Arms dealing to developing world out of control
If the Bush Administration is serious about global security, at least start reducing the amount of arms we sell to developing countries -- weapons that can often end up in the hands of terrorists. According to a out this morning, the United States is the number one military supplier to the developing world:
In 2006, the United States agreed to sell $10.3 billion in weaponsto the developing world, or 35.8 percent of these deals worldwide,according to the study. Russia was second with $8.1 billion, or 28.1percent, and Britain was third with $3.1 billion, or 10.8 percent.
Pakistanconcluded $5.1 billion in agreements to buy arms in 2006. That totalwas followed by India with $3.5 billion in agreements and Saudi Arabiawith $3.2 billion in deals.
The combined value of arms salesworldwide to both developed and developing nations in 2006 reached$40.3 billion, a decline of nearly 13 percent from 2005.
As you might have guessed, the bottom line is not global security -- it is money. Money drives most decision-making in Washington.
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