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Andrew Feinstein: BAE systems is certainly one of the most, if not the most, immoral company on the planet. There was certainly a period from the late 80s through the 90s when it was undoubtedly involved in more corrupt activity than any other commercial enterprise on the planet. And the British government chose to turn a blind eye to that behaviour. But in addition to which, BAE systems single-handedly contributes to extraordinary misery and suffering around the world. To give just one example, in the last couple of years, BAE has sold Saudi Arabia 100s of millions of pounds' worth of bombs and missiles. Those bombs and missiles have been reigned down by a Saudi-led coalition on innocent civilians in Yemen. Anywhere between 4 thousand and 12 thousand innocent civilians have been killed, probably many of them by British bombs and missiles. In addition to which, British advisers are supposedly advising the Saudi-led coalition on its targeting, which a UN-report identifies as having at least one-third of its attacks civilian targets. But even more than that, what BAE systems has done is it has corrupted countries around the world, including my own country South Africa, where just four years into our democracy, BAE paid 115 million pounds of bribes, according to the MET police, in order to win a contract for which its product should never have been awarded a contract. It was only because the defence minister, who was bribed, ensured that BAE won the contract. What that did is that it undermined South Africa's young democracy, it ensured that scarce resources were spent on weapons that the country didn't need and has barely used, rather than, for instance, providing life-saving medication for millions of South Africans living with HIV or AIDS at the time. In fact, Harvard University has estimated, that as a consequence of that policy decision, at least 365,000 South Africans died avoidable deaths within five years of that decision. This the sort of effect that BAE systems has on the world. But, it also has a corroding impact on Britain's own democracy and on the rule of law in this country. I say that because so much of what BAE systems does is kept out of the public sphere by the veil of national security imposed secrecy that over hangs all of the arms deals that they do and all of their activities, be it legal or illegal. It means that when a brave prosecutor is prepared to try and bring them to trial, the government will step in and ensure that that doesn't happen. The nature of the relationships between the company and politicians, very senior politicians, between the company and military leaders, between the company and intelligence agents is such, that I believe, together operate in a way that benefits the company, that benefits other individuals, both politically and economically, and that is to the disadvantage of the best interests of the United Kingdom. Watch the full interview at realmedia.press 8 ISSUE 102 / 2017 REAL MEDIA As the world's largest arms fair returns to London this September, we asked Andrew Feinstein – Corruption expert and author of 'Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade, is BAE Systems the most immoral companies on the planet? BAE SYSTEMS: THE MOST IMMORAL COMPANY EVER? DISGRACED DEFENCE MINISTER BACK AT THE ARMS FAIR – LIAM FOX The world's largest arms fair – Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) opened after a week of protests by anti- arms trade campaigners protesting the selling of illegal weapons and the invitation of undemocratic and despotic government officials to do deals. Liam Fox, Secretary of State for International Trade, attended the fair hailing the 'lucrative' industry for the UK. Some may have forgotten that Fox had to resign in disgrace as Defence Minister in 2011, after it was revealed his close friend and lobbyist Andrew Werrity travelled with Fox frequently, attending government defence meetings with no security clearance or pass, despite being backed by companies and individuals who could gain from Fox's government decisions. After only 5 years of being dismissed for this corruption, Fox is back and will be deciding trade deals for the UK. And his friends are not far. Joe Lo, spokesperson for Campaign Against The Arms Trade (CAAT) revealed in an article for New Internationalist this month that Oliver Waghorn, Fox's special adviser when he was Defence Minister, became BAE Systems' chief lobbyist and 'head of government relations.' This was only three months after Fox took up his new role as Secretary of State for the department 'in charge of promoting British arms exports and organising arms fairs,' and means that Waghorn will be lobbying Fox for more BAE deals. What does Liam Fox have to do to be booted out of the Conservative party?