sailorman
Well-Known Member
to cease
whys that then, getting too close /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
whys that then, getting too close /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
SFO / BAE investigation
- Thread starter sailorman
- Start date
Talbot
Well-Known Member
risking billions of pounds of exports without really doing anything except waiste public money - something this government is particularly good at.
claymore
Well-Known Member
Is it connected to the order for jets for the Arab market that is in jeopardy?
sailorman
Well-Known Member
possibly /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Abdula Wanabung woz in the frame but it woz just a simple "misunderstanding"
Abdula Wanabung woz in the frame but it woz just a simple "misunderstanding"
starboard
Well-Known Member
The contract with the Saudis has kept the military division of BAE rosy for about 30 years now........if this goes tits up it will be good by to many jobs at BAE Warton thats for sure.
Paul.
Paul.
Seven Spades
Well-Known Member
This goverment should nerver have introduced the law in the first place, the consequences were entirley forseable. Doesn't anyone learn from history, rember the ITV programme "Death of a Princess" that nearly cost us contracts too.
The government needs to start looking out for the interests of Great Britain Ltd instead of trying to act as a world moralist. While it is at it it should re-introduce the link betwen forign aid and contracts for British business.
The government needs to start looking out for the interests of Great Britain Ltd instead of trying to act as a world moralist. While it is at it it should re-introduce the link betwen forign aid and contracts for British business.
Robin
Well-Known Member
There are some parts of the world where like it or not business is only gained by 'oiling the wheels'. If we want to be holier than thou then I'm sure other countries will happily take over whilst our companies fade away and our highly skilled workforce join the ranks of the unemployed. Just think how righteous they will feel whilst waiting in line for a handout.
The stupidity of this was in how it was handled, from start to finish. I'm not saying it is right but that it is not UK PLC's business, rather that of those countries that will not operate like we would like them too.
The stupidity of this was in how it was handled, from start to finish. I'm not saying it is right but that it is not UK PLC's business, rather that of those countries that will not operate like we would like them too.
TheBoatman
Well-Known Member
Hear Hear.
Peter.
Peter.
Norman_E
Well-Known Member
Quite right.
Those that put their hands out and expect bribes are the guilty parties. In some parts of the world adopting the "Old Spanish Custom" is the only way to do business. The USA has the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act which in theory ties the hands of US companies trying to do business in such places. In practice, they find ways round it.
The investigation in to 20 year old events was a pretty dim idea in the first place, and given the SFO's dismal record in prosecuting cases of real fraud it was almost certainly doomed to failure, whilst putting Britain's biggest export contract in peril.
Those that put their hands out and expect bribes are the guilty parties. In some parts of the world adopting the "Old Spanish Custom" is the only way to do business. The USA has the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act which in theory ties the hands of US companies trying to do business in such places. In practice, they find ways round it.
The investigation in to 20 year old events was a pretty dim idea in the first place, and given the SFO's dismal record in prosecuting cases of real fraud it was almost certainly doomed to failure, whilst putting Britain's biggest export contract in peril.
ParaHandy
Well-Known Member
The revelations four years ago (grauniad et al) came at a particularly difficult time in the relations between BAE & MOD - cost overruns eg Astute subs and each side blaming the other. The SFO don't decide what to investigate, the Attorney General tells them and I imagine the conversation between blair and him went something along these lines "good way to apply pressure on BAE" .....
Cornishman
Well-Known Member
Were there any sailing yachts involved then? Or is it me in the wrong forum?
tome
Well-Known Member
We were doing a survey in Abu Dhabi and whilst alongside a whole bunch of robed gentlemen from the client office descended to visit. I issued each of them with one of our brand new lifejackets (boaty!) which they refused to return as they expected gifts...
There are parts of Africa where visas are nigh on impossible to obtain without greasing palms. Fight it or live with it
That said, the handling of this fiasco has been truly stupid and shows the UK in a very poor light. Saudis must be laughing all the way to the bank
There are parts of Africa where visas are nigh on impossible to obtain without greasing palms. Fight it or live with it
That said, the handling of this fiasco has been truly stupid and shows the UK in a very poor light. Saudis must be laughing all the way to the bank
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
"Saudis must be laughing all the way to the bank "
All the way to the Swiss bank, from what I hear.
A better question than the morality of baksheesh might be whether we should be selling sophisticated weapon systems to a country that might turn hard-line fundamentalist well before the sell-by dates on the Typhoons has passed.
All the way to the Swiss bank, from what I hear.
A better question than the morality of baksheesh might be whether we should be selling sophisticated weapon systems to a country that might turn hard-line fundamentalist well before the sell-by dates on the Typhoons has passed.
kengill
Well-Known Member
morality shmorality the most profitable war is when you sell to both sides.
When you deal with a pumped up moralist you pay his prices, which normally means you generate lost of poor people. when you deal with an autocracy you pay whomsoever they tell you to. It is a flagrant breach of good manners to attempt to enforce your morality on someone else, and very bad for business.
I am not aware of one single person amongst the people who seem to be moaning who stands to loose a single penny piece if the deals are scuppered - instead they seem to stack up huge appearance fees saying how righteous they are.
Unless of course you can prove me wrong.
When you deal with a pumped up moralist you pay his prices, which normally means you generate lost of poor people. when you deal with an autocracy you pay whomsoever they tell you to. It is a flagrant breach of good manners to attempt to enforce your morality on someone else, and very bad for business.
I am not aware of one single person amongst the people who seem to be moaning who stands to loose a single penny piece if the deals are scuppered - instead they seem to stack up huge appearance fees saying how righteous they are.
Unless of course you can prove me wrong.
ParaHandy
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
the most profitable war is when you sell to both sides.
[/ QUOTE ]
hmm .. the Bush family are experts at this. great grand daddy Bush's companies were prosecuted for "Trading with the enemy (Nazis)".
the most profitable war is when you sell to both sides.
[/ QUOTE ]
hmm .. the Bush family are experts at this. great grand daddy Bush's companies were prosecuted for "Trading with the enemy (Nazis)".
thefatlady
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
the most profitable war is when you sell to both sides.
[/ QUOTE ] Not only. When I worked for Vickers Medical during the 1973 (?) Arab-Israeli war, the company sold them both weapons and medical equipment, so the injured could be made better and use more weapons, and so on and so on .....
the most profitable war is when you sell to both sides.
[/ QUOTE ] Not only. When I worked for Vickers Medical during the 1973 (?) Arab-Israeli war, the company sold them both weapons and medical equipment, so the injured could be made better and use more weapons, and so on and so on .....
