PLEASE DELETE APRIL 29, 2010 AT 5:11 AM POST...
ALSO APRIL 29, 2010 AT 12:28 PM

I CAN'T DELETE IT..

THAT'S THE ONE I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DELTE..

HOW CAN I DELETE?

WHERE IS THE POST YOU DID?

I'D LOVE TO SEE IT..

RED

A. Peasant said...

hi Red,
ok it's gone. sorry you mentioned that term more than once & i didn't spot that one.

the new post is at the top now:

http://twelfthbough.blogspot.com/

permalink here:
http://twelfthbough.blogspot.com/2010/04/sheikhs-of-abu-dhabi.html

Greg Bacon said...

Maybe the lake was like that site in PA, where Flight 93 was shot down.. we were told that the ground 'liquified' and swallowed the plane, so maybe the lake did some swallowing?

Better get NIST to figure this one out!

P.S. Did you notice that Junior's self-congratulatory book about 9/11 is coming out on November 9?

Or 11/9.

Smug bastards.

A. Peasant said...

hey greg, no didn't catch that. figures. and didn't laura just put out a book as well gushing about them being twisted soulmates or some such effwittery? i don't know. i thought i caught something on the teevee.

RED said...

A:

THANKS FOR REMOVING THE POST...HAD A CHANCE TO GET YET MORE "INSIGHT"...REMEBER WHEN I SAID THIS WAS 'BIG'?!!

TRY...(5) COUNTRIES BIG...PEOPLE ARE STILLL "COMMENTING" ON SHEIKH AHMED'S DEATH....

HMHMHMHM...

VERY INTERESTING...WILL SEND YOU MORE INFO LATER....

RED

RED said...

GREG:

IN RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENT....THE GROUND DIDN'T 'LIQUIFY'...

ONLINE COMMENTS AND THREADS INDICATE OTHERWISE...

THE 'MAN-MADE LAKE' IN MOROCCO DIDN'T SWALLOW ANYONE...

THERE'S AN ONLINE THEORY THAT THE SHEIK WAS ALREADY DECEASED WHEN HE HIT THE WATER...

THERE WERE 'DIVERS' WAITING TO TAKE HIM AND THE CRAFT AWAY...HE AND THE CRAFT DISAPPEAR FOR (4) DAYS AND THEN REAPPEAR AT THE ORIGINAL CRASH SITE...

MAKES YOU GO H-MH-M..

RED

RED said...

A:

HERE'S SOMETHING ELSE OF INTEREST..

NEITHER THE NEW YORK TIMES NOR ANY, I REPEAT ANY OF THE ARABIC NEWSPAPERS WILL ALLOW ANY COMMENTS 'QUESTIONING' THE DEATH OF SHEIKH AHMED...ABOUT THE PILOT, ETC.

INTERESTING, HUH?

A FRIEND OF MINE HAS TRIED (5) TIMES TO POST QUESTIONS/COMMENTS...SHE HAS BEEN DENIED...SOMETHING ABOUT SHE CAN'T USE PROFANE LANGUAGE...SHE NEVER DID!!

BUT THE NEW YORK TIMES??!!

THAT REALLY MAKES ONE THINK...

RED

RED said...

A:

HERE'S SOMETHING ELSE I THOUGHT YOU COULD ADD TO YOUR POST OF AHMED....

As managing director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, Sheikh Ahmed's dynamism and sense of ambition matched the values of both Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates. A young boy at the birth of his nation, Sheikh Ahmed would have grown up watching his country, and its influence in world affairs, grow with him.

Last year, a magazine no less august than Forbes placed the sheikh at number 27 in its annual roll call of the most powerful men on the planet on the basis of both his role at ADIA and his membership of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi - he was half brother of the UAE's ruler.

The ranking was not only a fitting honour for Sheikh Ahmed, but for his country, too, whose vast reserves of petrodollars have become ever more powerful during the biggest global recession in living memory.

A nod from Sheikh Ahmed, Forbes realised, could see the funds needed for survival arriving at beleaguered institutions, and even countries, around the world. His was the ear that heads of state and business leaders from Washington to Moscow to Beijing wanted. That he managed to keep such a low profile was remarkable, yet in keeping with the low-key nature of ADIA.

RED said...

A:

ALSO:

His life may have been short, but his career was stellar, and his life experience broad.

The philanthropic side of his nature was channeled through his role as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works, a body which provides support for all manner of causes, from supporting Islamic mosques around the world to education to disaster relief. He also sat on Abu Dhabi's top oil body, the Supreme Petroleum Council, and was one of the eighteen surviving sons of the UAE's founding father, HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He was listed, too, as a major shareholder in National Holding.

One thing is for certain, whoever replaces Sheikh Ahmed - who oversaw ADIA during the recent oil boom and the UAE's rise to global stardom, while pushing for transparency and successful returns - will have very big boots to fill.


RED

RED said...

A:

PLEASE REMOVE POST MADE ON APRIL 29TH @6:31 PM

I THOUGHT THE "GRAPHIC" ONES WERE ALL GONE...

THANKS,

RED

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