Come to the CAAT National Gathering!

Come to the CAATNational Gathering!

caatnews

Issue 218October–December 2010

£1.00

11 Goodwin Street, London N4 3HQTel: 020 7281 0297Fax: 020 7281 4369

Email: [email protected]: www.caat.org.uk

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) works for the reduction and ultimateabolition of the international arms trade, together with progressivedemilitarisation within arms producing countries.

IN THIS ISSUE...

National Gathering 3

Arms Trade Shorts 4–5

Universities Network 6

CAAT around the UK 7

UKTI 8–9

Steering Committee; They said it 10

“Homeland security” and the EU 11

Parliamentary 12

India Hawks 13

CAAT cash 14

Get involved 15

Donate 16

The big event for your diary thisautumn is surely the CAAT NationalGathering on 6 November, alwaysa vibrant affair!

This is a chance to meet up as aCAAT community, review andcelebrate our work so far, and planfor the future. It’s also a rarechance to meet several of thepeople behind the stories inCAATnews. For example, this year’sgathering will host talks byNicholas Gilby, author and

tenacious discoverer of info thatarms trade proponents may preferstayed under wraps; theDecommissioners, who wereacquitted after destroying armsequipment (see CAATnews 216 and217); and, of course, the staff fromthe CAAT office. And did I mentionMark Thomas?

I hope to be there too so, if ourpaths cross, do let me know yourthoughts on CAATnews! Hope tosee you on 6 November.

Editor Melanie Jarman

Proofreader John Moseley

Design Richie Andrew

Contributors Ann Feltham, AbiHaque, Ben Hayes, Indymedia, KirkJackson, Robin Lane, HenryMcLaughlin, Anne-Marie O’Reilly, IanPrichard, Kaye Stearman, TridentPloughshares, Sarah Waldron, PennyWalke.

Legal consultant Glen Reynolds

Thank you also to our dedicated teamof CAATnews stuffers.

Printed by Russell Press on 100%recycled paper using only postconsumer waste.

Content of most website references isalso available in print – contact theCAAT office.

Campaign Against Arms Trade11 Goodwin Street, London N4 3HQTel: 020 7281 0297Fax: 020 7281 4369Email: [email protected]: www.caat.org.uk

If you use Charities Aid Foundationcheques you can support CAATthrough TREAT (Trust for Research andEducation on Arms Trade). Pleasesend CAF cheques, payable to TREAT,to the office making clear that youwish for your donation to supportCAAT’s research programme. UnlikeCAAT, TREAT is a registered charity(No.328694).

Contributors retain copyright ofall work used. The content andviews expressed in articles,advertisements andpromotional material includedwithin CAATnews by otherorganisations are notnecessarily endorsed orsupported by CAAT. Anyrelated enquiries or concernsshould be addressed to therelevant organisation.

To receive this issueof CAATnews inlarge print pleasecall 020 7281 0297COVER PHOTO: ALASTAIR RAE

caatnewsWelcome to this issue of CAATnews

OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 caatnews

NATIONAL GATHERING

A great line-up on 6 November

Hear from irreverentcomedian and activistMark Thomas at CAAT’sNational Gathering on 6November

If you haven’t heard Mark speakbefore, you definitely should. If youhave, then we need say no more! Asif that isn’t enough reason to comealong, we are delighted to host animpressive line-up of challengingspeakers and workshops.

Mark ThomasMark Thomas has always found aunique way for laugh-out loudcomedy to go hand-in-hand withcutting-edge political activism. In2003 for a Dispatches programmehe attempted to make an inspectionat the UK’s nuclear submarine baseat Faslane using a pedalo andarmed with a lawyer in a wet suitand a copy of the GenevaConvention!

Three years later he helped schoolstudents set up arms brokeringbusinesses in England and Ireland toexpose loopholes in UK andEuropean arms control laws. Onanother occasion he was acquitted ofcriminal damage after he and somefriends locked themselves to a bus fullof arms dealers. He is also anhonorary doctor of BradfordUniversity for services to peace andfor his contribution as a comedian,political activist, presenter andinvestigative journalist, in particularin recognition of his effectivecampaigning on the ethics of thearms trade.

Recently, Mark has also taken onthe criminalisation of protest, thebanking system and the ethics ofCoca Cola. We are delighted tohave Mark as the keynote speakerfor CAAT’s National Gathering, toget his witty take on the way forwardin the campaign to end the armstrade.

A great line-upThe line-up will include NicholasGilby, author of The No NonsenseGuide to the Arms Trade; arepresentative from War on Want,who will discuss modern mercenariesand bankers’ profits; campaignersincluding the Decommissioners andRaytheon 9, who were successful indirect action against the arms trade;and firsthand accounts of the effectsof the UK’s zealous arms sales toIsrael, Indonesia and India. That’s notto mention the stalls, photoexhibitions, short films andworkshops!

Gearing up for the year aheadWith the world’s largest arms faircoming to the UK in 2011, thisgathering will be crucial for makinglinks, sharing ideas and hatchingplans to shut the arms profiteersdown. As well as lots of chances tomeet other inspiring campaigners,the day also includes an opensession in the afternoon for you to setthe agenda!

Speaking about last year’sNational Gathering, CAATcampaigner Debbie Payne describedthe event as follows: “It’s a greatway of finding out more about thework of CAAT. It’s also a goodopportunity to meet the friendlypeople from CAAT and to make linkswith fellow campaigners who are ina similar position to you!”

Contact the office or book via theNational Gathering page on thewebsite – see www.caat.org.uk/nationalgatheringANNE-MARIE O’REILLY

Saturday 6 November,9.45am–4.30pm at Conway Hall,London WC1R 4RL (Holborn tube)£5 waged (£3 unwaged) Tea, coffeeand a light vegetarian lunch will beprovided.

caatnews OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 3

An active moment from lastyear’s gathering IAN MCKINNON

You’ve asked hundreds ofparliamentary candidates and MPswhat they think about the armstrade. Can you attribute theresponse to the right person?

