Depends on the country. Speaking as a Pakistani, it sent our then PM to prison and then exile.
It’s speculation that he used “US aid money”, and he likely didn’t.
He claims that it is his personal fortune, and I think he is probably right. The sordid details are that a King shouldn’t have personal fortunes to begin with.
Man, makes me miss Arafat, never forget the look on the CNN presenters face when guest who was an ex MOSSAD type said that “no actually, Arafat didn’t have a large personal fortune, and trust me, we looked for it”.
actually, if I remember correctly we were paying the old king of Jordan a small fortune via the CIA for like 20 or more years because he was a moderate sort of westernized voice in Arabian politics only and helped us out a few times?
(in fact, if I also remember the queen was American)
The only reason anyone knew was I think the times reported it and the reaction was a big shrug
That’s not exactly true. While he had little money of his own, Arafat had absolute and exclusive control of much of the PLO’s finances, meaning that he had sole access to vast sums, and could write checks of of whatever size to whoever he wanted, with no oversight - and often did. It was one of the main ways he stayed in charge for so long.
What he didn’t do was spend any of that money on himself. To his credit, he really went all in with his “honest revolutionary” persona.
Interesting, was it a genuine belief in it being the “peoples money” or was it a case of he really wasn’t that interested in material things.
Reminds me of what was said of Gandhi, that it took a lot of money to keep him poor.
Gandhi.
Revered by some. Hated by some.
I have to give it to him for founding the ‘Non Violent Struggle’. Perhaps the only thing I respect him for.
There is the story of him going to meet Mountbatten on a hot summer day in Delhi.
Mountbatten has the air-conditioner on full blast and Gandhi, as usual shirtless and clad in his white sarong from waist down starts shaking uncontrollably.
Mountbatten quickly turned off the AC and opened a few windows.
They are quietly removing Gandhi statues in Africa. The refrain being ‘what did he really do for us ?’.
Interesting read.
He was a guy who thought black people were inferior. No brainer frankly.
And how does this tally with the Pandora papers?
As the Beach Boys said, God only knows.
It does not .
Only because you mentioned Gandhi.
Sorry
Up Next: The eagerly awaited “Bears Shit In The Woods” Papers.
Turns out that even if something is obvious as a general principle, scientists still study the specifics, because knowing the specifics can increase general knowledge, correct misconceptions, and indicate specific advisable courses of action.
I feel like there’s a lesson there.
Probably to let professionals study what they feel is necessary without gossiping about the scandalous aspects while pretending to be profound.
well gee willikers