Raytheon Link to Market Tragedy

by Aunty Plagiarism Tue Apr 01, 2003 11:12

Russell Brown's 'Hard News' (anti-war weblog)

http://publicaddress.net/default,hardnews,10.sm

And then this Robert Fisk story turned up in the Independent on Sunday. Fisk, on the scene of the second blast - which has so far killed 62 civilians - and able to converse with survivors, sighted a missile fragment with western lettering on it, apparently retrieved from the scene by an elderly man who lived nearby ("Even the Iraqi authorities do not know that it exists.")

"The missile was guided by computers and that vital shard of fuselage was computer-coded," Fisk wrote. "It can be easily verified and checked by the Americans - if they choose to do so. It reads: 30003-704ASB 7492. The letter 'B' is scratched and could be an 'H'. This is believed to be the serial number. It is followed by a further code which arms manufacturers usually refer to as the weapon's 'Lot' number. It reads: MFR 96214 09."

Actually, the "96214" sequence is a CAGE code - part of a system of supplier codes used by the US military, in procurement documents like this. So far as I can tell, it relates to the huge US arms manufacturer Raytheon, which, among other things, makes the Patriot missile system and is set to be a major player in the "Star Wars" missile defense scheme proposed by the White House.

The same supplier code has turned up on fragments found after US air attacks in Serbia, Kosovo and Southern Iraq in 1999. All of those attacks with air-to-surface missiles killed civilians.

So what are we to make of this? I suppose we should grant the faint possibility that Fisk's elderly bystander is an Iraqi government stooge, although it seems unlikely. As does the idea that the Iraqis are using American anti-aircraft missiles.

So by far the most likely explanation is that these 62 civilians were in fact killed by missiles from a US aircraft, and that coalition command knows this very well, but rather than admit it, is raising a smokescreen with allegations about wayward Iraqi missiles based on unverifiable "intelligence".

by Durutti Column - Autonomous Astronauts Tue Apr 01, 2003 12:19

An SP member attacked those who occupied Raytheon.

by Chris Henry - Socialist Youth Coleraine Tue Apr 01, 2003 12:48 lavosfanfiction at hotmail dot com

I didn't actually realise that the above post had already been put up. My own research came from looking out the source of the 96214 code, which I found on a document which I have at this moment. I hadn't actually read the Russell Brown comment; to be honest, I thought I was the first to find out this information in regard to Raytheon. So I concede that I wasn't, fair dues. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be put up in a posting; it's vitally important information in my opinion. I'm glad to read the reply posting; the information it provides is much more indepth than my own. Sorry if anyone thought I was plagiarising, but I hadn't read the article you refer to; I check this up on my own after reading a previous Indy thread regarding Fisk's comments.

And by the way, I support those who occupied Raytheon. I thought the person who dressed up as a weapons inspector and asked to see their "weapons of mass destruction" was great; fair play to him. So let's not slur upon people just because they're members of a political organisation. We're all against this war, or at least I would love to think it.

by Chris Henry - Socialist Youth Coleraine Tue Apr 01, 2003 13:16 lavosfanfiction at hotmail dot com

Just to say as well, I've been saying for months that people should decend on Raytheon. Another reason why I support what was done. And also, I'll be making this information as public as I can, so that all anti-war protesters can take their frustration out at the Raytheon plant in Derry. It should be a main target.

by Durutti Tue Apr 01, 2003 14:19

http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=38337&start=200

Anti Worker Action
by Gregory Carson - SP Thu, Mar 27 2003, 11:13am
This appalling behaviour must be stopped, it is an attack on workers by dropouts. This once again damages any possibility of workers taking action against the war.

by Chris Henry - Socialist Youth Coleraine Tue Apr 01, 2003 14:32 lavosfanfiction at hotmail dot com

Apologies. I didn't realise that every single member of the SP thought exactly the same thing! I can understand Gregory's stance but personally I disagree with it to a certain extent, although not entirely. Workers are a vitally important element in any direct action that is taken. The SY has taken action against GAP before in Belfast, to quote an example. However, before the action was taken, those involved made sure to inform all of the staff why the action was being taken, so as not to alienate them. I'm all for direct action, but it is vitally important if not more so that we don't alienate those who work at places like Raytheon; encapsulating the workers will ultimately bring long-term results, rather than short-term.

by pc Tue Apr 01, 2003 14:59

god bless drop-outs then

is this all this intelligent worker could come up with try again please

by Magneto - Labour Hacks Tue Apr 01, 2003 17:00

But I thought you guys operated under 'democratic' centralism.

You must have misread your orders this morning.

by Chris Henry - Socialist Youth Coleraine Wed Apr 02, 2003 15:43 lavosfanfiction at hotmail dot com

Maybe I did misread my orders. Or maybe you just misread your fundamentally flawed rhetoric that you seem to enjoy churning out!

by Magneto - Labour Hacks Thu Apr 03, 2003 14:39

You seem to think a different set of rules apply to the SP. The SP attack Labour Youth all of the time, but strike back and they start crying.