Arms Bazaar Presents Improved Kill Ratios

Straight ahead of you is a film of bombs dropping from fighter planes; on your right is a model of a sleek new missile; on your left, a businessman in his fifties promotes his company's newest rocket to a group of about 20 military officers.

You are at the 35th annual Air Force Association convention, held at the Sheraton Hotel in Washington in mid-September, where virtually every major armaments manufacturer in the country sets up a display of its latest and most awesome weaponry.

In this military pinball arcade, this Pentagon version of the Cannes film festival, you can watch a Rockwell International flick about its new Navstar satellite system, which boasts an increased capacity for destruction: "kill + 60 percent." Or you might view Lockheed's special "kinetic penetrators," which are used "primarily for ripping up airfields." Raytheon's booth features a film on its AMRAM missile, where buildings blow up, missiles drop from the sky, and dog-fights are simulated: "Raytheon ... advancing the state-of-the art in air defense."

And if you're interested in seeing what the industry leader is up to, you might want to take in the General Dynamics simulated battle featuring its prized "F-16 Fighting Falcon." "In all, the F1-6s killed 88 aggressor aircraft; by comparison, the next best team had just one air-to-air kill," a deep voice narrates. "Best of all, the F-16 was the only team to put all bombs on target. The undisputed winner; weapons delivery with pinpoint accuracy. General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon: the next generation fighter is ready now."

Representatives of the armaments industry who attended said that the convention was primarily a public relations affair. "We are not really sales oriented" here, explained Don Crane, an exhibitor from Northrop, adding, "It's entertaining; it's recreational." Lockheed exhibitor, C. De Gruchy agreed that profit is not the chief motive for coming to the conference. "It's very difficult to tie the show to dollars down the road," he said. The displays, said Boeing exhibitor R.L. Miller, are simply "to inform people about what's going on with our program. We want to show them our hardware."

Air Force personnel enjoyed the show. One junior ROTC cadet, still in braces, attended "just to see what's here and to learn what the Air Force is all about." His ROTC aerospace instructor, Charles C. Vasiladis, found the displays quite worthwhile. "It's very, very educational and it gives you an appreciation of technology," he said. "Technology is what we need for the future of this country. The nation that controls technology is the nation that's going to control the world."

Other Air Force officials had more practical concerns in mind. "I came over here to see what's available, to make a better management decision," said one who works in the purchasing division. And Bob Mitchell, of systems command, came to the convention for a "general update" on the "newer technologies."

The armaments display interested not only the U.S. military. Air attaches from many foreign embassies attended. "A lot of foreign embassy people come through here," said John Camille, exhibitor for Texas Instruments. "You're able to display hardware that might lead to an FMS (Foreign Military Sale)."

By all accounts, foreign military officers loved the convention. "Oh, it was great; it was fine; very interesting; very fine," said Lieutenant Colonel Elias Halabruda, air force attach� for the embassy of Paraguay. "I had specific instructions from my Joint Chiefs of Staff to look at" a number of fighter bombers, Halabruda said, adding, "I sent information back to my country."

Officials from two countries currently prohibited from purchasing U.S. arms were invited by the Air Force Association to attend the convention. Chile's air force attach�, Colonel Mario Silva, thought it was "very interesting." "I like to know all the areas of sophistication about radar co mmunications," Silva said. "It's a very good opportunity to see how the development of this kind of technology occurs, and what kind of development you can expect in the future." A member of the South African defense force also attended the meeting, but neither he nor his embassy would make any comment.

Throughout the three day convention, local Washington D.C. residents protested outside the Sheraton Hotel, holding signs and passing out leaflets carrying the slogan: "Bread not bombs." Sponsored by a coalition of 40 church and peace organizations, the protest brought 1000 people for a religious service and about 20-30 people for all day pickets. On Wednesday September 16, the night of the Air Force Association banquet, about 400 people massed for a civil disobedience protest at the entrance to the Sheraton Hotel. "Two groups sat in the driveway," explained Mary Lee Barker, who handed out leaflets while other demonstrators attempted to block the entrance to the hotel. "They sat and prayed," Barker said, adding that those involved in civil disobedience carried "loaves of bread to emphasize the change in the budget from human needs to defense."

After a little while, the police came in and arrested 51 people, charging them with unlawful assembly. "It was very peaceful," said Barker.

Ten of those arrested still await trial. The other 41 pleaded guilty, and were fined between $20 and $100. Those that could not pay the fine were ordered to do 50 to 100 hours of community service. And eight of the demonstrators were given small jail sentences: six people who had been found guilty previously for one similar violation were sentenced to 15 days; two others, who had been convicted twice before for such offenses, were sentenced to 30 days.

- Matthew Rothschild