Arms fair criticised for using Iraq war to market weapons

[cal04]

British and American arms companies have been criticised for marketing weapons used in Iraq at Europe's biggest arms fair. Campaigners against the arms trade have criticised the Government for inviting countries with dubious human rights records, such as Indonesia and Colombia, to the fair. The campaigners also accused companies such as Lockheed and BAE Systems of "revelling" in the opportunity to sell equipment "battle-tested" in Iraq to those countries. A massive police presence is expected at the Defence Systems and Equipment International (DSEi) exhibition at the Excel Centre in London's Docklands when it officially opens this morning to invited guests only.

The exhibition has been criticised by the Metropolitan Police for diverting resources during a period of heightened terror alert. Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has also criticised the fair. Among the 1,200 exhibitors from 34 countries are many which have made equipment used in Iraq. At the stand of Lockheed Martin, there are replicas of the Hellfire and Thaad (Theatre High Altitude Area Defence) missiles, both of which have been deployed in Iraq. Although the Hellfire is mainly as an air-launched missile, the version being promoted at DSEi is a new type for ground or sea launch. "It has been used regularly and very successfully in Iraq and this one is exactly the same," said Doug Terrell, a Lockheed Martin executive on the stand. "The US Army, Marine Corps and Special Forces absolutely love it." Almost 20,000 Hellfires have been sold worldwide.

The exhibition is run in conjunction with the Defence Export Services Organisation (Deso), the arm of the Ministry of Defence that promotes the sale and licensing of British-made military equipment. Yesterday's press preview day included a catwalk-style show organised by Deso, with soldiers in full battledress posing with weapons. These included the British L96 sniper rifle used in Iraq as well as chemical detection equipment, airfield illumination systems and light anti-armour weapons. A spokesman for the Campaign Against the Arms Trade said: "The arms fair will include nearly all the main providers of the weapons used in the invasion and occupation of Iraq. They will not be embarrassed about a conflict undertaken on a false premise that has cost tens of thousands of civilian lives, but will be revelling in the use of their weapons in the conflict and the promotional material that it provides."

The spokesman said the invasion and occupation of Iraq had been "good news" for the major arms companies. "It has allowed them to label their arms as battle-tested and provided them with promotional material for their missiles, bombs, fighter aircraft, artillery, tanks and armoured vehicles. They will be marketing their weapons to countries from around the world with the full support of the UK Government and the perverse promotional assistance provided by the ongoing conflict in Iraq."

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article312204.ece

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. the invasion and occupation of Iraq had been "good news"

Honestly, this is what it's all about. The pidgeons they send over there to die, die for this "noble cause". The "marchers" yesterday were employees of Lockheed and the DoD.

[Canuckistanian]

2. This is where the line blurs between government and corporation

"Defense" vs. "Corporate Profits". And the nice workers go home and hug their kids.

[NNN0LHI]

3. Arms fair criticised for using Iraq war to market weapons

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article312204.ece

British and American arms companies have been criticised for marketing weapons used in Iraq at Europe's biggest arms fair.

Campaigners against the arms trade have criticised the Government for inviting countries with dubious human rights records, such as Indonesia and Colombia, to the fair. The campaigners also accused companies such as Lockheed and BAE Systems of "revelling" in the opportunity to sell equipment "battle-tested" in Iraq to those countries.

A massive police presence is expected at the Defence Systems and Equipment International (DSEi) exhibition at the Excel Centre in London's Docklands when it officially opens this morning to invited guests only. There were angry confrontations between police and demonstrators at the last arms fair two years ago, and similar protests are expected this time. The bill for policing is likely to cost the taxpayer millions of pounds.

The exhibition has been criticised by the Metropolitan Police for diverting resources during a period of heightened terror alert. Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has also criticised the fair.

[MisterP]

4. every time the register rings, a Carlyle member gets his wings

[teryang]

5. "absolutely love it"

...are there any photos of what these things did to the people of Iraq?

[saigon68]

8. yes THERE ARE the mods will delete them

They are not FAMILY FRIENDLY


They show the Bloated Corpses of children rotting in the streets . And bodies being DEVOURED BY DOGS.

[meganmonkey]

6. Arms fair criticised for using Iraq war to market weapons

British and American arms companies have been criticised for marketing weapons used in Iraq at Europe's biggest arms fair.

Campaigners against the arms trade have criticised the Government for inviting countries with dubious human rights records, such as Indonesia and Colombia, to the fair. The campaigners also accused companies such as Lockheed and BAE Systems of "revelling" in the opportunity to sell equipment "battle-tested" in Iraq to those countries.

Among the 1,200 exhibitors from 34 countries are many which have made equipment used in Iraq. At the stand of Lockheed Martin, there are replicas of the Hellfire and Thaad (Theatre High Altitude Area Defence) missiles, both of which have been deployed in Iraq. Although the Hellfire is mainly as an air-launched missile, the version being promoted at DSEi is a new type for ground or sea launch. "It has been used regularly and very successfully in Iraq and this one is exactly the same," said Doug Terrell, a Lockheed Martin executive on the stand. "The US Army, Marine Corps and Special Forces absolutely love it." Almost 20,000 Hellfires have been sold worldwide.

---snip---


A spokesman for the Campaign Against the Arms Trade said: "The arms fair will include nearly all the main providers of the weapons used in the invasion and occupation of Iraq. They will not be embarrassed about a conflict undertaken on a false premise that has cost tens of thousands of civilian lives, but will be revelling in the use of their weapons in the conflict and the promotional material that it provides."

The spokesman said the invasion and occupation of Iraq had been "good news" for the major arms companies. ( :puke: ) "It has allowed them to label their arms as battle-tested and provided them with promotional material for their missiles, bombs, fighter aircraft, artillery, tanks and armoured vehicles. They will be marketing their weapons to countries from around the world with the full support of the UK Government and the perverse promotional assistance provided by the ongoing conflict in Iraq."


(much more at link)
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article312204.ece

[defiant1]

7. Jeez....

*snip*

The spokesman said the invasion and occupation of Iraq had been "good news" for the major arms companies. "It has allowed them to label their arms as battle-tested and provided them with promotional material for their missiles, bombs, fighter aircraft, artillery, tanks and armoured vehicles. They will be marketing their weapons to countries from around the world with the full support of the UK Government and the perverse promotional assistance provided by the ongoing conflict in Iraq."

*snip*

Well as long as the arms manufacturers are happy.

:puke:

[struggle4progress]

9. Protesters gather at one of the world's largest arms .. exhibitions

Protesters gather at one of the world's largest arms and defence exhibitions

09:57 PM EDT Sep 13
PAISLEY DODDS

LONDON (AP) - Hundreds of protesters gathered Tuesday outside one of the world's largest arms and defence exhibitions, a one-stop shopping spree for governments and corporations looking to buy counterterrorism equipment and defence technology. <snip>

Protesters complained that the British government has invited representatives from countries with questionable human rights records. Among the some 60 countries represented were China - still the object of an arms embargo - Colombia, Iraq, Libya, Israel and Saudi Arabia. <snip>

Still, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the convention centre, saying that the sales encourage international terrorism and fuel civil conflicts.

"Selling weapons to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Israel only stands to fuel international terrorism," said Mike Lewis with the London-based Campaign Against Arms Trade, one of the groups protesting outside the show. "Britain, even though it has suffered two terrorist attacks recently, is sanctioning these sales by hosting this show."

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050913/w091348.html

[gulfcoastliberal]

10. Deals of the Century!

I just watched that movie today on HBO. Of course the movie title is singular, but boy did they predict that drones would be hot, hot, hot! (Even if failures)