CAATnews Oct/Nov 2005 - Letters

Your letters are always welcome. The following is an extract from a response to an article in CAATnews191 ('A UK "Defence Industrial Base" or just international big business?'). The article argued that there is no UK "defence industrial base" in the sense that we are asked to believe in it; its place has been taken by international big business.

Dear CAATnews,

The article describing the transformation of domestic arms industry and the formation of a global arms production infrastructure, poses a number of questions for campaigners. How do we focus our efforts and select our targets? The larger companies in the UK seem to be turning their attention increasingly to the US marketplace. What value does UK-based campaigning still hold?

Some groups have been promoting a campaign for an international arms trade treaty, designed to tackle the excesses of unethical arms transfers. While this has it merits it could also be seen as tinkering at the margins. An arms trade treaty poses no threat to the big players in this industry, and we should be in the business of posing that threat.

How we do that requires more informed debate, but it seems to me that we need to start questioning the logic and the motives of the military planners in Washington, Brussels and London. Those selling us their ideas of security, and failing to provide it. The last few years of conflict should have taught us that it will not be missile defence systems, space-based laser or the Joint Strike Fighter that will bring us security.

Everyone who got on a bus or a train on the 8th of July was a security analyst: they balanced risk and necessity. We need to understand that people can and do engage with complex security issues, and move to democratise the issue of "defence" spending by raising the level of public debate. In combating the flow of arms around the world we need to step up and challenge the clerical class that dominate the airwaves with their self-proclaimed expertise.

Yours,
Kevin Mullen

A full version of this letter can be found at http://fragblog.zapto.org

Marathon Man

Steven Downey ran the Chicago Marathon on 9th October in aid of the Campaign Against Arms Trade. He wrote the following before the big day:

"Although I have run before, this will be the first international marathon that I have taken part in. My training schedule has been going well. By July, I was running 10 miles each training day (four days per week), increasing to 15 miles at the weekends. Once I had established this pattern, I started working on building more strength, speed and stamina into the runs.

I am looking forward to the personal challenge of running this race, especially given that CAAT is such an important and worthwhile cause. CAAT, as you know, was established on the understanding that the arms trade exerts a negative effect on human rights, security and development. CAAT seeks to end the export of arms to oppressive regimes, to those countries involved in conflict and to countries whose social welfare is threatened by military spending.

For me it is crucial that CAAT advocates for peace. In the contemporary climate, there has never been a more significant time to work towards the peaceful resolution of conflict. In my belief the UK needs to set an example by actively promoting the values it espouses, such as democracy and the peaceful resolution of disputes with others. By sponsoring me in the Marathon, your contribution will directly support CAAT's campaign for an end to activities such as governmental subsidies for the arms trade. I am enormously grateful to anyone who is able to help me to raise funds for the Campaign Against Arms Trade."

Thanks again, Steve.

To sponsor Steve, please send a cheque (payable to CAAT) to the office, using the sponsor form enclosed with this issue of CAATnews. You can also sponsor Steve online at www.bmycharity.com/stevendowney by making a credit or debit card donation. It is straightforward, secure and only takes a couple of minutes.