It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Madrid, 7 abr (EFE).- La Guardia Civil ha desarticulado una red que pretendía enviar a Irán equipos industriales susceptibles de ser empleados para fabricar misiles en un operación en la que han sido detenidas cuatro personas, tres de ellas de nacionalidad española y la otra iraní, en Barcelona, Tarragona y Palma de Mallorca.
Sorry its in Spanish again Folks. The guardia civil have dismantled a red that tried to sell industrial machine parts to Iran that could be used to make missiles. The operation ended with the arrest of 4 people, 3 Spaniards and 1 Iranian, in Barcelona, Tarragona and Palma mallorca.
TrueBrit
reply to post by andy1972
I think the UK connection needs looking at in context. If an arms company, or a manufacturer of industrial plant machinery sells something which ends up in the wrong hands, or being used for the wrong purpose, that does not in and of itself represent government involvement.
If however, an intelligence operative was inserted in order to grease the wheels of a certain transaction, allowing it to get a certain way, say long enough to snare a mark, a target, THAT would be probative. In short, the UK has not sold something to Iran. A private company has, and they are separate entities unless they are linked to a degree by personnel or by having their operation commandeered by an intelligence initiative, which is not impossible, but is thus far unproven.
the2ofusr1
reply to post by andy1972
Nothing new in the world of arms dealing.
.
Britguy
These stories are always full of BS. They never have any proof of anything at all, just that the item may / could be used in a military programme, but also has many other non-military engineering uses.
TrueBrit
reply to post by andy1972
Yes, but defence sector companies are not part of the British government. They are independent contractors, beholden more to their shareholders than to any flag or political ideal, other that those which by their existence, or their deed, allow them to accumulate vast wealth.
It is not the same as the Ministry of Defence selling arms or arms manufacturing gear to potential enemies. Until it is proven that a government or intelligence official had a hand in this, there is no link to the UK save for the geographical location of the company involved. It does not take vast genius to see that this has different implications than a sale from our MoD or one which was back channel ratified by our intelligence.
TrueBrit
reply to post by buster2010
OK...
Perhaps I am not being clear...
The law pertaining to these sales affects all parties equally, or ought to at any rate. However, a COMPANY doing something like that is awful, and illegal, but NOTHING like as bad as a government agency doing it. What I am saying, is that the media putting out phrases like "UK selling manufacturing machines to Iran" is misleading, and false, when the UK government are not the seller, or even remotely connected with the sale by anything else than being the nation in which the company responsible is based.
Do you understand the point I am making NOW?