1 “The arms industry should not besubsidised by the taxpayer. Theoverseas aid budget shouldpromote health, welfare andenvironmental sustainability.”

2 “When it comes down tofundamentals, I believe that theproduction and maintenance ofweapons is an important means

of establishing security, orderand peace through deterrents.”

3 “[We] would end all exportsubsidies for the arms trade...We absolutely agree that theseresources should be better spenton other priorities such as climatechange.”

AGreen Party MPB Monster Raving Loony Party

candidateC Conservative MP

ANSWERS: 1B, 2C, 3A

Quiz: Match the quote!

4 OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 caatnews

US salesWhile the US kept its role as theworld’s leading weapons supplier,global recession led to salesdeclining sharply in 2009 to thelowest level since 2005. The maincause was a pause in major ordersfrom clients in the Middle East andAsia. Also, fewer support andservices contracts were signed withUS military firms. NEW YORK TIMES, 12/09/10

A Russian newspaper has suggestedthat President Obama’s visit to Indiain November may secure $5bnworth of arms sales and see the USreplace Russia as India’s biggestsupplier.GLOBAL TIMES, 13/07/10

Fears of a new arms race in the Gulfarose in response to theannouncement that the US hasagreed a $60bn arms deal withSaudi Arabia.DAILY TELEGRAPH, 14/9/10

The US has issued an ultimatum toTurkey that unless it shifts its positionon Israel and Iran it has little chanceof buying US weapons. Turkey iskeen to buy US weaponry, inparticular to attack the PKK.FINANCIAL TIMES, 16/8/10

Iran has offered to back theLebanese Army with money andweapons after the US Congresssuspended $100m in militaryassistance to Beirut. An end to themilitary aid programme could meanan increase in Iranian influencealong Israel’s northern border but USofficials say that, for now, militaryaid is expected to continue.TIMES, 12/8/10

Israel is to buy Joint Strike Fighter jetsin a deal valued at around $2.75bn,despite opposition from a number ofsenior military officials over the highcost. The deal will be funded by theUS military.HAARETZ, 27/09/10

UK sales effortsUK government and military industryrepresentatives visited Brazil recentlyto further a military co-operationagreement, and to promote the UK’smilitary firms. Brazil is the biggestspender in Latin America and theUK’s military industry is hoping for awave of deals to lift trade.TIMES, 17/9/10

UK military companies visited Polisharms fair MSPO 2010, with the UKalso taking the role of lead partnernation. UKTI DSO staff includingRichard Paniguian, Head of UKTIDSO, played an active role in the fair.BRITISH EMBASSY, ARGENTINA, 3/9/10

The UK Government is paying USlobbying firm O’Brien & Associates$10,000 a month to push USpoliticians to award contracts to UKmilitary companies and to improvetransatlantic relations. In a recentcomment the Telegraph said that iswas not clear “why [this assistance]does not fall under the remit ofactivities normally undertaken byforeign-based diplomats.”TELEGRAPH.CO.UK, 27/09/10

BAEIn September BAE Systemsannounced more UK job cuts takingthe total of BAE jobs lost in the last12 months to more than 4,000. Thecompany blamed changes in militaryprogrammes and in workload.JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY, 15/9/10

BAE has confirmed that it is to set upan aircraft plant in Saudi Arabiaunder the “al-Salam” EurofighterTyphoon deal.JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY, 25/8/10

BAE is re-focussing its operations andputting parts of its US commercialaerospace business up for sale. Thecompany says it is being hit by cutsin military budgets in both the UKand the US. However, BAE has alsobeen paying out – buying OasysTechnologies in the US for $55m.GUARDIAN, 13/9/10; JANE’S DEFENCE

WEEKLY, 18/9/10

Earlier this year, BAE Systems ChairDick Olver declined an offer to takeup the post of trade minister. Thesearch for a business leader to fill therole complements Foreign SecretaryWilliam Hague’s drive to inject a“new commercialism” into the workof his department.

Links between BAE Systems andthe Government remain strong:documents released in Augustshowed that the company regularlywined and dined Ministry of Defencestaff; it was billed as the mostassiduous in courting the MoD.DAILY TELEGRAPH, 16/7/10; GUARDIAN,

22/8/10

In the US, the suspension on newBAE export licence applicationsremains in place although talksbetween the company and the USState Department are expected tolead to a “consent agreement”.JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY, 1/9/10

MercenariesThe controversial UK mercenarycompany Aegis Defence Services ismoving to Switzerland for taxpurposes. The move embarrasses theGovernment, which has pledged toreduce tax avoidance, asConservative MP Nicholas Soames isa company director.

Questions have also been raisedover the impact of the move on Swissneutrality and there have been callsfor legislation to regulate mercenaryfirms and the export of their servicesoutside Swiss borders. TIMES, 11/8/10; SWISSINFO.CH, 11/8/10

The Afghan President has called forcorporate mercenary companies toend operations in Afghanistan laterthis year, in some circumstances. AUS official responded that there wasstill a need for the companies andcalled the deadline “challenging”.BBC NEWS, 17/8/10

YemenThe US has proposed a $1.2bnmilitary aid package to Yemen totackle al-Qaeda, despite concerns

ARMS TRADE SHORTS


that the equipment could be used inthe country’s civil war. Meanwhile,Amnesty International has raisedconcerns that Saudi Arabian planessupplied and maintained by the UKhave taken part in raids that killedYemeni citizens. DAILY TELEGRAPH, 17/9/10; AMNESTY

