For Once Blair is Right!
Justifying the forced closure of the Serious Fraud Office’s inquiry into corruption in a Saudi arms deal to buy 72 Eurofighter jets from BAE Systems, Tony Blair spoke as an old-fashioned realist. Nations have interests; those strategic interests are paramount. [..] Pressing for political reform in Saudi Arabia is urgent. Mr Blair is not pursuing that course, but instead is acquiescing in corruption for reasons of state. It is an unprincipled decision, but worse, it is a stupid one. - Oliver Kamm in The Times
If you lived near any of the BAE sites you would realise the impact of losing this order. Who cares about some Arabs getting some freebies in the 1980s.It was a long time ago, it may not be right but it is pragmatic to let it go.
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