Friday, January 18, 2013

The weapons trade

The National Rifle Association is a powerful political lobby but the armament industry is a much more potent force in the halls of government .

US government-brokered arms sales tripled to a record high in 2011: $66.43 billion dollars, more than three-quarters of the global arms market. Russia was a distant second, with $4.8 billion in deals.

For all the talk of background checks stateside, when the US approved a $30 billion deal with the autocratic monarchy of Saudi Arabia. The US does more trade - overwhelmingly in oil and weapons - with Saudi Arabia than any other country in the Middle East, including Israel, and depends on close Saudi cooperation in its counterterrorism efforts in Yemen. Obama has repeatedly touted what he calls "the strong partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia" and "the importance of our bilateral relationship" and often vows "to continue cooperating closely on a range of issues". The single most repressive regime in that region is also one of America's closest allies. "Freedom" and "democracy" are words the United States bandy around when endeavouring to undermine regimes that refuse to serve its interests.  The agreements with Saudi Arabia included the purchase of 84 advanced F-15 fighters, a variety of ammunition, missiles and logistics support, and upgrades of 70 of the F-15 fighters in the current fleet. Sales to Saudi Arabia last year also included dozens of Apache and Black Hawk helicopters.

 The United Arab Emirates purchased a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, an advanced antimissile shield that includes radars and is valued at $3.49 billion, as well as 16 Chinook helicopters for $939 million. Oman bought 18 F-16 fighters for $1.4 billion. $4.1 billion agreement with India for 10 C-17 transport planes and with Taiwan for Patriot anti-missile batteries valued at $2 billion.

 From 1998 to 2001, the USA, the UK, and France earned more income from arms sales to developing countries than they gave in aid. The arms industry is unlike any other. It operates without regulation. It suffers from widespread corruption and bribes. And it makes its profits on the back of machines designed to kill and maim human beings.

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