INTERNATIONAL, 25/8/10

CorruptionA Czech deputy defence minister hasbeen fired following allegations thathe conspired to receive money fromFinnish military firm Patria around adeal over mortar turret systems. TheCzech Defence Minister said he nowplans an audit of procurements todetermine whether any corruptiontook place. Elsewhere, Slovenianprosecutors filed charges against aformer prime minister and four othersover alleged bribery in a deal withPatria. At the time, the deal wasSlovenia’s biggest ever militarycontract.JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY, 8/9/10; DEFENSE

NEWS, 27/8/10

In what may be the biggestcorruption scandal involving aSwedish corporation, criminalcharges have been filed againstSaab for alleged bribery in the saleof a warplane to South Africa. Aprevious investigation over the issuewas discontinued but newinformation has resulted in freshcharges.SWEDISH PEACE AND ARBITRATION SOCIETY,

9/9/10

Corruption allegations mean thatGerman company Ferrostaal mayhave to leave a consortium formed tobuild and run factories in Algeriadue to corruption allegations.Planned factory products includeFuchs armoured transport vehiclesand engines.DEFENSE NEWS, 16/8/10

Swedish salesSwedish media reports have claimedthat Saab sold arms to Saudi Arabia,despite previous denials by the

Swedish trade minister that combatmaterials had been sold to theSaudis. Saab has refused tocomment. THE LOCAL, 17/9/10

Swiss cutsDespite a multibillion dollar tenderingprocess, Switzerland has delayed thepartial replacement of its fighter jets,blaming budgetary constraints and are-think over resource use. It haspostponed a purchase until 2015 atthe latest. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE 25/8/10;

SWISSINFO.CH, 25/8/10

Russian rubberRussia has ordered inflatable copiesof its planes, tanks and missiles tofool its enemies in future conflicts.Military analysts have criticised thepurchase, saying the Kremlin shouldbe spending on real equipmentinstead.DAILY TELEGRAPH, 25/8/10

2009 arms export figuresThe arms trade is dominated by the five permanent members of the UNSecurity Council: China, France, Russia, UK and the US, along withGermany and, increasingly, Israel. However, aside from the US, the relativeimportance of the others depends on what is being studied and who’sstudying it.

There are two main ways of looking at arms transfer figures: actualdeliveries or export orders placed. “Deliveries“ are a clearer measure, but“orders”, while less concrete, indicate the likely volume of future deliveries.

CAAT uses two main sources for international arms trade figures: the USCongressional Research Service (CRS, which uses non-public US Governmentdata) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI, whichuses public sources but does not include components or services).

In 2008 the UK Government stopped producing its own data for armsdeliveries, although figures for arms orders continue to be produced byUKTI’s Defence & Security Organisation (UKTI DSO) in conjunction with thearms industry. These figures give a very different picture to the other data.

Arms deliveries to the world, 2009Percentage of total world deliveries

Arms export orders placed, 2009Percentage of total world orders

DEVELOPMENTS IN THE GLOBAL ARMS TRADE

CRS, Sept 20101. US 41.02. Russia 10.63. Germany 8.04. UK 6.35. China 5.1

SIPRI, July 20101. US 30.02. Russia 19.73. Germany 10.94. France 8.25. UK 4.5

CRS, Sept 20101. US 39.32. Russia 18.13. France 12.94. Germany 6.45. Italy 4.7…8. UK 2.6

UKTI DSO, July 20101. US 352. UK 203. France 204. Russia 105. Israel 5

Universities Network Co-ordinator Abi Haqueintroduces the Ban BAEcampaign.

BAE Systems is currently the world’slargest arms producer. It sells itsproducts indiscriminately to countrieswith poor human rights records suchas Saudi Arabia, Israel, Pakistan andIndonesia. It has been accused ofbribery and corruption, and in 2010was fined £30 million in the UK and$400 million in the US followingcorruption investigations.

Graduate recruitment BAE Systems needs universitygraduates to replenish its talent base.Careers fairs are the moststraightforward and visible approachthat BAE Systems uses to attractgraduate talent. The companyattends careers fairs nationwide,offers evening talks that often includefree food and drink as an incentiveand spends lavishly on glossygraduate recruitment advertisements.

Controversial companies may stopattending careers fairs if theyconsider that their presence hasbecome detrimental to theirobjectives. This happened in 2008when the Climate Camp campaignlaunched the “E.ON F.OFF”campaign, which achieved suchadverse publicity that the companyE.ON pulled out of careers fairs. Weare hoping to achieve the same thingwith our newly launched counter-recruitment campaign, ‘Ban BAE’.

The Warwick storyA great success story is the“Weapons out of Warwick”university campaign. In the spirit ofeducation and free informationstudents put together an alternativecareers guide. This detailed how thearms trade severely undermineshuman rights, security and economicdevelopment at global, regional,national and local levels. Warwickstudents also staged protests at

careers events. Last year they gotstudents to give speeches about theunethical nature of BAE Systems andwere so relentless that theysuccessfully filibustered thecompany’s promotion time!

CampaignThere are numerous student actionsthat have been hugely successfuland, in many cases, veryentertaining too. Student campaignshave included “die-ins”; confiscationof company’s promotional materials;removal of displays; and street

theatre, such as Grim Reaperslooming over stalls. I wonder whatthis year will bring?

For more information on the CAATUniversities Network and the BanBAE campaign please visithttp://universities.caat.org.uk

If you have any questions or wantsupport in campaigns against armscompanies on campus, please [email protected].

BAE Systems: a blight onuniversities and education

Students at a demonstrationhighlight BAE’s record

Hello AbiI’m Abi Haque and I am elated to be takingon the role of Universities NetworkCoordinator. Like many people, I wasintroduced into campaigning by my parents.I’ve shaken tins, run races and supportedfund-raising! I am thrilled to have theopportunity to put my passion for peace in myjob.

