Dear Passy,

If you google (like I did), 'Prince Alaweed bin Talal - News Corp,'
you'll come up with several websites that will confirm your suspicions.

There is definitely Saudi money in News Corp.

You were spot on.

Check it out!

Passy,
Yes its true they are putting billions and billions into univesitys.
When I get time I will post the figures. Also billions into other areas

Boaz,
By all means debate the comparative evils of ALL religions.

Philosophising about interpretations of obscure texts is utterly meaningless when facts can speak so much louder than words.

http://www.christianaggression.org/item_display.php?type=ARTICLES&id=1137511050

Of the 250 million who died violently during the 20th Century alone, guess who was involved in about 200 million of those deaths?

Foxy and Passy,
The news about Prince Alaweed bin Talal investing in News Corp is about 4 years old and was done to help Murdoch avoid a takeover by the likes of John Malone's Liberty Media. Not quite the sinister conspiracy that some may like to believe it is.
He only recently converted his 3% (of non-voting shares) into around 5% of voting shares. I think Murdoch owns about 27%.

Passy,

November 26, 1997 Prince al Waleed bin Talal, a nephew of Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia, has bought 5% of News Corporation, which owns News International, publishers of The Sun and The Times.

Sep 08, 2005 Rupert Murdoch received an important show of support from Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the Saudi investor. The Saudi prince, a long-time shareholder, converted his non-voting shares in News Corp to a 5.46 per cent stake of the voting shares and said he might buy more 'if the situation warrants', media reports said.
RIYADH, 25 January 2008 — James Murdoch, chairman and CEO, Europe andAsia, News Corporation

Fri, 2008-01-25 James Murdoch has met with Arab media magnet PrinceAlwaleed in Riyadh. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal holds a 5.7% votinstake in News Corp and is the second largest individual shareholder.James Murdoch: sealed the deal with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the Saudi billionaire. Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is reportedly launching two English-language satellite TV channels in the Middle East.News Corp is planning a film channel, potentially called
Fox Movies, and a drama channel, according to US entertainment paper Variety.The free-to-air satellite channels are to be launched later this year in partnership with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, A 24-hour movie channel, tentatively dubbed Fox Movies, will launch in May. The second channel, whose sked will be largely filled with U.S. skeins, will launch in or around November.

Friday March 14 2008 James Murdoch: sealed the deal with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the Saudi billionaire.

Who is Rupert Murdoch? According to CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS:
MURDOCH IS THE WAR MONGER, THE NEOCONSERVATIVE, THE OIL IMPERIALIST, THE INTIMIDATOR, THE NEWS EDITOR, THE BUSH SUPPORTER, THE BUSH FAMILY EMPLOYER, THE MIXER OF BUSINESS AND POLITICS, THE NEW YORK CITY POLITICAL BOSS, THE DEFENDER OF REPRESSIVE REGIMES, THE APOLOGIST FOR DICTATORSHIPS, THE PROPAGANDIST FOR DICTATORS, THE ENABLER OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS, THE HIDER OF MONEY IN COMMUNIST CUBA, THE UNION BUSTER, THE CORPORATE TAX EVADER, THE LOVER OF OFFSHORE TAX HAVENS, THE ABUSER OF TAX LOOPHOLES I have plenty information!
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Passy,

A little bit of Saudi Money? It was $1.3 million dollars. And the VC said they could decide how the money was spent. And he said he would keep it a secret.

BOAZ is absolutely right when he says that the Whabis are diametrically opposed to almost all of the beliefs you hold sacred. And even worse, they are seeking to export those ideas to our country.

You say throw in the word Wahabism and you fan the flames of xenophobia. Do you have any idea about true xenophobia? Go to Saudi if you want a lesson. You obviously know nothing about Wahabism; indeed you seem to think it’s a creation of the neo cons. How naïve you are. These people are Islamic fundamentalists and they are looking to radicalise our moderate Islamic population. It is no mistake that 20 of the suicide bombers on 9/11 were from Saudi.

Wahabism is as far from leftist politics as it is possible to be, yet you support them. What kind of cretin are you? I think Col got that one right.

BTW,

There is no evidence that the US ever gave Bin Laden ANY money at all. I would say once again that the majority of funds went to the coalition of organisations led by Ahmed Shah Masood. They were later known as the northern alliance and they assisted in driving out the Taliban. They now form the larger part of the ANA fighting the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

You say >> “The Christian allies are more to blame than the left (for wahabism?).”

Do you mean the same lefties who actually supported the communists? Do you mean the left that refused to believe the evidence that the Soviets were butchers who were universally hated by their people and only retained power through brutal suppression? Those lefties?

I've come across an interesting article:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23619067-27702,00.html

It's in, The Australian, April 30, 2008, by Jill Rowbotham, "Exercise Extreme Caution."

It states, "Griffith University's embarrassment over a sweetheart funding deal with the repressive Saudi Arabian Government, with a $100,000 donation in the bag and potentially $1.37 million more to follow, has highlighted a growing disquiet in some quarters over sources of financing for Islamic studies.

A source of criticism blew up when it was revealed Griffith Islamic Research Unit Director Mohamad Abdala had sought the Saudi funding."

It seems that the university may be considering returning the donation already received, and not pursuing any further donations from the Saudi Government.

It may be as you suggested Passy, a storm in a teacup.

We'll have to wait and see what develops.