You note the Scorpions' fury in your leader, The Scorpions' sting (August 25), about the French government's complicity in thwarting investigation of the corruption allegations against Thomson CSF.

Similar stories can be told about the British, German and Swedish governments and their involvement in the arms deals.

When allegations of corruption against British Aerospace (BAe) Systems and Tony Yengeni were referred in 1999 to the British government, the probe by the London Metropolitan Police was notable for its desultory indifference.

Under heavy pressure from BAe Systems, the British government was stalling on implementation of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development antibribery conventions.

It was apparently then not illegal in Britain to bribe officials of foreign countries and, accordingly, there was no crime to investigate.

Given the influence of the steel industry with Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Germany was determined at all costs to win the naval contracts.

The Joint Investigation Team report confirms that South African Air Force chiefs did not want either the Bae Hawk or the BAe/SAAB Gripen.

SA's cabinet ministers were mere putty in the hands of their European counterparts, who are funded by the corporate criminals of the armaments industry.

At issue is how political parties in Europe, the US and SA are funded. Kickbacks from BAe Systems funded Maggie Thatcher and the British Conservative Party.

French President Jacques Chirac is notoriously close to the French armaments industry. George Bush's administration is referred to as the "Lockheed Martin presidency".

Does anyone really believe the African National Congress funds itself on R12 membership fees?

With acknowledgements to Terry Crawford-Browne and the Business Day.