It’s an exciting challenge for me as I getto enrol students into direct actionagainst the arms trade and look at waysof recruiting, and retaining youngersupporters for CAAT!


UNIVERSITIES NETWORK

On the eve of the launch of theBarclays-sponsored pay-as-you-gobike scheme in London, activistscovered the bikes with stickers thathighlighted the banking giant’sinvolvement in the global arms trade.

Almost 4,000 of the stickers wereplaced on blue Barclays’ bikes allover the city. They were designed toblend in with the Barclays advertisingon the bikes and included themessage: “£20m investment in bikes.£7,300m investment in bombs”.

At the media launch on 30 JulyBarclays chairman Magnus Agiuswas asked his opinion on the

stickers. He replied “I have nothingto say.”

Some of the people who stickeredthe bikes expressed the opinion that,though they considered the bikes tobe a step in the right direction, thescheme was exploited by Barclays asone big advertising campaign. Theynoted that no other city worldwidewith similar schemes has been fullysponsored by one company andhoped that the stickers will raiseawareness of Barclays’ position asthe world’s largest investor in thearms trade. INDYMEDIA

Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth notonly refits, maintains, and upgradesthe submarines that carry the UK’simmoral and illegal Trident nuclearweapon system, it is alsoincreasingly becoming the dumpingground for old and out-of-servicenuclear submarines.

On 1 November TridentPloughshares is calling on people todisrupt work at the dockyard by non-violently blockading the Devonportsubmarine base.

Blockading the Devonport Dockyardis an effective way of disrupting re-fitting work. It also expresses a clearand unambiguous message ofopposition to the barbarity that is theUK’s Trident nuclear weapon system.

Such a blockade allows everyoneto get involved at a level that suitsthem. You need not get arrested!Everyone is welcome, providing youabide by the non-violence and safetyguidelines.

For more information seewww.tridentploughshares.org

Blockade Devonport

Barclays bikes stickered

Some of the stickers featuring messages about Barclays


CoventryAs Coventry commemorates the70th anniversary of the Blitz weare keen to remind people that thecity was bombed because its carfactories had been turned intoarms factories. We are thereforeholding an event duringCoventry’s two week PeaceFestival. This will be an evening ofdrama, dialogue and song aboutarms manufacture in Coventrythrough the authentic voices ofworkers. It will take place onWednesday 10 November at7.30 pm in London Road SocialClub, CV1 2JU.

We are also compiling an e-book entitled “Making Weaponsin Coventry” and would like tohear from anyone who cancontribute. The book will includechapters on the manufacturing thattook place in the past and in thepresent; on workers’ misgivings;on the role played in research byWarwick and Coventryuniversities; on the Lucas projectand Matrix Churchill; on protest;and on the role of women inmanufacturing. If you would like todiscuss the e-book please contactme at Coventry Peace House on02476 664616 [email protected] WALKER

CAAT AROUND THE UK

Sarah Waldron reports ongood news from theLiberal Democrat partyconference and makessome suggestions forfurther action.

For even the most optimistic amongus, there have undoubtedly been afew gloomy moments in the last fewmonths. For example, when ministersin the new Government boasted thatthere would be a “very, very, veryheavy ministerial commitment” toarms exports (see They said it inCAATnews 217). Or when old alliessuch as Liberal Democrat ministerVince Cable suddenly begandefending the Government’s supportfor the arms trade.

So we were delighted when, on19 September, delegates at theLiberal Democrat party conferencevoted to make the closure of theGovernment’s arms sales unit LiberalDemocrat party policy! You can readmore about the details of the vote onpage 12.

PoliciesUK Trade & Investment’s Defence &Security Organisation (UKTI DSO)has been the main focus of CAAT’scampaigning over the last two years.This taxpayer-funded unit helps armscompanies sell weapons to areas ofconflict, repressive regimes and tocountries with major developmentneeds.

While all the political parties havesaid they want to end arms sales todangerous regimes, only the GreenParty and Plaid Cymru hadrecognised that closing thedepartment that promotes such sales

is an essential first step to achievingthis.

Previously, Liberal Democrat policyhad only included a commitment tosupporting the Arms Trade Treaty(ATT). While a treaty could helpgovernments trying to prevent thecirculation of small arms it wouldmake no difference to UK arms sales.Supporting the closure of UKTI DSOprovides a real challenge to UKgovernment support for the armstrade – and is a particularlyimportant step forward now that theLiberal Democrats have a voice inGovernment.

Moving it onMany thanks to CAAT supporters forthe thousands of letters you sent thatput this issue on the agenda.However the vote that approved thispolicy was very close – and it’s hardto tell exactly what it will mean inpractice. So there’s plenty more to doto keep the momentum going:

Keep up the correspondence withyour MP. We need to build a realmovement for change withinParliament – and the first step toachieving this is to dismantle themyths about the arms trade.CAAT’s website has both an easytemplate letter you can send toyour MP if you’ve not writtenbefore, and plenty of argumentsto help you respond to theirarguments when you hear back.See www.caat.org.uk/ukti/mp-response.php or contact the office

for paper copies. Personal,sustained correspondence fromconstituents is a really importantway to get an MP to recognisethat the arms trade is an issue ofreal concern to their constituentsand to engage with thearguments.If your MP is a Liberal Democrat,then please do write to welcomethe party’s position on UKTI DSOand ask them to support action onit in Parliament. If they’ve not gota Ministerial position, one easyway they can show their supportis by signing EDM 460 on “arms

and military equipment sales” -see www.caat.org.uk/issues/ukti/EDM460.php.Find out who your MP is atwww.theyworkforyou.com, or bycalling the House of Commonsinformation office on 020 72194272. Write to him or her at theHouse of Commons, London,SW1A 0AA.Lastly, this decision by the LiberalDemocrats shows the importanceof grassroots action and support.Those who voted to change thepolicy included parliamentarycandidates at the last election andlocal councillors – so do keepspreading the word!

