A military-governmental-industrial conspiracy? (Canada & Carlyle Group)

by Daron Letts
January 10, 2005

Frank McKenna's appointment as Canadian ambassador to the U.S. is a boon to the corporate world. During his decade as premier of New Brunswick, McKenna was heralded as a neo-liberal golden boy. Back then, his magic bullet for the struggling Maritime economy was call centres. In the years since, McKenna has served on numerous corporate boards and he is still heralded as a neo-liberal golden boy. However, today it can be said that McKenna's magic bullet is bullets.

McKenna chairs the Canadian advisory board to The Carlyle Group, which bills itself as the world's largest private equity-investment firm. Carlyle's US$18.9 billion in assets include heavy investments in munitions and weapons systems manufacturing. Among its most profitable military interests is United Defense Industries Incorporated — the U.S. army's fifth-largest contractor and builder of armoured vehicles, missile launchers, artillery, defence electronics and naval guns.

McKenna will presumably step down from the Carlyle Board to assume the ambassadorship. However, he remains a part of that revolving door connecting political office and arms manufacturers foreshadowed by Dwight D. Eisenhower as the “military industrial complex.”

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McKenna has stated that he wants to see more Canadian investment in Carlyle while pitching military production as an economic stimulator for his home province. Despite criticism from organizations such as the Council of Canadians and the Canadian Labour Congress, McKenna defends the Canada Pension Plan's investment of US$60 million of Canadians' accumulated pension contributions into a Carlyle venture fund.

Much more:
http://www.rabble.ca/news_full_story.shtml?x=36195

and Britain former minister...is there any country they don't control?

http://isuisse.ifrance.com/stopcarlyle/enindex.htm