Lockheed knows who  it is working for. Do you  know?

Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest arms manufacturer and the world’s largest arms exporter. Last year it grossed over $42 billion—84% of this from the U.S. government. Its job  is finding and implementing ways of killing massive numbers of people. It produces everything from sophisticated weapons systems such as AEGIS to the Trident missile, one of which one alone carries enough explosive power to obliterate most countries. It is one of the world’s largest makers of cluster munitions, which it sells to 14 countries.[i] This last week it happily announced a  contract for the new AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile.  Lockheed’s web site lists at least 28 countries to whom it sells its products. 13% of its sales are to foreign governments. [ii]  Apparently, it is not too careful about how it obtains its orders; there have been over 50 instances of “civil, criminal or administrative misconduct since 1995.” [iii]

Lockheed’s business is business, and it actively seeks more. Last year it wracked up $10.3 million in lobbying expenses, employing a house staff of 36 as well as 41 contract lobbyists..[iv] Recent campaign contributions include funding to both our U.S. Senators and many of our representatives from both parties.[v] Its PAC for political spending spent $1.5 million. Recipients of its philanthropy include numerous Washington think tanks that help formulate our  national defense agenda.  It sponsors talks in honor of important defense officials and in a recent example of doublespeak that might surprise even Orwell, it has donated $1 million to a United States Institute for Peace. [vi] 

This mostly funded by the taxpayers who are providing at least 84% of Lockheed’s profits.

Lockheed certainly recognizes the source of its revenues: war. Bruce Jackson, the a Lockheed VP, was a prominent member of the Project for a New American Century, a group that advocated war against Iraq as early as 1998. Upon leaving Lockheed, he chaired the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq. His efforts were effective. Lockheed’s stock price more than quintupled. Executives have been well-rewarded. Board members each receive over $220,000 in annual compensation. In 2009, Robert Stevens, the CEO, took in $26.5 million. [vii]  The so-called revolving door has definitely been swinging of late. According to a May,2008 report by the General Accountability Office, Lockheed currently was employing 221 former senior and acquisitions officials from the Department of Defense.[viii] Their salaries are not disclosed, but we can bet they earn their keep. 

In short, Lockheed Martin is working for itself.

Endnotes.

[i]              http://www.mineaction.org/downloads/1/netwerk_cluster%20bombs,%20landmines%20and%20banking.pdf

[ii]    http://www.lockheedmartin.com/.  Click on the tab labeled Global.  Another informative document is Lockheed’s 10-K statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  This, and others, may be found through http://www.sec.gov/.

[iii]   http://www.pogo.org/pogo-files/alerts/contract-oversight/co-fcm-20090421.html

[iv]   “Raptor in dogfight for its future,” http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/manufacturing/2009-02-25-lockheed-martin-raptor_N.htm

[v]    http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/index.php

[vi]   http://www.usip.org/newsroom/news/lockheed-martin-contributes-1-million-endowment-united-states-institute-peace

[vii]  “Raptor in dogfight for its future,” http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/manufacturing/2009-02-25-lockheed-martin-raptor_N.htm;  http://people.forbes.com/profile/robert-j-stevens/49897

[viii] Post-Government Employment of Former DOD Officials Needs Greater Transparency

                  GAO-08-485, May 21, 2008 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08485.pdf

Contact: Mariah @ 505.379.6942

Newlyweds Spend Honeymoon In Jail

for Free Speech At Lockheed-Martin

Trinity Nuclear Abolitionists from New Mexico joined a local demonstration of peace at Lockheed-Martin in Sunnyvale, CA at noon on Monday October 5th. At 1:30pm Fr. Louis Vitale & a newlywed couple from Albuquerque were arrested for trespassing when the three were not able to finish distributing their fliers on the sidewalk allegedly belonging to Lockheed-Martin (LM). The three peace activists had been distributing fliers to drivers, holding a “Just Married: Love Disarms” banner, and singing prayers at LM for 30 minutes.

The just-married couple are Marcus Page and Chelsea Collonge, who have been working for peace and nuclear abolition through dialog and prayer-actions since 2007, primarily at nuclear weapons sites in New Mexico and Nevada. Yesterday’s peace demonstration included fliers for LM workers, picket signs, and songs from the Raging Grannies. The first week of October is International Keep Space For Peace Week. LM has helped produce and launch communication technology that the U.S. Air Force uses to kill people through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or “drones”) in the Middle-East.

Leading up to the October 5th prayer-action at Sunnyvale, two of the Trinity Nuclear Abolitionists (TNA) had been holding vigils at other locations in California during the prior two weeks. These activities helped prepare Chelsea Collonge and Marcus Page for their wedding vows. They were married on Saint Francis’ Day (October 4th) in Berkeley. Yesterday’s peace vigil and prayer-action at LM included a dozen other participants. During negotiations with LM security personnel, Chelsea said, “My grandfathers worked here for 30 years, that’s why I care about the current employees here. I wish to speak with them about the weapons work they do here.”

Aware of the large number of corporate and military offenders breaking international laws throughout California, newlyweds Chelsea & Marcus have joined local people in peace vigils as listed at tna.lovarchy.org.

The three TNA activists were cited and released by 3:00, so as not to disrupt the honeymoon of two of the activists. Their arraignment is scheduled for November 16^th. Monthly vigils at LM organized by the Pacific Life Community of Northern California (www.wevigil.org), don’t usually include employees of LM. “That’s what makes October 5^th special,” says Marcus Page. “we had a chance to offer some information and questions for Lockheed’s employees regarding the potential for nonviolence. Most of the Lockheed security team were patient with us, even though their agenda is at odds with the point of our marriage—working for peace.”

More info is available from Mariah @ 505.379.6942. Fliers for the prayer-action can be downloaded via http://tna.lovarchy.org

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