The Iron Triangle

The Iron Triangle is the story of the Carlyle Group, a company at the nexus of big business, government, and defense that epitomises corporate cronyism. It is a company rife with perceived conflicts of interest as politics and business converge. At best, the firm is guilty of appearing unethical, at worst, nefarious. "The Carlyle Group is a distressing example of the way Washington, D.C., works. The Iron Triangle gives you an insider’s perspective on this creature of the Beltway." Thomas Fitton, President, Judicial Watch, Inc. "Undoubtedly, the story of the Carlyle Group is fascinating . . . a book worth reading." Professional Investor, June 2003 From The Iron Triangle: Dwight D. Eisenhower, upon leaving the office of president in 1961, warned future generations against the dangers of a "military–industrial complex," and the "grave implications" of the "conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry." The wisdom of these comments has clearly been lost in the forty years since Ike left office. And the first step towards turning things around is understanding how we got here. No single company can illustrate that progression better than the Carlyle Group, a business founded on a tax scheme in 1987 that has grown up to be what its own marketing literature once called "a vast interlocking global network." The company does business at the confluence of the war on terrorism and corporate responsibility. It is a world that few of us can even imagine, full of clandestine meetings, quid pro quo deals, bitter ironies, and petty jealousies. And the cast of characters includes some of the most famous and powerful men in the world. This is today’s America. This is the Carlyle Group.