From: Technotranscendence (neptune@mars.superlink.net)
Date: Tue Aug 13 2002 - 20:27:21 MDT
On Tuesday, August 13, 2002 7:32 AM Spudboy100@aol.com wrote:
> I'd actually like to see a breakdown of what weapons
> are sold (airplanes cost more then kalashnikovs), rather
> then just a rant, as that article clearly was. in this way
> we can analyze what a total dollar figure means in
> relationship to how these sales of weapons amounted
> to so much. Who did we sell to, who received armaments?
You and I probably do any arms sales, but I get your point here.
I also think a lot of US arms sales are just a way of American arms
makers getting tax payer monies. In other words, many arms sales to
foreign governments are backed by the US government or paid for with
subsidies from the US government. E.g., the US government gives $N to
the Columbian government so it can purchase helicopters, ammo, and such.
Regardless of what %age of the global arm sales this is, it's still bad
policy.
> Should we sell F-16's to the Wahabbis? In light of 9-11,
> I would reconsider that notion too. But that may account
> for some bucks being made to keep the Saudis our buddies(?).
The policy should have been reconsidered decades ago. (Also, it's funny
how no one in the government seems to have lost their job because of the
September 11th attacks. I suppose only CEOs in private firms are
supposed to be held accountable for their actions or inactions...)
> Is China a Merchant of death to the world, in light of
> selling copies of soviet-type missles, which are capable
> of carrying nuclear warheads to Iran? Their Shehob-3
> missle, did not spring from Iraninan technical brilliance,
> as athena did from zeus's split skull.(owch)
I would not think that one would have to adopt a double standard here.
If one is critical of arms sales in general, there's no reason not to
blame the PRC as much as the US government. Blaming either one does not
absolve the other -- except for partisans.
Cheers!
Dan
http://uweb.superlink.net/neptune/
See "Macroeconomics for the Real World" at:
http://uweb.superlink.net/neptune/Macro.html
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