Israeli missiles to be guided by software developed in Ireland?

Thursday November 28, 2002 18:04

by Ali la Pointe

you decide.

raytheon, the worlds largest missile manufacturer is using its Derry software plant, set up thanks to nobel peace laureate saint John Hume ("I didn't know they were the world's largest missile manufacturers") and £800 Million of MOD (British Ministry of Defence) money, to develop targeting software for it's Airbourne Stand Off Radar (ASTOR) and other missile guidance and attack targeting projects. The Israelis use raytheon gear regularly against Palestinians (see below). raytheon, whose share value peaked after September 11 (more instability=more sales), are at the cutting edge of the militarisation of the Irish economy. Monthly vigil Saturday Dec 7 at 5pm raytheon plant. Branch Road, Derry.

raytheon FACTOID OF THE MONTH:

Amongst the tonnes of missiles in the
Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) arsenal are raytheon products
AGM 65 Maverick
AIM 7 Sparrow
AIM 9 Sidewinder
AIM 120 B AMRAAM
"I feel obliged to call your attention to disturbing patterns in the treatment of civilians and humanitarian relief workers by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)…. Judging from the means and methods employed by the IDF--F-16 fighter-bombers, helicopter and naval gunships, missiles and bombs of heavy tonnage--the fighting has come to resemble all-out conventional warfare. In the process, hundreds of innocent noncombatant civilians--men, women, and children--have been injured or killed, and many buildings and homes have been damaged or destroyed. Tanks have been deployed in densely populated refugee camps and in towns and villages; and heavy explosives have been dropped mere meters from schools where thousands of children were in attendance." (UN Secretary General Koffi Annan)

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Comments (3 of 3)

Kofi's Letter

by Raymond McInerney

Thu Nov 28, 2002 22:06

Here is a site that contains Kofi Annan's Blunt Words Criticizing Israeli Tactics.

Lets give the guidance system to the Palestinians.

by Tamerlane

Fri Nov 29, 2002 11:20

Yipppeee III AAAA!
Yippppeee III OOOO!
SAM Missiles in the Skies!

End the Irish Arms Trade

by Tim Hourigan

Fri Nov 29, 2002 13:51

Good on you the folks in Derry. I'd like to make one of these vigils, probably in Januray.

Raytheon is not the only arms company on the island. We're actually rolling in them.
We need to put pressure on ALL of them, and there's no better place to start than Raytheon.

I'm not writing one of those "but what about..." postings. I just want to point out that there's a lot more going on than we generally know.

For example, not only is software made here, but a lot of serious hardware too.
There's a company in Limerick that makes military equipment for Raytheon.

There's another company in Limerick, Analog, which has admitted to me, making the weapons firing control system for the AH-64 Apache gunship (as seen in Palestine).
One of their sales reps told me that at a science fair.
My own next door neighbour works there and told me that they make loads of stuff for the Israeli military, and others.
I asked the sales rep who decides who they sell this lethal stuff to and he said "Well, we're an American company. Does that answer your question?"

More people should get involved in this. If you live near one of these arms companies, and have the time (which I wish I did) please get involved in opposing the export of weapons and weapons components to states like Israel, USA and Indonesia, who use them against civilians.

If you're in Derry on the 7th, tell Raytheon to FEIC off.

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Israeli missiles to be guided by software developed in Ireland?

Comments (3 of 3)