Arms exports mania

My copy of the 2006 edition of the annual Military Balance assessment produced by the International Institute for Strategic Studies dropped heavily into my mailbox today. I enjoy looking through their generally fairly reliable information, and have used it as a reference source ever since I worked in the Reuters bureau in Beirut, back in the day…
So, our big fact for today (p.404): In 2004, for the first time ever, the US’s share of the international arms trade rose above 50%. To be precise, it was 53.4%.
The runners-up in this contest of shame were:

    Russia– 13.2%
    France– 12.7%
    Britain– 5.5%
    Germany– 2.6%
    China– 2.0%

But look, isn’t this just the most amazing coincidence: Of the six front-running arms-exporters, five of them are veto-wielding permanent members on the UN Security Council. (And these are also the five “recognized” nuclear-weapons states.)
But it seems that not being content with having their own huge nuclear and “conventional” arsenals, these states want to get the rest of the world hooked on the arms-acquisition habit, too.
US arms transfers to other countries in 2004 came to a total value of $18.55 billion. Imagine what that sum of money could have achieved for real human security if it had been invested in schools, health-centers, roads, and safe-water systems instead…

4 thoughts on “Arms exports mania”

  1. The leaders of these shameful weapon selling countries desire a safe and secure state of health, life, education and future for their own families, children and kin. They do not see themselves connected to the rest of the world. If they had a sense of connectedness and belonging to the rest of mankind, they would never wish to sell destructive means and rob them from a safe future. Why are these leaders, these individual feel so apart from the rest of the world? Are they any better? Any different? should they deserve a better life than other people in the world? I am curious about the pscyology behind this phenomena?
    –Maryam

  3. Interesting- the Palestinians have received at least 18 billion dollars worth of international aid over the years and have wasted all of it (other than supplying terrorists with weapons and suicide belts). Imagine if THAT sum of money had been invested in schools (that don’t teach hatred of Jews), roads, health centers and safe water systems instead.

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