What a ridiculous letter from Rod Ackers (Letters, May 18). It seems to typify the level of argument in defence of EDO/MBM.

A look at the the company's website (www.mbmtech.co.uk) shows exactly what it makes - although you may not be able to see all of its products since it has taken masses of material off its website since the campaign against it started.

If EDO/MBM doesn't actually make the complete missiles or bombs here in Brighton, it does make the parts that enable these terrible products to kill and maim thousands of innocent people around the world.

I would not get away with selling guns by suggesting it was the bullet, not the gun, which does the killing.

Neither should EDO get away with selling its "weapon release systems".

Mr Ackers calls us a "rentamob", but we are not a mob and no one rents us. We do not get paid to stand outside the factory every week to speak out against it. The people in the factory, on the other hand, are rented or subsidised by around £13,000 each by the British taxpayer (as is every employee in the UK arms industry, according to the Campaign Against the Arms Trade).

As for his statement that the factory makes parts for the "defence of our realm", can I point out that this is a US-owned corporation which also sells to many other countries - pretty much any that'll pay.

To help expand this global market it exhibits at the annual "Electronic Warfare" exhibition and conference.

This was held at Olympia in London just a week ago where EDO displayed its wares to the expanding world market in death and destruction.

I'm glad to say it was disrupted by protests and I sincerely hope the management at Olympia are considering whether it would be wise to accommodate these war profiteers next year.

So rather than these trivial letters why don't we get some real arguments from those who believe this company should be allowed to operate in Brighton? Since the campaign against the company started in 2004 EDO/MBM has never publicly defended or commented on its business.

Why? Because its business is indefensible.

  • Glenn Williams, Park Crescent Road, Brighton