[Peace-discuss] Merchants of death

[C. G. Estabrook]

[I remember being puzzled when I was young by a book I came
across in my parents' library, called Merchants of Death. 
Published in the 1930s, it was a study of the international
armaments industry (with peculiar b&w pictures that I still
remember).  These things make an impression.  Here's a current
one.  --CGE]

   Ad depicting attack on mosque causes 
   embarrassment for military suppliers.
   by Ben Bold Brand Republic 3 Oct 2005

DALLAS - Boeing, Bell Helicopter and the weekly political
magazine 
National Journal have suffered major embarrassment over an ad
for an 
aircraft depicting Special Forces soldiers attacking a mosque.

The ad, which appeared in last week's issue of the National
Journal, 
shows Special Forces soldiers rappelling on to the roof of a
domed 
building. The copy reads "It descends from the heavens.
Ironically it 
unleashes hell."

The building is labelled "Muhammed Mosque" in Arabic and bears a 
crescent moon and minaret -- common features of a mosque.

The ad was created by Interpublic Group's Texas-based agency TM 
Advertising for its client Bell Helicopter to promote the
CV-22 Osprey, 
which like the Harrier jump jet is a vertical/short takeoff
aircraft due 
to take over from some helicopters for the US Marines and Navy.

However, the ad was also sponsored by companies including
Boeing, BAE 
Systems and Rolls-Royce.

On publication, the ad immediately drew complaints from the
Council on 
American-Islamic Relations.

Bell and Boeing also said they complained to TM Advertising,
and have 
since apologised.

"When the company became aware of the advertisement, we
immediately 
requested that our partner's agency withdraw and destroy all
print 
proofs of the advertisement and replace it with one that was 
appropriate," a Boeing spokeswoman said.

"Unfortunately, despite our best efforts to have the ad
replaced, a 
clerical error at the National Journal resulted in publication
this week."

In small-print at the bottom of the ad, prospective customers are 
reassured about the efficacy of the aircraft.

"Before you hear it, you see it," the copy reads. "By the time
you see 
it, it's too late. The CV-22 delivers Special Forces to
insertion points 
never thought possible. It flies faster. It flies farther. It
flies
https://ms1.express.cites.uiuc.edu/wm/mail/window.html?sessionid=-eef0db3f
quieter. Consider it a gift from above."

TM Advertising is fast establishing a reputation for crass
advertising. 
A previous ad for Bell's AH-1Z attack helicopter showed the
heavily 
armed aircraft taking off out of a flaming background. The
copy read: 
"We made it beautiful. Because it's the last thing that some
people will 
ever see."

http://tinyurl.com/7bx3p