CIA : BAE Bribed Hungarian and Czech Politicians
The New York Times is reporting this morning that the CIA discovered that Hungarian and Czech politicians received millions of dollars in bribes from BAE. The U.S. Department of Justice is stepping up its investigation into BAE.
The British government is not cooperating with the investigation. Hardly surprising when Blair blocked the BAE/Saudi corruption investigation on security grounds. Will they try that line again?
The British government is not cooperating with the investigation. Hardly surprising when Blair blocked the BAE/Saudi corruption investigation on security grounds. Will they try that line again?
17 comments:
The CIA and US Government are gunning for BAE due to their growing position in the US market. Meanwhile all US defence organizations have state sponsorship. Will GB have the balls to defend BAE in the interests of free-competition?
Have some US firms lost out on contracts then?
US Dept of Justice have had an open can of worms of their own with the USAF and its Air to Air Tanker contracts.
Ho ho, just because it's a crime in the States to offer bribes, doesn't mean that Yankee defence coy's don't offer sweeteners and inducements, that may or not come from the State/Defence Departments.
Sour grapes on the part of the colonials, that they've missed out on contracts.
The French, Dassault, are renowned for sops, recall the Frigate contract with Taiwan some years ago.
A pox on the Yankee's. A clear demonstration of their self interest.
There are places in the world in which it is not possible to win contracts in any industry without incentives. A significant proportion of the world's governments are riddled with and/or driven by bribery.
Most countries accept that their companies will pursue this means of acquiring business and be glad that their industry is generating work and profit for them.
Recently in the UK, we have made it a crime in this country to be involved in bribery in others... I believe that these alledged incidents predate that change in the law: hence while unethical by our standards (though not the bribee's) they aren't actually illegal.
And it all comes back to defence companies being bad people because war is wrong.
America paid off West Germany to buy the Starfighter when it was barely able to fly - known as the widowmaker becasue so many crashed. Honest (naive) Brits selling the TSR2 which was a far superior fighter were sent home because we didn't offer enough bribes. We lost our jet fighter industry as a direct result.
When it comes to bribing countries to buy weapons, the Americans taught us everything we know.
Don't forget Lockheed flogging Hercules, and the bribes to Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands.
Errrrr.....so that makes it right?
The point is the hypocracy of Labour passing a law making it illegal for all UK companies to bribe foreigners (to placate their left wing peaceniks) then giving a nod and a wink to those UK companies to do just that.
PS where did the ethical foreign policy go? Did FCO put it in an envelope and post it to No 10?
Anonymous 1:16,
I understand what you say and no, it is not okay for them to permit companies to carry on and do the same.
On the other hand, the actions that are coming to light all predate the legislation: unprossecutable, even if proven (and let us not forget that they have not been).
And I cannot see that even the present government would have agreed to drop an investigation without a frankly-spoken "this will not happen again, now will it?" being added to the relationship.
The day any British government really takes on the CIA it is already finished.
However whether this is a REAL story or a planned diversion remains to be seen.
So they didn't buy F16's then....
Are extradition warrants threatened?
That way BAE gets its day in court and Lockheed and Raytheon get their contracts.
Seems eminently reasonable.
Another triumph for justice and the American way.
Labour covered up for the Saudis- a nation who subject raped women to corporal punishment for being in the presence of men.
Scum.
I have been involved in overseas work where, in order to get the contract, it has been necessary to pay exorbitant commission to a local agent. What is the difference between that and a bribe?
1. AL YAMAMAH was a government to government contract between the Saudi Government and the British Government. Therefore we apparently have the USA investigating the British Government. In spite of all the Guardian's allegations nothing has ever, over the last 20 years, come to court. Malicious naivety on the part of some players should not be confused with reality.
i dont get why the usa are worried about BAE , they love arms , the smarter the better . given that BAE just about made the typhoon i would have thought they would want a slice of the action.
quite what the checz want i dont know , they need to get there economy going better , not spending it on formulae 1 weapons,
just looks like traditional arms business, for keeping purvhaser in power.
thanks
red despot spotter
Tapestry - TSR2 was a tactical strike reconnaisance plane to replace the Canberra, cancelled by Jenkins and Wilson in 1964.
Perhaps you are confusing it with the Lightning as the contender with the Starfighter contract?
However, the Economist recently outlined the problems of bribes and snouts in the trough for the contract to supply Air to Air Tankers for the USAF. Perhaps the Yanks need to get their own house in order.
I see you have a picture of the Eurofighter. But BAE own more of the Swedish Gripen fighter than they do of the EF.Hmm, I wonder what the Czechs are buying ....
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