Raytheon: Influence/Lobbying

Lobbying

Raytheon has a full time lobbying staff in the US of 19 people[31] and has employed at least 5 outside lobbying firms.[32] (Arent, Fox et al, Campbell-Crane & Assoc Inc, McDermott O'Neill & Associates, O'Neill, Athy & Casey, Verner, Liipfert et al) Raytheon budgets at least $1.6 million annually for lobbying.[33]

Raytheon is a member of the following lobby groups:

• US Council for International Business (USCIB)

‘The USCIB was founded in 1945 to promote an open world trading system, and is now among the premier pro-trade, pro-market liberalisation organisations. The USCIB has an active membership base of over 300 multinational companies, law firms and business associations, and claims to provide unparalleled access to international policy makers and regulatory authorities.’[35]

• Aerospace Industries Association (AIA)

Founded in 1919 to promote the aerospace industry at all levels of government. It pushes hard for increased defence spending across the board.[36]

• American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

Officially founded in 1963 it is again an organization to promote the aeronautics and astronautics industry, pushing hard for increased defence spending, a full National Missile Defence program and a change in export control policies to allow easier exportation of products.[37]

Influencing Research and Education

When they set up shop in Northern Ireland it led to a change in the curriculum of local universities to cater to Raytheon’s needs. As one of Raytheon’s press releases says ‘Two local universities, University of Ulster and Queen's University will be unique contributors to this effort [locating in NI]. Raytheon is committed to working with them on research and development, recruitment and employee development.’[34]

Links with the US Government

There are several members of the board with direct links to the US government (see above section on Board of Directors), and to NATO (which in practice is often run by the US government, and a major client of the US arms industry).

Raytheon also hires former politicians to advance their causes. For example they hired former house appropriations committee chair Bob Livingston (R- Louisiana) to make the case for the controversial NMD (National Missile Defense System) in the US capital.

US intelligence played a decisive role in enabling Raytheon to win the contract in Brazil for the $1.4 billion SIVAM surveillance system for the Amazon rainforest (see Corporate Crimes section). When the contract was awarded to Raytheon it announced that it wished to congratulate the Brazil and US governments who ‘worked so diligently and with such a strong sense of purpose to make this important program a reality.’[38]

An example of how closely linked Raytheon and the US government are concerns the British governments tender in 1999 for the latest missiles to equip their future Eurofighters. Raytheon had enjoyed a de facto monopoly in beyond visual range Air-Air missiles due to the advanced characteristics of their missiles. Thus when a European consortium led by Matra Bae Dynamics (MBD) announced a bid what was at stake was not only the consolidation of the European middle industry but Raytheon’s quasi- monopoly in Air-Air missiles. Tony Blair received various personal letters from the US president Bill Clinton while the US defence secretary kept up pressure on his British counterpart, even requesting support for the US programme the day before the announcement of the British decision[42] (the only Government decision so far which has gone against Raytheon).

Backing the UK government

Raytheon is a New Labour backer, it paid the Labour party over £5,000 in sponsorship in 1997 and also flew MPs to Paris[39]. In June 1999 the company was rewarded with an £800 million contract for their ASTOR battlefield radar spy-plane system.[40] Overall more arms contracts have been approved by the Blair government than by the Tories and some of these go to countries with appalling human rights records such as Indonesia, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.[41]

References

[31] http://ipan.net/starwars/raytheon.pdf (source: Indiana Peace Action Network, date viewed: 01/10/01) [32] 'Total Disclosed Annual Lobbying Expenditures', Raytheon Watch web-site: http://www.gis.net/~larrabee/Ratco97lobby.htm accessed 17 April 2002 [33] Ibid. [34] Raytheon web-site: http://www.raytheon.com/press/1999/aug/derry.html accessed 17 April 2002 [35] www.uscib.org/About%20USCIB.asp> www.uscib.org/About%20USCIB.asp (source: USCIB, date viewed: 01/10/01) [36] http://www.aia-aerospace.org/about/management/mission.cfm (source: The Aerospace Industries Association of America, date viewed: 17/04/02) [37] www.aiaa.org/public/index2.cfm?pubp=10 (source: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, date viewed: 17/04/02) [38] Raytheon web-site: www.raytheon.com/press/1997/mar/sivam.html accessed 17 April 2002 [39] Private Eye magazine, date: 25/8/99 [40] 'The Aerospace World on the Internet', www.aeroworldnet.com/1in06219.htm accessed 17 April 2002 [41] www.news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_503000/503495.stm (source: BBC News, date viewed: 11/10/01)