---
category: Intelligence & Government
summary: Pender played a significant role in FIDCO's activities in Lebanon.
tags:
- Person
- Politician
---

[George K. Pender](/people/george-k-pender/) was a Director of [FIDCO](/organizations/first-intercontinental-development-corporation/) and a former Director of the Pacific Ocean area for Burns & Roe, Inc., an international engineering and construction corporation. He also served as a Senior Engineer Consultant to Burns & Roe, Inc.[^1]

Pender played a significant role in [FIDCO](/organizations/first-intercontinental-development-corporation/)'s activities in [Lebanon](/places/lebanon/). A letter dated July 12, 1983, from Pender to [Amin Gamayel](/people/amin-gamayel/), the president of [Lebanon](/places/lebanon/), indicated [FIDCO](/organizations/first-intercontinental-development-corporation/)'s interest in arranging financing for the redevelopment of [Lebanon](/places/lebanon/), specifically mentioning the rebuilding of Damour and Alkhyam. This letter also noted that Pender had previously visited Beirut in February and May 1983 to discuss [FIDCO](/organizations/first-intercontinental-development-corporation/)'s participation, with meetings held with the Chamouns, [Maurice Ghanem](/people/maurice-ghanem/), and Mourad Baroudy.[^1]

Pender's letter to President Gamayel also notably listed [Robert Booth Nichols](/people/robert-booth-nichols/)' telex number (652483 RBN ASSOCS LSA) for responses, indicating a close operational link between Pender and Nichols. The Arab Bank Limited in Amman, [Jordan](/places/jordan/), responded positively to a potential financial transaction of "US$ three billion or more" for the reconstruction of [Lebanon](/places/lebanon/), though the text suggests it is unlikely such reconstruction fully materialized.[^1]

[Michael Riconosciuto](/people/michael-riconosciuto/) claimed to have worked directly under [Maurice Ghanem](/people/maurice-ghanem/) and [George K. Pender](/people/george-k-pender/) in [Lebanon](/places/lebanon/), further linking Pender to the alleged drug/intelligence operations in the region. Riconosciuto also stated that [FIDCO](/organizations/first-intercontinental-development-corporation/) had a companion company called Euramae Trading, which operated throughout the Middle East and was involved in the drug trade, allegedly as a [NSC](/organizations/national-security-council/)-directed operation.[^1]

---

[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010.