“While the weapons were en route from communist Poland, where they had been purchased, to Portugal, US authorities lifted the arms embargo on the Nicaraguan Contras, leaving Enterprise with a huge cache of overpriced weapons. To save face, Mertins and… — Andrew Feinstein Copy Share Image
“Britain’s industry was kept buoyant by the decline of Empire, for as countries gained their independence they sought arms to enhance their status and… — Andrew Feinstein Copy Share Image
“vividly revealed the arms industry’s ‘constant tendency towards bribery, and the playing off of one country against another to sell arms’. It also exposed… — Andrew Feinstein Copy Share Image
“Mertins frequently upset his handlers, often selling to countries that were considered, at the very least, anti-American. His relationship with US Intelligence ended in… — Andrew Feinstein Copy Share Image
“In August, Gehlen and a number of high-ranking colleagues were transported under Boker’s watch to Washington in the private plane of a US General… — Andrew Feinstein Copy Share Image
“To secure a contract, a company must secure the support not merely of a senior prince, often through an established agent through whom very… — Andrew Feinstein Copy Share Image
“Unwilling to borrow substantially from abroad, the Saudis’ profligate arms spending was under threat. Some of the equipment bought under the first phase of… — Andrew Feinstein Copy Share Image
“the biggest problem the Saudis had to contend with was the inadequacies of Airwork, the providers of the training and maintenance contracts. The company’s… — Andrew Feinstein Copy Share Image
“Merex produced police equipment – binoculars, bullet-proof jackets, radios and so on.” — Andrew Feinstein Copy Share Image
“Caught between two global forces, Gehlen and Wessel chose the West. Coming to this realization, Gehlen and his organization made plans. Large dossiers of… — Andrew Feinstein Copy Share Image
“general amorality of the weapons business in their disdain for any kind of control over the arms trade, their dislike of attempts to promote… — Andrew Feinstein Copy Share Image
“Over time, the Saudis gave $32m to the Contras.86 The routing of this money was linked to the AWACS sale in that a fund… — Andrew Feinstein Copy Share Image
“The arms trade – an intricate web of networks between the formal and shadow worlds, between government, commerce and criminality – often makes us… — Andrew Feinstein Copy Share Image
