Diplomats, trade deals – right or wrong in bringing businesses out of recession ?

Diplomats, trade deals – right or wrong in bringing businesses (Boeing and Airbus) out of recession ?
The never ending debate continues of where diplomats (trade or otherwise) should stop or not stop in influencing key trade deals e.g. Boeing and Airbus.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gsdOKmCCkrOuN8x4KwLvqICYxuyg?docId=CNG.c457e10cd9f8be1dd3262621efd6b761.361

It should not require WikiLeaks and the furor that’s foolishly ensuing since to realise that to do business in some sectors of the world, the saying ‘When in Rome do as the Romans do’ applies. Commissions, gratuities, bribes by whatever means one wishes to describe it is the only way forward in some trade deals and is the norm in those countries.
Aborrhent to us but essential trade for our businesses to grow and currently come out of a global economic recession.
I haven’t said I condone such actions for motives intent on hostitlities or terrorism but for personal, civil and a nation’s defence purposes provided I am not the one carrying/giving the ‘brown envelope’ I am happy to accept that such trading practices are essential in some parts of the world in securing trade deals.

No one in my lifetime will be able to alter the ethics, business habits, trading practices, accounting or banking rules/laws in some sectors of the world.

The big questions are – do the big giants like Boeing and Airbus walk away from deals that are lucrative and are not for hostile nor for any terrorist purposes ?

Some extracts from the URL quoted –
“US diplomats have on several occasions intervened to convince foreign governments to buy aircraft from Boeing rather than its European rival Airbus, …..” – Fair or unfair ? – diplomats are often key to trade delegations succeeding – Fair in my personal opinion, as Airbus could do the same – irrespective of any genteel agreements made pre economic recession.

“……describes Saudi King Abdullah responding favorably to a personal request from then-president George W. Bush in 2006 that he buy as many as 43 Boeing jets for Saudi Arabian Airlines and another 13 for the royal fleet.
But the king “wanted to have all the technology that his friend, President Bush, had on Air Force One,” ….
In November, state-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines said it had signed a contract for 12 new Boeing 777-300ER jets worth some 3.3 billion dollars.
The State Department confirmed to the Times that it had authorized an “upgrade” to the king’s plane but declined to provide further details on security grounds.” – Fair or unfair? – Fair in my personal opinion as the Saudi Royals are great fans of the US manufacturer Boeing.

“……Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina demanded landing rights for its national carrier at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport as a condition for a Boeing deal.
“If there is no New York route, what is the point of buying Boeing,” she was quoted as saying in a November 2009…
The deal went through, but so far Biman Bangladesh Airlines has not been given the landing rights, …..” – Fair or unfair ? – The delay to landing rights at JFK may be dependant on other requirements for Biman Bangladesh Airlines that are yet to fulfill. I have no opinion on this at present as it may be still pending final decisions re JFK.

“That is the reality of the 21st century; governments are playing a greater role in supporting their companies, and we need to do the same thing,” Robert Hormats, under secretary of state for economic affairs, ….” – Fair or unfair – Fair in my opinion – Europe can compete on the same playing fields if they choose to.