And former US President George Bush is retiring as a senior adviser to the Carlyle Group. The Financial Times reported that Carlyle offered no explanation for Bush’s retirement other than his age and his desire to move on to other endeavors. Bush was one of many former top officials employed by the secretive private equity firm which invests in defense companies. Others include former British Prime Minister John Major, former US Secretary of State James Baker and former Defense Secretary Frank Carlucci.

George W. Bush also once served on the board of a Carlyle-owned company. Ties between the Bush family and Carlyle has become a growing political liability for President Bush in part because Osama Bin Laden’s family were major investors in Carlyle up until shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks.