L'Ombre de l'Olivier

The Shadow of the Olive Tree

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14 December 2006 Blog Home : December 2006 : Permalink

Britain Caves to Saudi Royalty

The British Government has decided to halt its investigation into bribes allegedly paid by BAe to various members of the Saudi royal family. As the BBC explains this really is nothing what ever to do with the Saudi threats to not make any more purchases from the UK what so ever. Honest gov!

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.

Something tells me that the claim that "No weight has been given to commercial interests or to the national economic interest." is one that many people will consider to be roughly as accurate as "the sun rises in the west"

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I despise l'Escroc and Vile Pin