United Kingdom and BAE Systems once more “sell their collective soul” to Saudi Arabia
United Kingdom and BAE Systems once more “sell their collective soul” to Saudi Arabia
Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker
Modern Tokyo Times
The United Kingdom government and BAE Systems once more “sell their collective soul” to Saudi Arabia despite the terrible human rights situation in this nation. Indeed, it highlights the utter bankruptcy of any ethical policies which are associated with this nation when it comes to foreign policy. After all, issues related to “democracy” and the fight against terrorism appears extremely “manipulated.”
Therefore, while the $3 billion dollar contract with Saudi Arabia, on top of other past contracts, is good news for BAE Systems and workers in this company. It does dampen the reality of “ethical policies” being issued by the leader of the United Kingdom and the same applies to the British Foreign Secretary. Also, it does nothing but encourage regional nations like Iran, Israel, Turkey, and others, to maintain a military arms race.
In Saudi Arabia not one single Christian church is allowed and the same applies to all non-Muslim faiths being banned from having places of worship. Also, Shia Muslims suffer systematic persecution and Ahmadiyya Muslims are forbidden from visiting Mecca. Judas only took a little compared with the British government and BAE Systems. For neither can claim that they don’t know about apostates to Christianity facing death, no religious freedom, and other barbaric practices.
Ben Wallace, Conservative MP in the British government, supports the arms deal because he stated that the country was “stable” and hinted that the country was moving towards human rights reform. Of course, if Ben Wallace was to elaborate on what reforms were being implemented, then he may come up short given the real reality of modern day Saudi Arabia?
William Hague, the British Foreign Secretary, stated that “…there is no one model for democratic development in the Middle East. We must work with the grain of each society while standing up for universal human rights, recognizing that the pace of change will vary in each country.”
Note how William Hague on the one side talks about “universal human rights” but on the other side he is part of the same British government which supports the most draconian nation in the world. The human rights of Saudi Arabia applies to allowing old men (some older than 60) to marry young girls aged 8 and 9; killing apostates; homosexuals face the death penalty; Saudi women are forbidden from driving cars; Saudi women are whipped if they don’t fully cover-up; and a host of other draconian laws which enables sexual discrimination and religious apartheid.
BAE Systems in fairness is based in the military sector and issues related to human rights in this sector are extremely thin on the ground. Indeed, when blocks are put on companies from selling military arms to despotic nations, then it is always based on various “self-interests.” In this sense, BAE Systems is no different from other military based companies which sell equipment to nations irrespective of human rights and religious freedom.
North Korea is less draconian than Saudi Arabia when it comes to the freedom of women, but of course BAE Systems would be prevented from selling military arms to this nation. It is this spin and abuse of tolerating anything in Saudi Arabia in order to make profitable gains which is intolerable. Either “human rights” should highlight the reality of “human rights,” or nations should be more honest and clarify that they have no ethical foreign policies. Therefore, issues related to democracy, religious freedom, female rights, homosexual rights, and so forth; mean zilch when it comes to the bigger picture outside of the constituent nation state because Saudi Arabia breaks every decent rule in the book.
The menace of radical Sunni Islam and the Salafi movement which is spreading its hatred far and wide is based in many organizations in Saudi Arabia. September 11 was also a firm reminder about the role of Saudi Arabian Islamists in spreading hatred, fear, death, and destruction. This applies to the vast majority of individuals who did September 11 coming from this nation. Indeed, even within the United Kingdom educational books from Saudi Arabia have focused on hating Jews and Christians. Despite this, and the changing nature of Islam in Mali, Northern Nigeria, Somalia, and other nations, where Salafi Islam is growing – the British government, like usual, have their “eyes closed” to everything in order to further economic trade. This policy is bankrupt!
