During the civil war in Rwanda, millions of Americans, made contributions to aid refugees from that conflict. But most of the money that those caring people gave through one organization, Operation Blessing, ended up financing diamond mining instead. The profits were then hidden away offshore to evade the lawful taxes due. This was done by one of the most despicable Republicans alive.
A new documentary may be one of the highest-caliber shells fired across Pat Robertson’s bow in a long time. Back in 1994, Robertson’s humanitarian organization, Operation Blessing, claimed to have raised scads of money to help thousands of Rwandan refugees who fled across the border to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But according to Mission Congo, slated to premiere tonight at the Toronto International Film Festival, much of that money actually went to fund a diamond mining operation run by Robertson.
Mission Congo, by David Turner and Lara Zizic, opens at the Toronto film festival on Friday. It describes how claims about the scale of aid to Rwandan refugees were among a number of exaggerated or false assertions about the activities of Operation Blessing which pulls in hundreds of millions of dollars a year in donations, much of it through Robertson’s televangelism. They include characterising [sic] a failed large-scale farming project as a huge success, and claims about providing schools and other infrastructure.
But some of the most damaging criticism of Robertson comes from former aid workers at Operation Blessing, who describe how mercy flights to save refugees were diverted hundreds of miles from the crisis to deliver equipment to a diamond mining concession run by the televangelist.
Read more about the film at the festival Website. The allegations it makes would send a chill down the spine of any fair-minded viewer. Officials with Doctors Without Borders told the filmmakers that Operation Blessing was more or less nonexistent in one of the hardest-hit towns, Goma–only one tent and seven doctors. Then, several weeks later, even that minimal effort apparently stopped… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Daily Kos>
I urge you to click through and read the rest of this article to learn how most of the operation was just a front for Robertson’s diamond mining, how he ignored the plight of the refugees, how he cheated the millions who trusted him, and how he hid the money away. No authentic Christian would behave in this way, but then, Robertson has nothing to do with Christianity. He’s a Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian.
23 Responses to “Pseudo-Christian Blood Diamonds”
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This is the type of action I have come to expect from the "Reverend" Pat Robinson. I read another blog in the Daily Kos about this and they reference HuffPo with snippets from a pilot's journal. Read on…
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/09/06/1236906/-Pat-Robertson-reportedly-diverted-Operation-Blessing-donations-to-mining-project
If nothing else happens because of this documentary, the very least should be tax evsion. The last I knew diamonds mined and sold were taxable by the IRS.
Robertson, not "Robinson"! Typing faster than my brain was working this AM.
LOL! I liked that article so much, it's the one I quoted and linked to in this article. 🙂
In so many ways, Robertson is the exact opposite of everything Jesus Christ was in the Bible.
I agree, Howard. That's pretty standard for Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians.
Pat Robertson’s “God” may be omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient – but he apparently mumbles. We can all remember last November when Robertson claimed his “God” told him that Romney and the GOP was going to win … in a landslide. Oops!
Robertson’s “Operation Blessing” has a long and ignominious history. Not only did FEMA under Bush put it at the top of the list of charities to donate to after Hurricane Katrina, but the Bush administration also granted them almost $15 MILLION under their “faith-based initiative” program.
“Operation Blessing” almost got busted back in 1997 when the two pilots complained and an investigation was begun. But after it was pointed out that Robertson gave over $150,000 in donations to Virginia Rethuglicans Gov. James Gilmore and Attorney General Mark Earley, they decided to put a stop to the investigation.
Ain't Teabangelical christianists just the cat's meow?
"Ain't Teabangelical christianists just the cat's meow?"
You know Nameless, the International Association of Christian cats, of which my 3 are loyal members, are likely to lodge a law suit against you for maligning them —- mentioning 'Teabangelical christianists ' and 'cat's meow' in the same sentence together is tantamount to a declaration of war!
They, and I, would dearly like to see this pseudo Christian idiot defrocked very publicly and go down in wondrous flames!
What Lynn said!
Robertson cannot be compared to any Meow that has ever come out of my mouth. However, it might be appropriate to compare him to a substance from the other end.
Very well said, Nameless, except for the kitty defamation.
I can not wait to see this film and I'll save my words being a Military Guy… 🙂
It's on my to see list too.
"Televangelist, multi-millionaire, and leader of the religious right, Pat Robertson is a man on a mission."
A mission to be filthy rich!
MAJOR Bingo!
Robertson makes me wish I believed in hell; there would have to be a special place there for him.
If there is such a thing as reincarnation he has a future calling as a flea on the ass of a gay camel.
I have never believed that televangelists were authentic Christians. They spend more on their hair than poor families spend on food.
I am not surprised that Dubya put Robertson's organization on the list for donations after Katrina, are you?
Although I have never seen one I trust, I won't paintr all with the same brush. The obes I have seen all seemed quite capable of representiung evil in their own ways.
Robertson is evil personified. I hope that the IRS investigates him, African Development Company and Operation Blessings for fraud and tax evasion. I wonder if they could get him for contributing to the Rawandan genocide?
Blood diamonds . . . what a pitiful excuse for a human being! This is no moral authority!
I would dearly love to see this movie and hope it goes viral!
Since the crime was committed and profits were earned offshore, jurisdiction could be problematic. There would be a better chance of success in a class action civil suit, by contributors.
The idea of a civil suit by donaters is great. Unfortunately, most of them are brain-washed or brain-dead.
As much as I hate to day it, the latter are better off!