Export Paperwork (End User Undertaking)

Mark Beckett wrote:

We further certify that the goods will not be used for any purpose connected with chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, or missiles capable of delivering such weapons;

I'm trying to picture a  nuclear weapons designer diligently selecting only those components that are legally permitted for use in the destruction of entire cities and the deaths of millions of people.  I haven't succeeded yet.

Such clauses are nothing more than a good indication that certain politicians and lawyers have too much spare time on their hands.

I'm trying to picture a  nuclear weapons designer diligently selecting only those components that are legally permitted for use in the destruction of entire cities and the deaths of millions of people.  I haven't succeeded yet.

Picture the investigation after such an event where the wreckage of the missile is recovered,

and your company's (or country's) products are found inside.  You will be very happy to be able

to point to the efforts you made, however ineffective, to discourage such uses.

I'm trying to picture a  nuclear weapons designer diligently selecting only those components that are legally permitted for use in the destruction of entire cities and the deaths of millions of people.  I haven't succeeded yet.

Picture the investigation after such an event where the wreckage of the missile is recovered,

and your company's (or country's) products are found inside.  You will be very happy to be able

to point to the efforts you made, however ineffective, to discourage such uses.

coder27 wrote:

 

Picture the investigation after such an event where the wreckage of the missile is recovered,

and your company's (or country's) products are found inside.  You will be very happy to be able

to point to the efforts you made, however ineffective, to discourage such uses.

If a company's gizmo is found in the wreckage of the missile, that could equally well be a black mark against them, because it means that the missile failed to reach destination and/or detonate.  Bad engineering!

But more seriously, a company that tried to claim that they did their best to keep their gizmo out of armaments by adding writing is in danger of appearing seriously retarded, if they actually mean it.  The reason such clauses are added isn't to prevent the occurrence.  It's to look good in the eyes of clueless politicians and to satisfy their lawyers not by doing something effective but by escaping the whole issue through a legal technicality.  Box ticked, job done, go home.

Morgaine Dinova wrote:

 

If a company's gizmo is found in the wreckage of the missile, that could equally well be a black mark against them, because it means that the missile failed to reach destination and/or detonate.  Bad engineering!

Oi!  Stop reading my mind and posting what I was going to say before I can

But more seriously, a company that tried to claim that they did their best to keep their gizmo out of armaments by adding writing is in danger of appearing seriously retarded, if they actually mean it. 

There are ways the writing gets enforced.  Weapons are often intercepted in transit,

and the component suppliers noted.  Or communications regarding the weapons are

intercepted, etc.   Obviously there are huge loopholes, but there is some enforcement.