Fri 24 Apr 2020, 05:43 AM | Posted by editor
LETTER from Mark Langabeer, Newton Abbot Labour Party Member
Last April, a Dispatches programme entitled Britain’s Hidden War described how this Tory government is complicit in breaches of international humanitarian law. The civil war in the Yemen that started 2015 has become a proxy war with Saudi Arabia supporting Yemeni government forces with air strikes against Houthi rebels.
The blockade and bombing of Yemen has resulted in the biggest humanitarian crisis worldwide. As many as 85,000 children have died as a result of famine during this conflict. Nearly twenty thousand air strikes have been conducted by the Saudi Air Force and over 17,000 civilians have died as a result. Bombs have hit hospitals, schools and mosques.
Without BAE, Saudis wouldn’t fly
The principle aircraft used by the Saudi air force is the Typhoon, made by a European consortium. One of the main companies is BAE systems, which produces and services the aircraft. Dispatches interviewed a number of former staff who suggested that without BAE technical support, the Saudis would be unable to conduct a bombing campaign.
BAE is a British company that employs around 34,000 and has been granted permission to sell military equipment to the Saudi regime. The argument used by the government is that they are not involved in placing bombs on the aircraft. But not only are BAE staff involved, but RAF military advise at the operations centre based in Rhyhad.
The Tory Government claim that they are there to ensure that the Saudis are complying with international Law. The USA, who also supply the F15 warplane, sent a State Department adviser who pointed out that most air strikes are conducted outside of the operation centre. Pilots act from information given from militia groups on the ground.
Complicit in breaches of law
Andrew Mitchell, a former cabinet minister, (famous for the ‘plebgate’ scandal) visited Yemen and believed that Britain was complicit in serious breaches of International law. He visited the site where a bus full of school children was bombed, leaving 40 dead. However, the boss of BAE, Sir Roger Carr, argued that the company was a ‘defence’ business and not supporting aggression.
Dispatches interviewed a former Air Vice-Marshall, Sean Bell, also the former Director General for Saudi Armed Forces Projects. He argued that the British government’s involvement mitigated any flouting of the rules. “Dancing with the Devil”, he said was necessary because of oil and the need for British influence in the Middle East. At least this guy was honest about the motivations for Britain’s close relationship with the Saudi Regime.
Most damaging for the Tories was the interview with Leon Panetta, former US Secretary of Defence and head of the CIA, who stated that he had been in one of these operational centres. He said they are inclined towards acting first and asking questions later, which is a disgraceful cavalier attitude to human life. He also thought Britain was complicit with breaches of International Law. If the government is being criticised by a former boss of the CIA for violations of human rights, then you know you must be doing something wrong.
Profit always determines Tory policy
As always, profit is what guides the Tories. Hypocritically denouncing some states for human rights abuses, like North Korea and Russia, and even applying sanctions, the Tories ‘dance with the devil’ when it comes to making a buck. Labour are right to call for an end to arming the Saudi Regime, but surprisingly, no references were made about possible jobs losses if Britain stopped supplying arms. In this case, as with Trident, Labour should give an absolute guarantee of no loss of jobs as result of ending military aid to Saudi Arabia.
Many years ago, I worked for an engineering firm that made fags and the packaging. During WW2, they made bullets instead. Granted, neither could be considered as socially useful, but it does demonstrate that engineering can be convertible. Those employed in making armaments could be employed making items that are socially useful. The coronavirus crisis has highlighted shortages in the availability of ventilators. In a planned economy that was publicly-owned, social needs would be the priority.
