-Caveat Lector- http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12564755 &method=full&siteid=50143
SHOT DOWN By Tom Newton Dunn Defence Correspondent A MAJOR missile deal with Israel was abandoned by the Government last night after an outcry led by the Daily Mirror. Defence ministers rejected the �300million purchase of Israel's Spike anti- tank missile and chose the US-made Javelin system instead. The Spike - a deadly mini cruise missile - was used by Israeli helicopter gunships to assassinate Palestinian extremists last year amid international condemnation. And it was controversially tested against civilian targets in Lebanon during the 1990s, the United Nations believes. There was uproar last year when the Daily Mirror revealed that the MoD was seriously considering buying Spike to replace the ageing Milan anti-tank missile currently used by all British troops. Campaigners last night welcomed the Javelin announcement made by Defence Procurement Minister Lord Bach to the House of Commons. A Campaign Against the Arms Trade spokesman said: "We are delighted that the Government has finally begun to see sense on the issue of arms deals with nations at war and behave in a proper moral manner. "The Daily Mirror should be congratulated for putting pressure on ministers not to buy suspect arms from this Israeli government." The Javelin missile, a state-of-the-art weapons system, has a range of 2,500 metres and can penetrate almost any known armour. Aimed and fired by a two-man team, it will be introduced to all British infantry soldiers, the Royal Marines and Special Forces units in 2005. The purchase of Javelin - a joint venture between American defence companies Lockheed Martin and Raytheon - will safeguard 300 jobs in the UK. Lord Bach said: "Javelin offers the best solution to meet the needs of our armed forces as well as giving the UK taxpayer the best value for money." The decision comes after a major fallout between Premier Tony Blair and Ariel Sharon when the Israeli leader scuppered London efforts to kick start the Middle East peace process. Sharon refused to allow Palestinian delegates to travel to London last week for a conference. The Government was heavily criticised last year for allowing British-made parts to be fitted to Israel's US F16 fighters while the Palestinian uprising was going on. After a public outcry last summer Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was pressured into imposing an unofficial embargo on all weapons sales to Israel. THREE Israelis were shot dead last night in a Palestinian crossroads ambush on a military vehicle in the West Bank city of Hebron. tom.newtondunn @mirror.co.uk Top Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sut <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
