Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group is a private equity fund, sort of like a invitation-only mutual fund, formed in a 1987 meeting between David Rubenstein and William Conway Jr. at the Carlyle Hotel in Washington. Its assets are around $12 billion, which is actually quite a lot of money to control if you demand profits on it. Those profits thus far have been about 35% per year, very impressive. Carlyle is the 11th largest defense contractor in the United States, and has numerous ventures everywhere -- for instance, a $50M/yr contract training the Saudi Arabia National Guard.
What makes Carlyle a bit different than ordinary funds is that certain people of influence use their extra-fund connections to benefit the greater good of the fund. Foremost among these is Frank Carlucci, and if you wondered why an $11 billion Crusader defense system is still alive after being dis-recommended by the Pentagon, you need only look this far.
Bailed out Euro Disney.
Conspiracy nutjobs see the Carlyle Group as something evil. It's just about money, that's all.
Partners and Former Partners
Bin Laden family (of the Osama bin Laden's) had $2M invested in Carlyle Partners II fund. On 26 Oct 2001, after the 9/11 attacks, this investment was withdrawn.
George HW Bush
George Soros, invested $100M.
James Baker III
Frank Carlucci, former U.S. Secretary of Defense
Arthur Levitt, former SEC chairman
Louis V. Gerstner, ex-CEO IBM, Chairman of the Carlyle Group
John Major, ex-PM of Britain
Fidel Ramos, ex-President, Philippines
Saudi Royal Family
http://www.rotten.com/library/conspiracy/carlyle-group/