Editing Safari Club (section)

===CIA’s Informal Involvement===
Coordination with U.S. Intelligence: The Safari Club coordinated with American intelligence agencies, including the CIA, through an informal division of labor. Saudi Arabia provided funding, France supplied technology, and Egypt and Morocco contributed troops and weapons, often aligning with U.S. and Israeli intelligence goals.

Key CIA Figures: Former CIA Director Richard Helms, U.S. Ambassador to Iran (1973–1977), and CIA operative [[Theodore Shackley]] maintained connections with the Safari Club. Peter Dale Scott describes the group as part of a “second CIA,” an autonomous network of agents continuing covert operations outside official channels. Shackley, his deputy [[Thomas Clines]], and agent [[Edwin P. Wilson]] (involved in the “Arms for Libya” deal) secretly worked with the Safari Club and BCCI, despite Turner’s reforms.

George H.W. Bush’s Role: As CIA Director in 1976, [[George H.W. Bush]] had a personal account at BCCI and supported its transformation into a global money-laundering network, with Saudi intelligence chief [[Kamal Adham]], a Safari Club member, playing a key role. This network financed covert operations, including those aligned with U.S. interests. Bush’s tenure saw the CIA open accounts with BCCI, facilitating off-the-books operations.