Bribery and corruption
If you are going to do it, then do it big.
The UK Government appear to have been sanctioning a British company (British Aerospace) to allow a Saudi Government Minister to take a cut of the price being paid by his Government for new military equipment.
The BBC reports suggests that the 'consultancy' money was paid into Saudi bank accounts in Washington where the Prince drew it for his own living expenses.
And then the UK Government - successfully - close the investigation to avoid damaging our 'relationship' with the Saudis.
Am I being stupid, but are we actually saying that selling weapons to a corrupt, theocratic misogynistic regime who deny women the vote, regularly torture those who question the government, and who treat non-Saudi workers as second class chattels.
Remember the absence of official complaints when the British Oil workers were imprisoned and tortured for drinking? Like to guess why that happened?
But the worst of it is that the taxpayer - you and I - subsidise this through the Export Credit Guarantee Department of the DTI, and bribes are accepted as part of the normal course of business at up to 10% of the deal value. Whatever happened to the ethical foreign policy so vigorously espoused by Robin Cook.
The UK Government appear to have been sanctioning a British company (British Aerospace) to allow a Saudi Government Minister to take a cut of the price being paid by his Government for new military equipment.
The BBC reports suggests that the 'consultancy' money was paid into Saudi bank accounts in Washington where the Prince drew it for his own living expenses.
And then the UK Government - successfully - close the investigation to avoid damaging our 'relationship' with the Saudis.
Am I being stupid, but are we actually saying that selling weapons to a corrupt, theocratic misogynistic regime who deny women the vote, regularly torture those who question the government, and who treat non-Saudi workers as second class chattels.
Remember the absence of official complaints when the British Oil workers were imprisoned and tortured for drinking? Like to guess why that happened?
But the worst of it is that the taxpayer - you and I - subsidise this through the Export Credit Guarantee Department of the DTI, and bribes are accepted as part of the normal course of business at up to 10% of the deal value. Whatever happened to the ethical foreign policy so vigorously espoused by Robin Cook.
3 comments:
"But the worst of it is that the taxpayer - you and I - subsidise this...and bribes are accepted as part of the normal course of business..."
Reminds me of other recent business schemes....
Care to elucidate....
That will be you Angus, abiding by the law to the letter in public view but coming up with an answer the RSPB dont like.
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