- (Note - Garner is considered a zionist sympathizer at
the very least by many political
- observers. Many view this as if a Communist would have
been put in charge of
- America at the height of the cold war. - ed)
-
-
- Jay Garner, the retired US general who will oversee humanitarian
relief and reconstruction in postwar Iraq, is president of an arms company
that provides crucial technical support to missile systems vital to the
US invasion of the country.
-
- Garner's business background is causing serious concerns
at the United Nations and among aid agencies, who are already opposed to
US administration of Iraq if it comes outside UN authority, and who say
appointment of an American linked to the arms trade is the 'worst case
scenario' for running the country after the war.
-
- Garner is president of Virginia-based SY Coleman, a subsidiary
of defence electronics group L-3 Communications, which provides technical
services and advice on the Patriot missile system being used in Iraq. Patriot
was made famous in the 1991 Gulf war when it was used to protect Israeli
and Saudi targets from attack by Saddam Hussein's Scud missiles. Garner
was involved in the system's deployment in Israel.
-
- SY Coleman has also worked on the Arrow missile defence
system, deployed in Israel, and is involved in the US national missile
defence programme. Garner joined SY Technologies, taken over last year
by L-3, in 1997, after leaving the US army.
-
- Defence analyst David Armstrong of the Washington-based
National Security News Service says: 'It seems inappropriate for somebody
to step into a humanitarian and administrative role from a company with
a role in providing equipment which, albeit defensive, is vital to the
success of the US operation.'
-
- Phil Bloomer of Oxfam said 'The worst case scenario would
be to put in charge of the reconstruction someone from the US or UK linked
to the arms or oil industries.'
-
- According to its website, SY Coleman provides technical
services such as missile system engineering and target system design for
a wide range of US military programmes, and also makes some components.
It also provides operational services such as battle management and 'warfighter
support'.
-
- The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that it was a Patriot
missile that was involved when a British Tornado was hit last week.
-
- Jack Tyler, an SY Coleman senior vice-president, confirmed
that Garner still held his position at the company.
-
- http://www.observer.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,925309,00.html
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