-Caveat Lector- Euphorian spotted this on the Guardian Unlimited site and thought you should see it.
To see this story with its related links on the Guardian Unlimited site, go to http://www.guardian.co.uk MoD rejects fears over defence sell-off Philip Pank and agencies Thursday September 05 2002 The Guardian Ministers today defended plans to sell part of the defence research industry to a US-based company that has several former international leaders on its payroll. George Bush senior, his former secretary of state James Baker, the former prime minister John Major and many other figures from international big business and politics are employed by Carlyle Group, a US-based private equity and defence group. The government has dismissed union fears that the British national interest may be compromised by the influence of diverse overseas lobbyists linked to the company. It announced earlier this week that Carlyle was the preferred bidder to take over its research and technology division, Qinetiq. The former defence research agency has developed missile-tracking software, radar technology and other defence systems The announcement immediately raised concerns that national defence research may be subjected to increasing influence from overseas interests, notably the US arms lobby. Fiona Draper of the trade union Prospect, which represents scientists at Qinetiq, said: "The fact that they are a foreign company will obviously exacerbate my members concerns, given Carlyle's fairly opaque structure, there must be concerns over whether undue influence may be brought to bear which may not be in Britain's interest." She told BBC radio: "I do understand that in the past at least they have had investors from 'interesting' areas of the world, shall we say." In addition to the list of influential names from US politics, the company has been linked to the Saudi royal family and until last year maintained links with the half-brother of Osama bin Laden. However, the defence minister, Lewis Moonie, insisted today that Britain's national interest would not be compromised by the partial sale of the agency. "It is very important that half truths and shades like that should not be allowed to cloud the name of a respectable company and one we have investigated in great detail, as we have any other company with who we would be going into partnership," he said. "I can assure you that we have gone into this in very great detail and anything of a sensitive nature will not be exposed to foreign eyes." The government is selling off a significant stake in the agency, having dropped plans to float the company on the stock market earlier this year. Like other private equity groups, Carlyle has a history of taking short-term stakes in companies. Industry observers have predicted that the company would be likely to prepare QinetiQ for full sell-off within five years. The previous Conservative government shied away from full-blown privatisation of the agency. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited <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