For more on the UKTI: Armed &Dangerous campaign see the pageon the CAAT website athttp://www.caat.org.uk/issues/ukti/

UKTI DSO:LIB DEMS SAY NO!


UKTI

‘Supporting the closure of UKTI DSOprovides a real challenge to UKgovernment support for the arms trade’

In July, CAAT’s IanPrichard attendedFarnborough 2010: anarms fair masqueradingas an air show – andsupported by thegovernment’s armstrading unit, UKTI DSO.

Algeria, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan andSaudi Arabia were among themilitary delegations invited by UKTIDSO to shop. Ministers, includingBusiness Secretary Vince Cable andDefence Minister Liam Fox, were outin force to boost the sales effort, and

military

personnel were on hand todemonstrate the goods.

Set aside from the numerous USmilitary aircraft were two Pakistan-built Chinese JF-17 fighter aircraft(with Russian engines) with a raft ofChinese missiles. The “partial” armsembargo on China obviously didn’textend to inhibiting an export pushof fighter aircraft! It probablyshouldn’t be a surprise that aChinese military delegation was alsoinvited, though this was missing fromthe initial list of delegations, onlybeing added at the last minute.

Near the JF-17s was the base for“Futures Day”, a “new and excitingprogramme” for 7–21 year oldsaimed at “Inspiring Young Minds

towards a Career in Aerospace,Defence & Security”. A large numberof universities and companies wererepresented, including MBDA,Europe’s dominant missile producer.

BAE’s huge howitzer seemed astrange item for an “airshow”. BAEwas impossible to escape throughoutthe exhibition, with staff everywhereand adverts featuring schematics ofaircraft, tanks and soldiers.

In prime position in Hall 1 was alarge UKTI DSO stand. Theorganisation also had its own privatechalet purely for its arms promotion

activities: hosting 40 militarydelegations and ensuring thatcompanies have the right access tothem is not something you wouldwant to do on a shoestring.

Lots of drones were present, aswell as the odd robot. Boeing had abuilding full of them, there was aspecific drone pavillion andindividual companies displayed themin their exhibition space includingBAE, Israel Aerospace Industries,Northrop Grumman, Finmeccanica,Thales and QinetiQ and GeneralAtomics, the makers of the CIA’spreferred assassination-drones inPakistan.

UKTI


CAAT's Steering Committee takes thefinal decisions on campaigns andpolicy and makes sure that theorganisation's internal workings arelegal and efficient. Currently theSteering Committee is partly elected,but it also includes representativesfrom organisations that werehistorically connected to CAAT. Thisincludes the Peace Pledge Union andthe Campaign for NuclearDisarmament. After a lot of debate,this structure is changing. In future,the committee will have 10 memberselected on a three year rotatingbasis, and four co-opted members tofill skills gaps.

We are now seeking supporters tostand for election to SteeringCommittee. Below, two currentmembers explain why you might liketo do so!

Nick Ballantine-Drake:“I became a SteeringCommittee memberlast year havingsupported CAAT forover 15 years.Steering Committeereally lets you into theheart of CAAT – youcan get involved in a huge numberof ways if you choose and you reallyfeel that you are helping out. I workfull-time, but being on SteeringCommittee lets me contribute toCAAT very effectively. The main

meetings are every three months ona Saturday. However, a lot ofoptional activities can be doneremotely, usually online by email. I'vealso chosen to spend a few extradays in the year giving my time toCAAT. I have a background inscience and information technologyand have been able to use some ofthis experience with CAAT. CAATbenefits from having SteeringCommittee members with diverseskills, interests and experiences.Whatever your interests, you'llreceive a warm welcome as part ofSteering Committee – I know I did!”

Sharen Green:“Serving on theSteeringCommittee putsyou at the centreof a vibrant,focused andeffectiveorganisation. It'sexciting to work with highlyprofessional, dedicated staff and tobe ‘hands on’ when it comes tomaking policy and guiding thecampaign. I have learned new skillsby volunteering for administrativetasks such as selecting new staff,conducting staff reviews and havingto make decisions fast when theunexpected happens. My time on thecommittee has been fascinating andrewarding.”

‘Theysaid it’“With oil at $70 plus a barrel allof our Middle Eastern customersare awash with money and they’rebuying. There’s real evidence ofgrowth in this market and a lot ofpeople whose budgets have notbeen cut.” ALAN GARWOOD, BAE, GULF TIMES, 23JULY

“We’re seeing unbelievabledemand from India. There’s a lotof willingness to spend ondefence.”MIKE ALVIS, ITT DEFENCEINTERNATIONAL, PRESS CONFERENCE ATFARNBOROUGH AIRSHOW, 24 JULY

“We see huge opportunities fromemerging markets. We have aglobal market share of close to 20per cent and we have beenbringing delegates from as manycountries as possible toFarnborough.” ADAM THOMAS, UKTI DSO,FARNBOROUGH AIRSHOW, 24 JULY

“The Government encourages usto increase our market share, andwe are determined to deliver onthat ... It is our job to ensure thatUK industry is in the fittest possiblecondition, and able to anticipatemarket needs.”RICHARD PANIGUIAN, UKTI DSO, FLIGHTGLOBAL, 30 JULY

“Would it ‘feel’ nicer to be sellingbutter than guns around theglobe? Sure it would. But if gunsare what the customer wants, thenthese are the companiespositioned to profit from it.” RICH SMITH, THE MOTLEY FOOL, 13AUGUST

CAAT SteeringCommittee

CAAT NEWS

Election infoWho can vote?You can vote in the SteeringCommittee election if you've givenat least £12 to CAAT since 1January 2009.

