What the hell are the Yanks doing investigating BAE systems?

Question

Why does the US Dept of Justice think it has got the right to investigate BAE's deal with the Saudis? So what if millions of pounds were paid to the Prince to secure a deal for our fighter planes? Big deal! That is the way business is done in the middle east -everyone knows that - call it commission, call it a bonus or call it a bribe or a bung if you want. That's the way to clinch a deal and if we hadn't done it you can be damn sure the French or any other EU country would. It may not be ethical but it's called the real world.

So now the Yanks are sticking their noses in. Why don't they start by investigating and cleaning up their own corrupt businesses first - like why Halliburton gets all the contracts for the reconstruction of Iraq (could it have somthing to do with their ex CEO Dick-head Cheney by any chance??), or their imposition of import tariffs to protect thier steel industry which breaks international trade laws, not to mention Worldcom and Enron et al. Get lost America!

Answer 1

Well Tony Blair pulled the plug on the British investigation into BAE so I suppose someone has to do it.

It does however seem a bit rich and the pot calling the kettle black for the USA to get high and mighty on these kind of issues.

I think the attitude taken by the big corporations is bribery and kick backs are only an offence if you get caught, otherwise it just oils the wheels of industry.

Answer 2

Any foreign business that is openly traded in the US must comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The US is investigating the company because it must comply with these US laws in order to do business in the US, even if this particular deal had nothing to do with the US.

Answer 3

Hm. But the corporate world is rotten to the core the world over, didn't you know that? They salve their consciences by supporting 'worthy' causes in a very public manner and by buying art.

Answer 4

Tony Blair did not pay his protection money to the racket boys.