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From The Socialist newspaper, 25 June 2008
Britain: No.1 arms dealer
BRITISH CAPITALISM produces far fewer manufactured goods than in the past, but in one sphere it's a world leader. Last year, it was the world's largest exporter of arms.
UK companies won £10 billion worth of new armaments orders last year - a 33% share of the world market according to the Defence and Security Organisation, which promotes Britain's defence industry. Britain displaced the USA from the arms top spot for the first time in many decades.
The Labour government started its term of office in 1997 speaking of instigating an 'ethical foreign policy'. So who are our 'ethical' government authorising and encouraging sales to?
Number one importer from Britain was Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy whose reactionary politics and lack of allowing democratic rights give its élite phenomenal wealth. Last year the Saudi government placed an order for Typhoon aircraft valued at £4.3 billion.
Typhoons are made by a consortium headed by British arms manufacturer BAe Systems. BAe is accused of paying £1 billion in bribes to the Saudi ambassador to the US, in return for assistance in securing an earlier £43 billion deal. New Labour ministers stopped the Serious Fraud Office's investigation into BAe's Saudi dealings as "not in the national interest." Highly ethical.
Workers are getting jobs at these firms at present but recession is likely to hit here as well. Socialists argue for these factories to be democratically run by workers to manufacture socially useful goods instead of deadly weapons of mass destruction.
Roger Shrives
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In The Socialist 25 June 2008:
Prices up, Wages down...Summer of action needed!
Workers' battles win results: Tankers drivers' success upsets bosses
Socialist Party editorial
Editorial: Summer of discontent?
PCS union sends letter of solidarity to Unison
Campaign for a new workers' party: Conference - Sunday 29 June, 11am - 5pm
Unison Conference 2008
Unison conference 2008: Fighting to reclaim the union for its members
Unison Service Group Executives - socialists elected
National Shop Stewards Network Conference
Fighting, democratic unions not witch hunts
Socialist Party campaigns
Thousands show their hatred for racism
Student unions can be pushed into action
Socialist Party Marxist analysis
Review: False 'gods' of a failing system
International socialist news and analysis
Zimbabwe: Mugabe's militias crush his political opponents
Afghanistan - paying the price of western occupation
Summit fails to halt runaway oil prices
Socialist Party NHS campaign
Cut throat competition threatens NHS
"With polyclinics you're just a number"
Origins of the Labour Party
'Old' Labour - born out of workers' struggles
Socialist Party workplace news
Brighton bus drivers match inflation
Teachers fight academy plans in Bolton
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