Who can stand for election?You can stand for election if youqualify as a voter and, additionally,

have been a CAAT supporter for atleast 12 months.

Who can nominate you?You must be proposed andseconded by supporters who arethemselves eligible to stand forelection. In this context, “supporters”include organisations and groupsthat meet the criteria, although thenomination must be of an individual.

If the nomination is by anorganisation, the ballot paper willreflect this by saying, for example,"Pat Bloggs nominated by ChippingSodbury for Peace."

The nominations deadline is 1December.

For more information contactAnn on 020 7281 0297 [email protected].


Researcher Ben Hayesgives some background tomilitary companies’moves into new markets.

Since 9/11 the arms industry hasbeen steadily diversifying into allthings “homeland security”, fromborder control to counter-terrorism. InSeptember, France’s Safran Groupbought L-1 Identity Solutions, creatingthe world’s biggest biometricidentification company, while BAESystems snapped-up L1’s IntelligenceServices Group, its counter-terrorismarm.

As military spending in traditionalareas of procurement comes underpressure from austerity measures andbudget cuts, the security business isthe perfect makeweight. Servicesaccounted for 49% of BAE’s revenuesin the first half of 2010 and thecompany describes the analysis ofintelligence data as a particular“sweet spot”.

SubsidiesThis process of diversification isbeing heavily subsidised by nationalgovernments, research councils andthe European Union (EU). Adedicated European SecurityResearch Programme (ESRP) is worth1.4 billion over the seven years to

2013, with the same again estimatedto be on offer from the ‘security’dimension to the EU’s space,transport, energy and IT researchbudgets. The ESRP was explicitlydevised to create a competitivehomeland security industry in Europe,one that could compete with theUSA, Israel and China in an evermore lucrative global marketplace.Europe’s biggest arms and ITcompanies were brought in to advisethe European Commission on theESRP’s structure and objectives,together with research institutes likethe RAND Corporation. It comes asno surprise then that the defencesector has been the principalbeneficiary of the ESRP to date.

EU ambitionsSecurity ‘research’ also fills a void inthe EU’s state-building ambitions. TheEU’s security architecture is becomingmore elaborate with every passingyear but it lacks the powers andbudget to procure the physicalhardware required for bordercontrol, critical infrastructureprotection, crisis management (suchas activities termed peacekeeping)and other policies. Finmeccanica-Selex is leading a 10 million “EUsea border surveillance” consortium,BAE has landed a 2.3 millionEuropean Commission (EC) contractto develop an organised crimedatabase and QinetiQ is leading a 12.5 million project to develop a

communications system for EU crisismanagement operations.

Political willThat these projects count as‘research’ is testimony to the lack ofscrutiny and accountabilitysurrounding the programme. Thediversion of funds to military projectscan also be explained by the lack ofpolitical will behind the newlyestablished European DefenceAgency, which has an annual budgetof around 30 million (peanuts incomparison to the hundreds ofmillions on offer annually for securityresearch).

DronesManufacturers of unmanned aerialvehicles (UAVs), also known asdrones, are also receiving largesubsidies from an EU committed to

the introduction of drones for bordercontrol, policing and surveillancemissions. BAE, Finmeccanica,Dassault Aviation, EADS, Thales andIsrael Aerospace Industries (IAI) haveall received substantial EU funding toput their wares in the shop window,despite the fact that drones arecurrently banned from flying incivilian airspace. Both the EU andthe UK government are nowproviding millions more to help thesecompanies convince European airtraffic controllers that UAVs are safe,in spite of massive opposition fromaviation experts, civil society groupsand an abject lack of parliamentarydebate.

Israel’s roleAnti-war and arms tradecampaigners will also be dismayedto learn of the extent of Israel’sinvolvement in the ESRP following itsincorporation into the ‘EuropeanResearch Area’ under the EC-IsraelAssociation Agreement. The likes ofIAI, Verint, Motorola Israel and ElbitSystems are now involved in dozensof EC-funded security projects as theEU effectively subsidises andendorses a sector whose counter-terrorism-related exports already top$1bn annually.

Ben Hayes is a researcher withStatewatch and the TransnationalInstitute and the author ofNeoConOpticon: The EU Security-Industrial Complex. You can read thereport and his blog at:http://neoconopticon.wordpress.com


“Homeland security” and the EU FEATURE

Supportive of CAAT’s work while inopposition, now that he’s ingovernment, Business SecretaryVince Cable is arguing for thecontinuation of UK Governmentsupport for arms exports. His party,the Liberal Democrats, do not agree.

MotionIts Conference adopted a motioncalling for the closure of the UKTrade & Investment Defence &Security Organisation (UKTI DSO)and an end to export credit supportfor military goods. Both UKTI DSOand the Export Credits GuaranteeDepartment fall within the BusinessSecretary’s remit. Will Cable nowrethink his stance?

CAAT supportersThe motion, which was anamendment to the party’sInternational Development policypaper, was proposed by GarethEpps with Nader Fekri summing upthe debate. Both are CAATsupporters as well as members of thegroup Liberal Democrats for Peace &Security. Our thanks go to them, toDavid Grace, who also helped, andto all Liberal Democrats whosupported the motion. Several ofthese, as parliamentary candidates,had been lobbied by CAATsupporters earlier this year.

A dilemma for Vince Cable?PARLIAMENTARY

The Strategic Defence and SecurityReview (SDSR) has been makingheadlines. The Commons’ DefenceCommittee, with many of its membersfrom areas of military manufacturing,has said that the Review is rushedand the industry has not been fullyconsulted. Well, CAAT and otherscalling for disarmament were notapproached either!

