The Unfolding BCCI Scandal
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The article “Banking CIA-Style” by Burton Hersh (Opinion, Aug. 4) reveals that, as early as 1986, CIA Director-designate Robert M. Gates labeled the Bank of Credit and Commerce International the “Bank of Crooks and Criminals.”
I have two questions:
1) In the projected Senate confirmation hearings, how will Gates justify not raising his voice while a currently estimated $15-billion fraud was being perpetrated against the public?
2) If former U.S. Customs Service Commissioner William Von Raab knew about Gates’ comment, presumably President Bush knew about it before nominating Gates. Did the President really believe that the U.S. public would stomach such a revelation and confirm Gates?
JACK BLANKLEY
Los Angeles
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