Business Is Business

The scale of the CIA's rendition programme has been laid bare in court documents that illustrate in minute detail how the US contracted out the secret transportation of suspects to a network of private American companies.

The manner in which American firms flew terrorism suspects to locations around the world, where they were often tortured, has emerged after one of the companies sued another in a dispute over fees. As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the mass of invoices, receipts, contracts and email correspondence – submitted as evidence to a court in upstate New York – provides a unique glimpse into a world in which the "war on terror" became just another charter opportunity for American businesses.

As a result of the case, the identities of some of the corporations involved in the rendition programme have been disclosed for the first time, along with the names of some of the executives who knew the purpose of the flights.
~ from How US Firms Profited from Torture Flights by Ian Cobain and Ben Quinn ~

As much as some people like to wring their hands about things such as war, torture and decreased civil liberties, Corporate America has no such qualms because business IS business. When the government is willing to hand you a big wad of cash -- often from no-bid contracts -- you don't ask questions and you don't wonder about legalities. You merely watch your bottom line soar.

If someone later points out that your company was complicit in violating US law or international treaties, you throw up your hands and say, "The government assured us that everything was on the up and up." It doesn't matter if your work with government involves Nazis, communists, terrorists or dictators. None of these concerns are your concerns.

No, all you care about is a big payday because business IS business!