Is defence event in Bath a good or bad thing?
In contrast to the views of other correspondents on the topic, I strongly support Bath and North East Somerset Council's far-sighted decision to host what I regards as an arms fair at the Assembly Rooms in June.
This is a vital industry that needs all our support as it produces jobs and export income as well as giving the UK considerable influence with friendly foreign regimes such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Pakistan and Libya.
The crucial role that UK arms and equipment have played helping to suppress popular unrest in such unstable countries by arming their military and police forces is not as widely acknowledged as it should be.
At a time of rising unemployment and pressure on state spending, it is vital that the Government continues to heavily subsidise the UK arms industry to the tune of several hundred million pounds a year.
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It is truly heartening to see our council following the lead of the Prime Minister on his recent visit to Indonesia where his entourage included executives from six arms companies.
In a courageous stand for UK jobs, David Cameron rightly ignored the Indonesian Government's record of using British Hawk jets to bomb civilians in East Timor and its continuing human rights abuses in West Papua, by selling them as many British bullets and bombs as possible.
With growing instability in the Middle East, rising tensions over natural resources and raw materials in Africa and the developing military threat of China in Asia, the prospects for increasing UK arms exports look extremely good.
It is a sad but uncomfortable truth that pacifists and so-called do-gooders will have to face but more wars abroad means more wealth at home.
Therefore we should be doing everything we can to encourage these fairs so that our bankrupt economy will thrive again.
So I say hats off to councillor Paul Crossley and B&NES Council for doing their bit!
REGINALD E H DYER Lower Limpley Stoke Wiltshire
Comments
by capndave
Saturday, May 12 2012, 10:50PM
“you'd be better off targetting Land Rover…
Or Sir Walter Raleigh!”
by MoeXXX
Saturday, May 12 2012, 8:48PM
“Malcolm, you're falling into the same trap. The conference is about unmanned aerial vehicles, not "drones" (and I use the term drone in the populist sense as an *armed* UAV).
Like ground vehicles, ships and manned planes, the vast majority are not armed. If you were to protest against a particular technology based on the number of people it kills, you'd be better off targetting Land Rover.”
by mcupis
Saturday, May 12 2012, 5:28PM
“These weapons don't kill anywhere near as many children as the terrorists they are targeted at. Sometimes it's easy to conclude that certain elements of the left support the terrorists.
The manufacturers are working to make the drones more efficient, more accurate, better at getting the bad guys and avoiding innocents.
If we don't make the drones, manufacturers in America and France will. Jobs, livelihoods and the wider economy need the opportunity to come here.”
by MoeXXX
Saturday, May 12 2012, 1:35AM
“"what I regards as an arms fair"
It's a one-off conference about unmanned aerial vehicles. Three days of people talking about radio-controlled planes.
Believe me, I'm dead against western imperialism and the government's policy of "business at all costs", but I get the impression this protest has just found an easy target.”
by jublees
Friday, May 11 2012, 9:18PM
“these weapons kill children if anybody thinks thats an important role then they are far from the facts of WAR. what a truely sad thing to have to say about murdering human beings, Iraq Afghanistan Libya are total failures as far as the people are concerned the only people to gain from this is the weapons industries. you freaks.”
by AbandonShip
Friday, May 11 2012, 1:39PM
“For my part, I will not be supporting shops in bath that sell underwear, since these items can be used to blow up aircraft.
A "stop the y-fronts in debenhams" petition may become available, but then again, may not”
by AndyMcKim
Friday, May 11 2012, 10:25AM
“Hopefully, this darkly satirical letter will stir us all into action!
A 'Stop The Drones Event at the Assembly Rooms' e-petition is now posted on the on the Bath & NES Council website:
http://tinyurl.com/bsumxxb
If you are a Bath & NES resident, and you want to see this event cancelled, please sign the e-petition, and help spread the word. As soon as we reach 1000 signatures, a public debate is automatically granted.
In peace, Andy McKim”