Sunday, May 31, 2009

Redux: Frances Townsend Lands In Riyadh


On May 26, 2009 Frances Townsend met with Saudi King Abdullah. The Saudi Press release didn't reveal the nature of the meeting.

Nearly four years ago, Mrs. Townsend delivered a letter to King Abdullah on Hurricane Katrina. When Frances jumped on the plane, the last New Orleans hospital patients were evacuated from sweltering, "toxic gumbo" inundated hospitals. When Bush's Homeland Security Adviser returned from Riyadh, she completed an "investigation." Her White House Lessons Learned report omitted any mention of the hospital with the highest patient death toll. It had been purchased by The Carlyle Group, a politically connected private equity firm.

What was the nature of Fran's current trip? Was she:

1. Seeking funds for the George W. Bush library
2. Consulting with the Saudi's on risk management in her Baker Botts role
3. Working on behalf of the Carlyle Group's $500 million Middle East-North Africa fund

I certainly don't know the answer. I do wonder if she'll swing by Libya and visit the Gadhafi clan. If so, apply the aforementioned question to that meeting.

(HT-Best of Both Worlds)

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