At the moment i'm reading a provocative book called "Web of Deceit" by Mark Curtis. For anyone interested in exploring the shadow of British foreign policy around the world, you may find this informative. One of the chapters deals with the British Governments relationship over the years with the Saudi regime which as you know, represses it's people on a regular basis. However they enjoy a very strategic relationship with the U.K. and one which the Elite seems determined to maintain and protect at all costs. It mentions a report by the National Audit Office into a very large arms deal that was agreed between these two Governments under Margaret Thatcher. This is referred to as the Al Yamamah report. This document was prevented from being published and has remained that way until this day. Given the level of secrecy and smoke surrounding this document - researched by an organisation (supposedly!)answerable to Parliament and the British people and not to big business or the Government - it's essential banning is significant. Leaks suggest that the finding included proof that massive bribes were paid by the British Government to high ranking Saudi officials in order to ensure the deal went through, implicating a number of high ranking British officials in the process. Anyway, I decided to research this for myself and made a call to the National Audit Office on U.K. 020 7798 7000. Unable to contact the relevant person who deals with Defence/Arms, I left my name and number. An hour later I received a call from a friendly but clearly ruffled individual, wanting to know who I was. As an X-Files fan I love a good conspiracy at the best of times but little did I expect to receive such a cagey response to my question. The person on the other end of the line was obviously uneasy about discussing the topic over the phone, merely saying that the said document will not be published for security reasons and that was the end of that. I have every intention of following up Al Yamamah as part of my work against the British Arms trade, that far from being humane and run along transparent lines, makes money out of supplying oppressive regimes persecuting impoverished peoples across the world. What is even worse, almost a billion pounds of taxpayers money every year is spent subsidizing companies such as BAE systems, who produce these arms. So if you want to agitate and challenge the hypocricy of the Government regarding arms sales, just whisper "Al Yamamah" and "where can I get a copy?" in the same sentence. Fax your MP if you are in the U.K. by using www.faxyourMP.com or some other avenue. Write to the paper. Tatoo Al Yamamah? on yer butt.... Come on, all people who stand for real global justice, sustainable economic activity and all that good stuff...we've got the power of Truth on our side. Choose where u want to stand to fight and PUSH! Yawp! * if anyone wants to join the conspiracy to shout Al Yamamah from the rooftops, email me on planetfeeler@yahoo.com *