From The Financial Times, 12/12/03:
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com%2FStoryFT%2FFullStory&
c=StoryFT&cid=1069493928776

Businessmen use Bush link to win deals

By Stephen Fidler and Thomas Catán


Two businessmen instrumental in setting up New Bridge Strategies, a
well-connected Washington firm designed to help clients win contracts
in Iraq, have previously used an association with the younger brother
of President George W. Bush to seek business in the Middle East, an FT
investigation has found.

John Howland, the company president, and Jamal Daniel, a principal,
have maintained an important business relationship with Neil Bush
stretching back several years.

In Mr Daniel's case, the relationship spans more than a decade, with
his French office arranging a trip for Mr Bush's family to Disneyland
Paris in 1992, while his father, George H.W.Bush, was president.

On several occasions, the two have attempted to exploit their
association with the president's brother to help win business and
investors.

Three people contacted by the FT have seen letters written by Neil
Bush recommending business ventures promoted by Mr Howland, Mr Daniel
and his family in the Middle East.

Mr Daniel has also had his photograph taken with the elder Mr Bush.

Such letters and photographs can be valuable props when doing business
in the Middle East.

Mr Daniel's Houston investment fund, Crest Investment Corporation,
employs Neil Bush as co-chairman.

Crest Investment also helped fund Neil Bush's Ignite!, an educational
software company.

Mr Daniel sometimes introduces himself as a founding backer of Mr
Bush's company, a Middle-Eastern businessman who has met him said, and
has persuaded the families of prominent leaders in the region to
invest.

Mr Daniel, Mr Bush and Mr Howland have also been directors of
Silvermat, a Swiss company controlled by Crest Investment that
supplies the hospitality industry and has had financial and industrial
relations problems.

Mr Howland is chairman of the company.

Mr Howland, the Houston businessman who heads New Bridge, was accused
in a court case in 1997 of misusing company funds, self-dealing and
civil conspiracy, while running a company owned by a Saudi
businessman.

It was alleged more than $12 million went missing from the company
while he was in sole charge of its finances.

Mr Howland was also being paid by the company's sole supplier,
American Rice, with whom he negotiated a "fraudulently induced"
contract, it was claimed.

Mr Howland denied the arrangement had been secret and he and American
Rice countersued, alleging breach of contract.

He said on Thursday:

"There was nothing secretive about it at all. It was all public
information."

He also said he did not know what had happened to a
$12 million letter of credit that was used up while he was running the
Saudi company.

The case, in which Mr Daniel's role also came under question, was
settled in 1998 with payments to Mr Jaber understood to have exceeded
$3.5 million.

A lawyer for Mr Howland on Thursday said the suit had been "frivolous"
and the claims "unsubstantiated".

Mr Bush and Mr Daniel did not respond to interview requests.

New Bridge was established in May and came to public attention because
of the Republican heavyweights on its board - most linked to one or
other Bush administration or the to family itself.

Those include Joe Allbaugh, George W. Bush's presidential campaign
manager, and Ed Rogers and Lanny Griffith, former George H.W. Bush
aids.

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What a family, eh?

Harry