'National interest' halts arms corruption inquiry

[cal04]

A major criminal investigation into alleged corruption by the arms company BAE Systems and its executives was stopped in its tracks yesterday when the prime minister claimed it would endanger Britain's security if the inquiry was allowed to continue.

(snip)
Clare Short, Mr Blair's former cabinet colleague, said "This government is even more soiled than we thought it was. It means that BAE is above the law."

She added: "The message it sends to corrupt businessmen is carry on - the government will support you."

Liberal Democrat Lord Goodhart said: "If as appears to be the case this further investigation is being stopped because of potential damage to security, intelligence and diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, doesn't that amount to blackmail by Saudi Arabia, to prevent this matter going forward?"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/armstrade/story/0,,1972749,00.html

[Kutjara]

1. Lovely. The Saudis say...

..."stop investigating all the kickbacks you gave us or we'll cancel the contract." The government says, "righty-ho, we've never been ones to let a little ethics stand in the way of the bottom line. Consider it stopped." And the corpocracy marches on.

[EST]

2. There's going to have to be some kind of world wide revolt

against corrupt government. It has gone on far too long. It has to be stopped-everywhere.