In the imperialist stage of capitalism, when the capitalist powers struggle for hegemony over the different parts of the globe, war has become a mighty industry. At the head of this beast sits a small group of war profiteers, including David Cote, CEO and chairman of the board of directors of Honeywell International.
Honeywell emerged in the early 20th century as a conglomerate of energy companies. During World War II, it quickly capitalized on the U.S. war budget, whose monstrous size would only continue to grow. Since then, Honeywell has profited from the production of cluster bombs, napalm and missile-guidance systems.
Cote currently has a contract with Israel for the manufacturing of surveillance systems used to monitor Palestinians as part of the brutal Israeli colonial project. Another contract is for the Multiple Rocket Launch System produced for the Israeli military—on its website, Honeywell boasts about the “end-game lethality” of this system. Honeywell also won contracts with the U.S. government for the maintenance and engine controls of fighter jets.
Perhaps the most important function of the military in imperialist states—and in their client states—is to impinge on the right to self-determination of oppressed nations. On top of funding its own military to the tune of over $500 billion a year, the U.S. government spends billions annually to support the Israeli military machine, with $30 billion pledged for the next decade. (Huffington Post, March 9)
Cote is an accomplice in the oppression of the Palestinian people. As payment for his services in the maintenance of these exploitative imperialist relationships, Cote received over $30 million in 2008. (Business Week, Aug. 7) Instead of being paid for his collusion in imperialism, Cote should be tried as a war criminal.