What the arms companies reallydislike is that the Review is being runby the new cross-GovernmentNational Security Council, based inthe Cabinet Office, rather than theMinistry of Defence. This has giventhe Treasury a leading role,something the industry sees as athreat.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

In September the Foreign Officeannounced that it was retaining theLabour Government’s proposalsregarding Private Military andSecurity Companies (the official termfor corporate mercenary companies).This is bad news. The proposals willsee a trade association monitoring acode of conduct, rather than a banon combat activities and aGovernment licensing system forother work, as advocated by CAATand War on Want.ANN FELTHAM

Corporate mercenaries

ConsultationsMost of the House of Commons’Committees that look at the workof the different Governmentdepartments have now beenappointed and have got straight towork. Besides the StrategicDefence and Security Review,there are consultations by theBusiness, Innovation and SkillsCommittee on Governmentassistance to industry; and by thePublic Administration SelectCommittee (PASC) on the role ofministers. CAAT has pointed out tothe former that not all trade isgood, and that support for thearms companies ought to end.

The submission to the PASCfocused on the practice ofappointing ministers from outsidethe House of Commons, and theproblems of accountability that thisengendered. Unfortunately, whileit was being drafted, it wasannounced that Stephen Greenfrom HSBC is to take over asTrade Minister by the end of theyear. Once again it seems that thejunior minister with directresponsibility for arms exportpromotion will be a member of theHouse of Lords, brought in fromindustry.

Mercenaries on a US StateDepartment detail in Baghdad


Kaye Stearman questionsthe latest developments inUK arms sales to India.

In late July, the media gaveprominence to Prime MinisterCameron's diplomatic and trademission to India. Mr Cameron wasaccompanied by half a dozencabinet ministers and fifty "leaders ofindustry", including arms companybosses Dick Olver of BAE, MilesCowdry of Rolls-Royce and GrahamCole of Agusta Westland.

The purpose of the jamboree was"sell, sell, sell", and the ultimate salewas a highly contentious arms deal.Under the deal, 57 BAE Hawk jetswill be manufactured under licence inIndia by BAE's Indian partner,Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL),with Rolls-Royce also getting a sliceof the action.

The deal was hailed as beingworth £700 million to the UKeconomy – with £500 million forBAE and £200 million for Rolls-Royce. Most importantly, it wasclaimed it would support valuablejobs in the UK, especially in BAE'splant at Brough on Humberside.

View from the UK So what jobs will result from theHawk deal, given that the planes areactually being manufactured inIndia? The official line was that thedeal would "protect" around 200jobs in BAE's Brough plant. For a£700 million deal that works out at£3.5 million per job.

In September, just six weeks afterthe fanfare around the Hawk deal,BAE announced that it was sheddingone thousand jobs in five plants. Oneof the hardest hit was Brough withover 200 jobs to go. BAE justifiedthe cuts stating that: s"The job lossesresult from the impact of the changesin the defence programmeannounced in December 2009,together with other workloadchanges."

Understandably, BAE workers andtheir union representatives were notimpressed. Local MPs David Davisand Alan Johnson declared theredundancies were "a breach offaith" on the part of BAE. Mr Daviseven used the M word, "moral," aconcept as foreign to BAE as to abird of prey.

View from India Will India benefit? No doubt thedeal will create some jobs at HAL'sassembly lines. However, in thishighly capital-intensive industry, jobsare limited to the already skilled andthe multipler effects are low. Thearms industry will not provide Indiawith the number and type of jobs itso desperately needs.

Despite rapid economic growth,most Indians still live in abjectpoverty. In July United Nations-backed research revealed that eightIndian states had more poor peoplethan the 26 poorest Africancountries. Every rupee that Indiainvests in weaponry is a rupee lessinvested in health, education and thesocial infrastructure that will improvethe lives of the poor majority.

Since 1947 India has beeninvolved in four wars and in internalconflicts, including Kashmir. How willbuilding Hawk jets support peaceefforts within India and the region?Will it further encourage an armsrace with Pakistan, a country in aneven more parlous situation thanIndia?

More to come?Despite these huge economic andethical issues, the UK is keen to flogmore arms to India. Only a yearago, in opposition, now BusinessSecretary Vince Cable condemnedthe Eurofighter as a waste of moneyand irrelevant to today's needs. Yeton 28 July this year he was happilypitching sales to the IndianGovernment, stating: "I am pleasedthat the Indian Government isconsidering the Eurofighter Typhoonfor its medium multi-role combataircraft. This bid has the full backingof the UK Government." Truly, theHawks are coming home to roost.

For more background on India seeUK vying for Indian arms deals onpage 13 of CAATnews 217.

India Hawks come home to roost


Supporters of Control Arms Foundation of India (CAFI)demonstrate at the AeroIndia arms fair in 2009. PHOTO: CAFI

FEATURE

Pounding the pavementsto raise pounds for CAATOn Saturday, 7 August, myself andIan Pocock completed a walk to raisefunds for Campaign Against theArms Trade. We walked a total of6.2 miles, starting at St. Stephen’schurch in Dulwich, and finishing atthe Stock Exchange in the City.

The idea for the walk came aboutafter I had decided on a walk toraise funds for St. Stephen’s.However, I soon decided on a jointwalk to raise funds for CAAT also. Iwanted to bring the message to thecongregation that the arms trade isan unnecessary evil, and to impressupon them the importance of worldpeace.

I was pleased by the response Igot, with around 80 per cent optingto support both the church andCAAT, including both curate andvicar. In fact, the curate and his wifehad previously attended a CAATprotest at the Millennium Dome! Eachsponsor also received a CAATleaflet.

