--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mertins’s correspondence with Zhao Fei…" description: "\"“Mertins’s correspondence with Zhao Fei made clear that Merex had engaged in arms deals with China that flew in the face of US policy, despite his conn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/andrew-feinstein-12836_two-years_mertins-s-correspondence-with-zhao-fei-m_1080217.jpg" --- # Mertins’s correspondence with Zhao Fei made clear that… ![“Mertins’s correspondence with Zhao Fei made clear that Merex had engaged in arms deals with China that flew in the face of US policy, despite his connections to American Intelligence. The correspondence also revealed that Saddam Hussein was a potential Merex customer only two years before the…” quote by Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/andrew-feinstein-12836_two-years_mertins-s-correspondence-with-zhao-fei-m_1080217.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/andrew-feinstein-12836_two-years_mertins-s-correspondence-with-zhao-fei-m_1080217.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/andrew-feinstein-12836_two-years_mertins-s-correspondence-with-zhao-fei-m_1080217.jpg) > ““Mertins’s correspondence with Zhao Fei made clear that Merex had engaged in arms deals with China that flew in the face of US policy, despite his connections to American Intelligence. The correspondence also revealed that Saddam Hussein was a potential Merex customer only two years before the Iran–Contra scandal, in the middle of the Iran–Iraq War.”” [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Secret arms deals and potential customers reveal how covert operations can contradict official policy, exposing ethical and legal risks. **In simple terms:** Hidden deals clash with stated policies. Key Takeaway Scrutinize hidden actions for accountability. Themes politics ethics corruption policy Mood critical analytical Type investigative informative When to use this quote - government negotiations - defense contracting - journalism Key Concepts International relations transparency law Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms ensure transparency? - How can whistleblowers be protected? A Different Perspective Complex geopolitics can obscure accountability and public awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Correspondence Zhao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correspondence-zhao-2737820/) [Iran contra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran-contra/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Merex Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merex-customer-2737819/) [Potential Merex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potential-merex-2737818/) [Saddam hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddam-hussein/) [Two years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-years/) ## Related quotes > [I came here to tell you the truth, the good, the bad and the ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/i-came-here-to-tell-you-the-truth-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/) [Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/) > [Even if corners were cut, (Iran-Contra) was a brilliant scheme. There is no possibility that anyone in any Democratic administration would have gone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/even-if-corners-were-cut-iran-contra-was-a-brilliant-scheme-there-is/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [I remember having lunch with a friend who worked at the White House. I'd just graduated from law school but kept telling my friend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/i-remember-having-lunch-with-a-friend-who-worked-at-the-white-house-i/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [There exists a shadowy Government with its own Air Force, its own Navy, its own fundraising mechanism, and the ability to pursue its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-inouye/there-exists-a-shadowy-government-with-its-own-air-force-its-own-navy/) [Daniel Inouye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-inouye/) > [More of 'The Bourne Identity's script was taken from the events of the Iran Contra, which my father investigated for the Senate, than what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/more-of-the-bourne-identity-s-script-was-taken-from-the-events-of-the/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [“It was like the Iran/Contra hearings in the last century; then, too, the investigators had looked just so far and no further.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/it-was-like-the-iran-contra-hearings-in-the-last-century-then-too-the/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [Reagan survived the Iran-Contra scandal because the elements of it that were illegal (aiding anti-communist Nicaraguans) were popular and the things that were unpopular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/reagan-survived-the-iran-contra-scandal-because-the-elements-of-it/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [ There was no news in the Dan Rather piece. They didn't say \[to Bush\]: "We found a piece of paper that was overlooked in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/there-was-no-news-in-the-dan-rather-piece-they-didn-t-say-to-bush-we/) [Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/) > [I did not know many of the details relevant to the Iran and contra initiatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fawn-hall/i-did-not-know-many-of-the-details-relevant-to-the-iran-and-contra/) [Fawn Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fawn-hall/) > [Remember how he handled the Iran-contra Never Ending Scandal from Hell? He went on national television, the President of the United States, and said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/remember-how-he-handled-the-iran-contra-never-ending-scandal-from/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [We all know Reagan's legacy, from the Iran-Contra affair to the funding of the Nicaraguan military in which over 200,000 people died. The groundwork…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/we-all-know-reagan-s-legacy-from-the-iran-contra-affair-to-the/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [ \[Saddam Hussein\] could have easily reconstituted a program. He was a threat to peace before we went in. He'd have been a threat to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/saddam-hussein-could-have-easily-reconstituted-a-program-he-was-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-british-government-has-learned-that-saddam-hussein-recently/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We are well aware that he spent many hours recently tape recording various messages... we need to do a little more analysis of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-hoon/we-are-well-aware-that-he-spent-many-hours-recently-tape-recording/) [Geoff Hoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-hoon/) > [ Asked who attacked America on 9/11, \[Sarah Palin\] suggested several times that it was Saddam Hussein. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/asked-who-attacked-america-on-9-11-sarah-palin-suggested-several/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Andrew Feinstein > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/britain-s-industry-was-kept-buoyant-by-the-decline-of-empire-for-as/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/vividly-revealed-the-arms-industry-s-constant-tendency-towards/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/mertins-frequently-upset-his-handlers-often-selling-to-countries-that/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/in-august-gehlen-and-a-number-of-high-ranking-colleagues-were/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“To secure a contract, a company must secure the support not merely of a senior prince, often through an established agent through whom very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/to-secure-a-contract-a-company-must-secure-the-support-not-merely-of/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“Unwilling to borrow substantially from abroad, the Saudis’ profligate arms spending was under threat. Some of the equipment bought under the first phase of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/unwilling-to-borrow-substantially-from-abroad-the-saudis-profligate/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/the-biggest-problem-the-saudis-had-to-contend-with-was-the/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“Merex produced police equipment – binoculars, bullet-proof jackets, radios and so on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/merex-produced-police-equipment-binoculars-bullet-proof-jackets/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“Caught between two global forces, Gehlen and Wessel chose the West. Coming to this realization, Gehlen and his organization made plans. Large dossiers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/caught-between-two-global-forces-gehlen-and-wessel-chose-the-west/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“general amorality of the weapons business in their disdain for any kind of control over the arms trade, their dislike of attempts to promote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/general-amorality-of-the-weapons-business-in-their-disdain-for-any/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/over-time-the-saudis-gave-32m-to-the-contras-86-the-routing-of-this/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“The arms trade – an intricate web of networks between the formal and shadow worlds, between government, commerce and criminality – often makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/the-arms-trade-an-intricate-web-of-networks-between-the-formal-and/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“Although the FBI and later the 9/11 Commission ultimately stated that the money was not intentionally being diverted to fund terrorists,9 investigators were surprised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/although-the-fbi-and-later-the-9-11-commission-ultimately-stated-that/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“Chinese authorities coveted a powerful and accurate 120mm cannon produced by the huge German conglomerate Rheinmetall. Mertins acquired the plans of the cannon and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/chinese-authorities-coveted-a-powerful-and-accurate-120mm-cannon/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“The deal, together with other initiatives to extend its military influence in the region, would culminate in the US using the kingdom as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/the-deal-together-with-other-initiatives-to-extend-its-military/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) [Explore all 53 Andrew Feinstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) ## More Iran contra quotes > [We all know Reagan's legacy, from the Iran-Contra affair to the funding of the Nicaraguan military in which over 200,000 people died. The groundwork…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/we-all-know-reagan-s-legacy-from-the-iran-contra-affair-to-the/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [Remember how he handled the Iran-contra Never Ending Scandal from Hell? He went on national television, the President of the United States, and said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/remember-how-he-handled-the-iran-contra-never-ending-scandal-from/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I did not know many of the details relevant to the Iran and contra initiatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fawn-hall/i-did-not-know-many-of-the-details-relevant-to-the-iran-and-contra/) [Fawn Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fawn-hall/) > [ There was no news in the Dan Rather piece. They didn't say \[to Bush\]: "We found a piece of paper that was overlooked in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/there-was-no-news-in-the-dan-rather-piece-they-didn-t-say-to-bush-we/) [Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/) > [Reagan survived the Iran-Contra scandal because the elements of it that were illegal (aiding anti-communist Nicaraguans) were popular and the things that were unpopular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/reagan-survived-the-iran-contra-scandal-because-the-elements-of-it/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [“It was like the Iran/Contra hearings in the last century; then, too, the investigators had looked just so far and no further.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/it-was-like-the-iran-contra-hearings-in-the-last-century-then-too-the/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [More of 'The Bourne Identity's script was taken from the events of the Iran Contra, which my father investigated for the Senate, than what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/more-of-the-bourne-identity-s-script-was-taken-from-the-events-of-the/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [There exists a shadowy Government with its own Air Force, its own Navy, its own fundraising mechanism, and the ability to pursue its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-inouye/there-exists-a-shadowy-government-with-its-own-air-force-its-own-navy/) [Daniel Inouye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-inouye/) > [I remember having lunch with a friend who worked at the White House. I'd just graduated from law school but kept telling my friend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/i-remember-having-lunch-with-a-friend-who-worked-at-the-white-house-i/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [Even if corners were cut, (Iran-Contra) was a brilliant scheme. There is no possibility that anyone in any Democratic administration would have gone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/even-if-corners-were-cut-iran-contra-was-a-brilliant-scheme-there-is/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [I came here to tell you the truth, the good, the bad and the ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/i-came-here-to-tell-you-the-truth-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/) [Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/) [Browse all 12 Iran contra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran-contra/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Mertins’s correspondence with Zhao Fei made clear that Merex had engaged in arms deals with China that flew in the face of US policy, despite his connections to American Intelligence. The correspondence also revealed that Saddam Hussein was a potential Merex customer only two years before the Iran–Contra scandal, in the middle of the Iran–Iraq War.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andrew Feinstein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/mertins-s-correspondence-with-zhao-fei-made-clear-that-merex-had/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Iran contra" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/mertins-s-correspondence-with-zhao-fei-made-clear-that-merex-had/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/andrew-feinstein-12836_two-years_mertins-s-correspondence-with-zhao-fei-m_1080217.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/andrew-feinstein-12836_two-years_mertins-s-correspondence-with-zhao-fei-m_1080217.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/andrew-feinstein-12836_two-years_mertins-s-correspondence-with-zhao-fei-m_1080217.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mertins’s correspondence with Zhao Fei made clear that Merex had engaged in arms deals with China that flew…” — Andrew Feinstein", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Andrew Feinstein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Mertins’s correspondence with Zhao Fei made...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/mertins-s-correspondence-with-zhao-fei-made-clear-that-merex-had/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/mertins-s-correspondence-with-zhao-fei-made-clear-that-merex-had/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```