Comments on: Shackles Raise Hackles http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/225 Latest News on DDTC, BIS, OFAC, and other export law matters Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:50:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mike Smiszek http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/225#comment-4158 Mike Smiszek Fri, 21 Sep 2007 22:43:09 +0000 http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/225#comment-4158 I think there's an element of marketing psychology to this. Missiles and other high-tech weaponry are sexy; they give us a chance to show-off and one-up the next guy. More to the point, the superior technology of the U.S. (and our allies) gives us a chance to demonstrate patriotism and show that we are the good guys. We even name our missiles in an effort to evoke patriotism and an aura of valor: Sea Wolf, Tigercat, Minuteman, Pershing, Peacekeeper, and of course, the Patriot. We appropriate the moral high-ground as our own by saying (whether truthfully or not) that all this ultra-chic technology is intended in the noble pursuit of our defense. On the other hand, leg irons are the antithesis of sexy. Leg iron technology hasn't changed appreciably in hundreds of years (maybe they're made of titanium now?), and in many ways we think of leg irons as a remnant of our (more) barbaric past, when torture and general mistreatment of individuals was commonplace. The bottom line is that high-tech gizmos are good for business while pre-industrial age implements of torture (even 21st Century versions) are not…which I’m guessing is ultimately what influenced the thinking of the promoters of this trade show. I think there’s an element of marketing psychology to this. Missiles and other high-tech weaponry are sexy; they give us a chance to show-off and one-up the next guy. More to the point, the superior technology of the U.S. (and our allies) gives us a chance to demonstrate patriotism and show that we are the good guys. We even name our missiles in an effort to evoke patriotism and an aura of valor: Sea Wolf, Tigercat, Minuteman, Pershing, Peacekeeper, and of course, the Patriot. We appropriate the moral high-ground as our own by saying (whether truthfully or not) that all this ultra-chic technology is intended in the noble pursuit of our defense. On the other hand, leg irons are the antithesis of sexy. Leg iron technology hasn’t changed appreciably in hundreds of years (maybe they’re made of titanium now?), and in many ways we think of leg irons as a remnant of our (more) barbaric past, when torture and general mistreatment of individuals was commonplace. The bottom line is that high-tech gizmos are good for business while pre-industrial age implements of torture (even 21st Century versions) are not…which I’m guessing is ultimately what influenced the thinking of the promoters of this trade show.

]]> By: Clif Burns http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/225#comment-4001 Clif Burns Fri, 14 Sep 2007 03:52:31 +0000 http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/225#comment-4001 Yep, Matthew, I saw the rules as well. It's still silly that you can display missiles and not leg irons. Yep, Matthew, I saw the rules as well. It’s still silly that you can display missiles and not leg irons.

]]> By: Matthew J. Lancaster http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/225#comment-4000 Matthew J. Lancaster Fri, 14 Sep 2007 03:48:35 +0000 http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/225#comment-4000 To be fair to the DSEi folks, the DSEi 2007 Exhibition Space Contract clearly calls out an absolute prohibition on the display of "Leg irons, gang chains, shackles and individual cuffs or shackle bracelets except those that are ordinary handcuffs" at Term B, Part 1, Section a, Subsection i. See: http://www.dsei.co.uk/exhibitors/DSEi07Contract.pdf From Term B, Part 3: "Exhibitors promoting or exhibiting prohibited items, either overtly or covertly, during the exhibition, will be in breach of their contract with the Organisers and will lose their right to exhibit at DSEi. Their stand will be closed immediately..." I think it admirable that the DSEi folks actually followed through and enforced the few clear and unambiguous prohibitions DSEi laid out for its exhibitors well in advance of the event. Yes. Famous Glory Holding is an awesome name for a Chinese defense company. To be fair to the DSEi folks, the DSEi 2007 Exhibition Space Contract clearly calls out an absolute prohibition on the display of “Leg irons, gang chains, shackles and individual cuffs or shackle bracelets except those that are ordinary handcuffs” at Term B, Part 1, Section a, Subsection i.

See: http://www.dsei.co.uk/exhibitors/DSEi07Contract.pdf

From Term B, Part 3:
“Exhibitors promoting or exhibiting prohibited items, either overtly or covertly, during the exhibition, will be in breach of their contract with the Organisers and will lose their right to exhibit at DSEi. Their stand will be closed immediately…”

I think it admirable that the DSEi folks actually followed through and enforced the few clear and unambiguous prohibitions DSEi laid out for its exhibitors well in advance of the event.

Yes. Famous Glory Holding is an awesome name for a Chinese defense company.

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