Capitalists lobby for Colombian military aid

by MC17

In a clear demonstration of the unity of multinational 
corporations and the military under imperialism, two U.$. 
helicopter manufacturers are actively lobbying for the proposed 
$1.3 billion military package to Colombia which includes money for 
63 new helicopters.(See MIM Notes #206)

The Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation stands to make more than $360 
million from the sale of 30 Black Hawk helicopters included in the 
package. Sikorsky, a subsidiary of United Technologies 
Corporation, is based in Stratford, Connecticut. This is the 
district of Representative Sam Gejdenson, the ranking member of 
the House International Relations Committee. Connecticut is also 
home to Senator Christopher Dodd, the ranking member of the Senate 
Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Narcotics. Though both opposed 
military intervention in Latin American during the 1980s, Dodd and 
Gejdenson have supported the aid package.

Dodd and Gejdenson claim that the military package providing money 
for a corporation in their state has no impact on their political 
decisions. Yet Dodd and Gejdenson have also accepted financial 
support from United Technologies. Since 1997, Gejdenson has 
received $19,000 and Dodd $33,200 in contributions from United 
Technologies.

Further demonstrating the ties between the government, 
multinationals and the military, the Colombian government decided 
to buy six Black Hawks from Sikorsky last year shortly after Dodd 
visited the country. To pay for these helicopters, Colombia went 
to the US Export-Import Bank, which is prohibited by its charter 
from lending for military purchases. Nevertheless, US State 
Department gave a special exemption to the US Export-Import Bank 
to help out in this case.

The other corporation lobbying for the Colombian aid package is 
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., based in Fort Worth, Texas. It 
stands to earn $66 million from the sale of 33 Huey helicopters 
included in the package. The Texas congressional delegation is 
pushing for passage of the bill along with an outside lobbyist 
hired by Bell.

Under imperialism, corporations serve their financial interests at 
the expense of humyn lives. The military industrial complex 
profits off of the death and destruction in Third World countries. 
The war on drugs in Colombia is a thinly veiled excuse for 
counter-insurgency operations against groups that are fighting 
against the U.$.-backed dictatorship.

Amid overwhelming evidence that the Colombian military carries out 
regular and systematic abuses against the people, the u.s. 
government is still increasing aid. Decisions about this aid are 
made based on the profit and financial contributions from 
corporations that will manufacture weapons to be used to kill the 
Colombian people. Until imperialism is overthrown, the government 
will continue to serve the interests of the corporate and military 
capitalists.

Note:

Legal Times (Washington, D.C.) 23 February 2000, as reported in 
Weekly News Update on the Americas, #526, 27 February 2000.