With the rise of the war on terrorism, Providence-based Textron Inc. is poised to expand its often-controversial military weapons and surveillance equipment sales. The United Nations recently revealed that the company sold helicopter parts to Serbia during the international arms embargo. Textron also provided parts for guided bombs and landing craft used during the war in Afghanistan and it's overhauling military helicopters for use in violence-scarred Colombia. In addition, Textron continues to negotiate a $4.5 billion sale of KingCobra attack helicopters to Turkey, over the objections of human rights organizations (see "Torture is the issue," News, December 14, 2000). To promote these and other deals, the Rhode Island-based conglomerate spent more than $8 million on lobbying and political contributions during the past two years.

In June, a UN report prepared for The Hague war crimes trial of former Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic revealed that Textron sold helicopter parts valued at $154,785 to Serbia in June 1998. According to the report, Serbia funneled customs duties, paid in scarce foreign currency, to a complex series of shell companies and bank accounts on the island of Cyprus. The accounts enabled Serbia to buy weapons during a UN arms embargo.

Textron insists it did nothing illegal because the parts were for civilian, not military helicopters. "Bell [Textron's helicopter subsidiary] adheres strictly to all US and international laws and the aircraft in question are civil or commercial craft. They were not military helicopters," says Textron spokeswoman Sue Bishop. The UN report draws no conclusions about whether the Textron sale violated the embargo, and the UN hasn't contacted the company, Bishop says, since the report was published.

Textron's Forth Worth, Texas-based helicopter manufacturing unit has been criticized since its "Huey" model was the mainstay of American military operations during the Vietnam War. Since then, the company has been faulted for selling helicopters and parts to Indonesia for its war in East Timor and to Turkey for its scorched earth campaign against the Kurdish population. Amnesty International opposes Textron's impending sale of 145 helicopters because of Turkey's "widespread" human rights violations. Nevertheless, US State Department approval is expected because of Turkey's role as a key US ally in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, according to Bishop, Textron is selling Huey II upgrade kits to the US State Department. Once refurbished, the helicopters are sent to Colombia for anti-drug and anti-rebel campaigns.

To ensure continued US government support for its weapon sales, Textron maintains an extensive Washington, DC, lobbying operation. According to lobbying disclosure reports, the company spent $5.7 million on lobbying in 2001, the last full year for which information is available. During the first six months of 2002, Textron spent another $2.4 million, according to the reports, primarily pushing defense spending bills, but also opposing steel quotas, higher energy efficiency standards for cars, and the patients' bill of rights. Textron also contributed $543,945 to political campaigns during the 2001-2002 election cycle, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. About 68 percent of the money went to Republicans.

The ongoing war on terrorism may encourage sales of another Textron product. Bishop says the company has received a surge of inquiries about its "Terrain Commander," manufactured in Wilmington, Massachusetts. According to the company's Web site, the equipment is "the most advanced remote surveillance technology available." Equipped with optical and seismic sensors, one model comes in a large back pack and can be installed in minutes, according to Textron's Web site.

Issue Date: December 13 - 19, 2002