My carpool partner told me about hearing this tale on NPR and it was fascinating, so I tracked down the book. What a scary story, about the huge treasure fund that has been used for decades to fund covert operations worldwide since the end of WW2. 
 Sadly, NOTHING surprises me anymore, and I do tend to be seduced by what some call "conspiracy theories" -- but just because they are thusly labeled does not mean they are untrue. 
 And again I would not put anything past our very own axis of evil, AKA Bush-Cheney.