Project Emirates Repair

The rise in temperature of the Yemen war, now in its seventh year, has more than few drooling.

Sales of arms and military services by the sector’s largest 25 companies totalled $361 billion in 2019. Of which, almost half (47%) of American arms transfers went to the Middle East, with 24% to Saudi Arabia, their largest customer by far.

The prospects of increase in sales are robust.

Eyes toward a heated growth in sales, TR “Zip” Waumitt, president and CEO of Tattersberg, Waumitt & Vrekker, market expansion consultants to the arms industry, set up a meeting with General Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle, president and CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), which has 1,570 corporate members.

Considering that in 2019 just five of NDIA members Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and General Dynamics together registered $166 billion in annual arms sales, Zip had wisely chosen the lunch venue. Per Se on 110 Columbus Circle, with Central Park views – the city's second most expensive restaurant, where dinner for one could rise as high as $600 after adding on caviar, black Australian truffles, foie gras and wagyu.

As they eyed their starters, Zip set the conversation going, “General… Hawk, yes, things were good, and I’d say they are looking excellent.”

“Yes, Zip sure. We were sort of worried that with Trump no more, pushing our stuff with ‘America’s beautiful weapons’ thing, we may see sales dip, but here you have… and Afghanistan sales passing out… but, I was saying here you have it, Yemen has heated up.”

“Right, Hawk. And now UAE is so kosher… I mean the Israelis have even certified their school curriculum to be perfectly kosher, we can sell anything and everything to them. I’d put the OU mark on them… fully Bishul Yisroel – stuff that requires increased rabbinic involvement.

“Hawk, at Tattersberg, Waumitt we provide the best range of services to our industry. Did you ever watch Charlie Chaplin’s1921 movie, The Kid… Window Repair? The kid generates window repair opportunities and of course, Charlie does the needful.

“Wow… a little spark from the Houthi end, and the big sparklers are on.”

“Zip, South Korea $3.5 billion preliminary deal for its Cheongung II mid-range surface-to-air missile (M-SAM) weapon system is another shot… you know their reliance on specific components… and Raytheon have provided UAE with trusted air and missile defense for more than three decades, beginning with the Hawk air defense program… and Patriot variants like Patriot Gem-3 and the PAC-3 missiles.

“What shaping up is [Israeli prime minister] Naftali Bennett offering UAE security and intelligence support. You know MbZ (UAE crown prince Mohammad Bin Zayed) is not going to take this very lightly. He has built a strong guy image…”

“General, we have it. Naftali and MbZ are so close. With AIPAC (American Israeli Public Affairs Committee) calling a few (of its beneficiaries) on Capitol Hill, speed is going to build.

“For a start, the Hill folks could gift a few F-35s to Israel to enable to be war ready when UAE calls. Surely tht’ll please all Lockheed Martin stockholders.

“Hawk, Tattersberg, Waumitt could get started on this…”

“Zip, that’ll be fantastic. I see more. This Houthi strike could derail UAE and wider Gulf dialogue with Iran… and what next, every Arab will be lining up for F35s.

“You know our mission statement says that we should identify key issues and leverage our knowledge and experience to grow military sales.

“Here you have it, Hawk! We could get the lobbyists get going on the Hill… that’ll be the big ticket. We could get going by Congress okaying transfer of a few F35s to Israel for starters.
“Let’s do it, Operation Emirates Repair can make us richer. Would you like order another round of foi gras and wagyu.”

“Zip, not for me. I’d like another aperitif though… [glasses raised; they declare] next on list is Operation Saudi Repair!”