From: "David Guyatt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Tony, Did you ever read Brian Crozier's book "Free Agent?" I have never met or spoken with him but just by reading his book he also seems to be a simpering and pompous s.o.b. His connections with Antoine Pinay and Jean Violet stem, I think, from his membership to "Le Cercle" (also known as the "Pinay Cercle") which was funded by the CIA. Interestingly, this group, according to Robert Hutchison's "Thy Kingdom Come," was part of the Opus Dei network. This is fascinating because the late M.P. (and former government minister) Alan Clark in his "Diaries" reveals that he attended a Le Cercle conference held at Muscat, Oman and attended by the Ruler, Sheik Qaboos - who clearly is not a Christain. Clark attended the conference along with Jonathan Aitken (the disgraced Tory Minister) who Clark stated "...knew absolutely everybody in the world [and] amusingly and indiscretely guided me through it [the attendance list]. This included General Norman Schwarzkopf and Julian Amery (later Lord) son of L S Amery, a Rhodes Trustee. At other times, invited speakers were Kissinger, Hans-Josep Strauss, Brzezinski, David Rockerfeller and Giulio Andreotti. Both Crozier and Amery were, at one time, Chairman of Le Cercle. Crozier also ran an intelligence outfit called simply the "61" that is said to have represented the number of those who supported and financed it. These included the fascist financial manipulator, Sir James Goldsmith and other billionaires and millionaires and I think Rupert Murdoch (tho' I am not certain of the last). The Cercle has, in the past, also included support from Alexander de Marenches, formerly head of SDECE and Sir Arthur "Dickie" Franks. Crozier describes the "61" as a "Secret Operational Organisation," so it is clear that, although private in character, it was a military arm and engaged in covert operations and its remit was global. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MAXIMIZE YOUR CARD, MINIMIZE YOUR RATE! Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds! Get rates as low as 0.0% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR and no hidden fees. Apply NOW! http://click.egroups.com/1/2122/2/_/475667/_/952686179/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------