James R. Bath
AKA James Reynolds Bath
Born: 1937
Birthplace: Natchitoches, LA
Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Business
Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Bush, bin Laden business partner
Military service: USAF Reserve
James R. Bath was one of the original investors in George W. Bush's failed oil venture; in fact, he owned 5% of Arbusto Energy. Bath and Bush go way back, to their days as pilots in the same Texas Air National Guard unit during the Vietnam War. Coincidentally, Bath also happens to have been suspended from flying exactly one month after Bush, and for precisely the same reason: "Failure to accomplish annual medical examination."
Despite his protestations to the contrary ("I am not a member of the CIA or any other intelligence agency."), a persistent rumor is that Bath was recruited by the CIA, sometime after he started working as the front man for Saudi investor Salem bin Laden in 1978. (Salem was Osama's older brother who died in 1988.) Evidently, Salem made large investments in the United States using Bath as his proxy. Ultimately, Bath was drawn into the BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International) scandal.
Wife: Sandra C. Bath (divorced)
BCCI
Arbusto Energy 5% stake