How Would You Feel About Profiting from War?

By | December 30th, 2005 2 Comments

camelbak.jpgNow here’s something interesting to think about over the new year: What to do when your company is offered a lot of money to sell to the US Military in the middle of a highly controversial war. It’s not an easy question, and I for one, see valid arguments both for and against entering into a military contract. Some people are rightly disgusted by the idea, and others see it as a normal business transaction that will keep troops well equiped and less likely to get injured.
Some companies are caught in the middle due not only to their own principals but also due to the constituency of their customers. Outdoor equipment companies, for example, sell a lot of products to the so called “LOHAS” market – folks who enjoy things like camping and outdoor recreation, and are, generally speaking, outspoken against war in general and the situation in Iraq in particular. Those same companies, in many cases, happen to make prodects that are very useful to soldiers such as excellent boots, hydration systems, sunglasses, and backpacks. Hence the dilemma.
Brands such as Oakley, The North Face, Camelbak and Arc’Tryx are among them, as reported on the Get Outdoors blog and in USA Today.
Although some see a bit of irony in this, I would be surprised to see mass outcry against, say, Camelbak. For one thing, supplying troops with something that’s going to help them survive is hard to see as immoral. It’s not like they’re manufacturing land mines. The other side of the coin is, of course, the idea that dependance on military contracts encourages companies to actually see a profit motive in continuing warefare – and that’s a problem. What do you think?

2 Comments

Categorized: Uncategorized|

  • http://www.artremains.com Carlos

    As both a soldier who served in Afghanistan and a certified tree hugger this is an interesting topic. Although for me it’s a moot point because while in Afghanistan I personally handed out 10000s of awareness posters (landmine, safety and health, educational, etc.), provided supplies to numerous schools, helped coordinate the drilling of water wells in numerous villages, participated in weekly med caps (military medics treating villagers), and witnessed the country’s first democratic presidential election.
    But unfortunately most tree huggers fall victim to anti war media propaganda.
    I appreciated having a camelbak in Afghanistan. Just like numerous villages now appreciate having a well.
    Yet, Haliburton was the largest contractor in Afghanistan.
    There is definitely a profit motive when it comes to war. The trick is to look at the ends when evaluating the means. The US govt produces millions of mine awareness posters that are distributed to Afghan kids. Why? Because they are altruistic or because it’s good PR? Who cares! Less kids are blown up and that’s all that really matters.

  • http://commonground.typepad.com Enrique

    Special forces types have for many years had top-notch outdoors gear they either personally requistioned or issued to them as one of the perqs of doing a demanding job under tough conditions. It comes as no surprise that specialty manufactures would formalize that relationship. If you’re operating at 12,00 ft in winter-like conditions you get your camping gear from K-mart.