Saudi corruption scandal brushed aside

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Fighter aircraft fraud probe ends
The Serious Fraud Office has ended its corruption inquiry into a ?6bn fighter planes deal with Saudi Arabia. Attorney General Lord Goldsmith said the SFO was "discontinuing" its investigation into Britain's biggest defence company, BAE Systems. The probe had related to the Al Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia. BAE has denied any wrongdoing.

Lord Goldsmith told the Lords he thought that a prosecution "could not be brought". He said the decision had been made in the wider public interest, which had to be balanced against the rule of law. Lord Goldsmith also told peers that Prime Minister Tony Blair had agreed that the continuation of the investigation would cause "serious damage" to relations between the UK and Saudi Arabia.

It emerged earlier this month that French and Saudi officials were in talks over a possible alternative deal, which could scupper the BAE sale. The Saudi government was reported to have been angered by the SFO investigation into allegations of a slush fund for members of the country's royal family. Lord Goldsmith said that both Mr Blair and Defence Secretary Des Browne had argued that carrying on the investigation would harm intelligence and diplomatic co-operation with Saudi Arabia, in turn damaging the UK's national security.

BBC business editor Robert Peston says that major UK companies - both arms firms and other manufacturers - have voiced fears that they stood to lose other lucrative deals should the probe have continued. The SFO said its decision had been taken "following representations that have been made both to the Attorney General and the Director of the SFO concerning the need to safeguard national and international security". It added: "No weight has been given to commercial interests or to the national economic interest."

The Al Yamamah contract with Saudi Arabia is thought to have been worth ?40bn to BAE Systems over the past two decades. Saudi Arabia said in August that it planned to buy 72 Eurofighters to replace its range of Tornado jets, which were also made by BAE.

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If ever you needed proof of the global corruption between governments and business, then here it is. The law has simply been put to one side in favour of maintaining profits - and while there's the possibility of jobs having been lost if the case did go ahead, is that justification?

[eefanincan]

Certainly sounds like turning a blind eye, to me at least.

[IRiSHMaFIA]

That's pretty pathetic. This situation would have fit in perfectly with Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 911.

People like Blair and Bush only care about money when it comes down to it. They say they care about national security but thats a load of shite as far as I'm concerned. It's the almighty dollar that drives pricks like them and lining the pockets of those that can help them.

Bush Jr and Sr both sleep with the Saudi's. The elder worked for the Carlyle Group that was under investigation by the FBI for the attacks on Sept 11th. Judicial Watch demanded Pres Bush to tell his father to leave the Carlyle Group. If they had any sense of patriotism whatsoever it wouldn't have to be demanded but automatically done, but as the ole saying goes, 'money talks, bullshit walks'.

Cheney is no better as he's up to his arse in it as well. They're all a corrupt bunch of greedy lunatics the basically belong to the same club, and they'd sell out their country to secure their own futures.

[eefanincan]

[vegas]

Its all very well being honest and noble but at the expense of peoples jobs I don't think so. He who pays the piper calls the tune.

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