The walkAfter strolling through leafy Dulwich,and luckily missing the earlier rain,we soon hit the Walworth road, andmade our way up to the Elephant &Castle, a contrast from thepeacefulness of Dulwich Village; and

only a couple of miles between them!As we made our way across the riverwe could see St. Paul’s cathedral, ourdestination on the first leg of thewalk. A short walk across PaternosterSquare brought us to the StockExchange, our final destination. Thewalk took about two hours in all. Weare pleased to have raised severalhundred pounds. Any furtherdonations can be made atwww.caat.org.uk or sent to CAAT,11 Goodwin St, London, N4 3HQ.ROBIN LANE, ST.STEPHEN’S CHURCH

Support uswith a giftin your willRemembering family and friendswhen you are writing or updatingyour will is really important andgives peace of mind. For manypeople, the next stage is to decidehow you would like to help thecauses you feel passionately about.

As a supporter of CAAT, youalready know that our campaigninghas exposed the devastating impactsof the arms trade and held theGovernment to account for itssupport of this industry.

Please consider continuing yoursupport by leaving a gift to CAAT inyour will. If you have already madeyour will, then it is a simple processto update it.

Let us know if you have alreadyincluded CAAT in your will, or wouldlike further information, by [email protected], or writingto CAAT, 11 Goodwin Street,London, N4 3HQ. Thank you.

Thousandsraised forCAATCAAT supporters have raisedthousands of pounds in 2010 bywalking and running in sponsoredevents, and volunteering behind thebar at music festivals.

Mike and Bianca Tyrrell (pictured)have beaten their fundraising targetof £300 after completing the BristolHalf Marathon in September. JamesCracknell is “Running to the Beat” inLondon, and a record five runnersare taking part in the Great SouthRun. Our fantastic team of volunteershave worked over four hundredhours behind the bar at events suchas Glastonbury Festival to raise fundsfor CAAT.

Thank you to everyone who hastaken part in these vital fundraisingactivities and to the generoussponsors. If you would like to raisefunds for CAAT through a sponsoredevent please email:[email protected]


CAAT CASH

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telecoms supplier with a di�erence

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Subscribe to an email listSign up to receive the monthly CAAT bulletin with the latestnews and events, and receive press releases. [email protected] or visit www.caat.org.uk/lists

Make a donationOur supporters’ donations enable us to strive for a worldwithout arms trading. Without your help, there would beno campaign. Support CAAT by sending us a cheque,setting up a regular standing order donation, or by takingpart in a fundraising event.

Campaign locallyCAAT’s campaigns are effective because people like youtake action around the country. Have a look at ourcampaigners’ “to do” list (see box) to find out our keycampaign priorities. You might run a CAAT stall, contactyour local media or invite a CAAT speaker to speak at anevent. You can also get more involved in a campaign bytaking on one of these campaigner roles:

Join or start a local CAAT group – visitwww.caat.org.uk/getinvolved/local/groups.php to findout if there is a group near you or contact [email protected] to start a group in your area.

Become a Local Contact – act as a contact for CAATsupporters in your area. Co-ordinate local campaignactivities or keep a local campaign group updated onCAAT’s work.

Become a Supporter Media Activist – help buildCAAT’s profile by contacting media with the help of abriefing from CAAT. Contact David at [email protected].

Join the CAAT Speakers Network – raise awarenessabout CAAT and get people campaigning by committingto arrange at least three talks a year. CAAT will providetraining and a speaker’s pack with information andpresentations.

Become a Key Campaigner – receive campaignerupdates from CAAT and help spread the word aboutCAAT in your area.

More information on how to campaign locally can befound at www.caat.org.uk/getinvolved/local

Order a copy of the Local Campaigns Guide or find outmore about these campaigner roles by [email protected].

Universities NetworkJoin our vibrant network of students and staff taking actionfor clean investment, stopping the arms trade’s graduaterecruitment and exposing the arms trade’s researchinvolvement in universities.

Visit our Universities Network wiki –universities.caat.org.uk.Join the Universities Network and get the monthlyebulletin: www.caat.org.uk/campaigns/universities/getinvolved.phpContact [email protected] for any questions or ifyou want to share a planned action.

CAAT Christian NetworkThe network raises arms trade issues within nationalchurch structures and local churches. Contact AlunMorinan at [email protected].

Leave a legacyIf you are currently making or re-writing your will, pleaseconsider leaving a gift to help fund our campaigns. Yourlegacy will make a real difference to CAAT’s future work.Please call 020 7281 0297 to discuss the different waysyou can remember CAAT.

Participate in CAAT – here’s how

Campaigners’ ‘to do’ listBook for CAAT’s National Gathering on 6 Nov – seepage 3.Help end massive taxpayer support for the armstrade – see pages 8 and 9.If your MP is a Liberal Democrat, then please write towelcome the position on UKTI DSO and ask them tosupport action in Parliament – see pages 8 and 9. Students: take action against BAE recruitment oncampus this term – see page 6.Help fund CAAT with a Direct Debit. See the backpage or visitwww.caat.org.uk/fundraising/donate.php

GET INVOLVED

Donate today!You can donate to CAAT by either visiting ourwebsite at www.caat.org.uk, or by completing theform below (in block capitals) and returning to:CAAT, Freepost, LON4296, London, N4 3BR.

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I enclose a cheque for £___ made payable to CAAT.I wish to donate by credit/debit card and havecompleted my card details.Please send me the CAATnews quarterly magazine.Please send me CAAT’s monthly email bulletin.I wish to set up a Direct Debit (complete form below)I’d like information on setting up a legacy to CAAT.

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Please pay Campaign Against Arms Trade Direct Debitsfrom the account detailed in this Instruction subject to thesafeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. Iunderstand that this Instruction may remain withCampaign Against Arms Trade and, if so, details will bepassed electronically to my bank/building society.

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A direct debit is the most convenient and cost effective wayto support CAAT. £10 a month will make a real difference. Service User Number: 250347

Come to the CAAT National Gathering!

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