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Impeach George Bush
Selling Weapons
Who's going to benefit from this year's warfare? Well, it's been a record year for Russian Arms Manufacturers like Mig.
Source: TheTip, 2003-04-16
Candidate: Big Business
Russia's Defense Industry had a banner year last year with 4.7 Billion in sales by companies like Mig, makers of the only serious competition to american companies Boeing and Lockhead.
But since 1992, the United States has exported more than $142 billion dollars worth of weaponry to states around the world. The U.S. dominates this international arms market, supplying just under half of all arms exports in 2001, roughly two and a half times more than the second and third largest suppliers. U.S. weapons sales help outfit non-democratic regimes, soldiers who commit gross human rights abuses against their citizens and citizens of other countries, and forces in unstable regions on the verge of, in the middle of, or recovering from conflict.
U.S.-origin weapons find their way into conflicts the world over. The United States supplied arms or military technology to more than 92% of the conflicts under way in 1999. The costs to the families and communities afflicted by this violence is immeasurable. But to most arms dealers, the profit accumulated outweighs the lives lost. In the period from 1998-2001, over 68% of world arms deliveries were sold or given to developing nations, where lingering conflicts or societal violence can scare away potential investors.
Of course, a loss of investment opportunities is not the only way Americans are impacted by the weapons trade. In addition to paying billions of dollars every year to support weapons exports, Americans may also feel the impact of increasing instability overseas. The United States military has had to face troops previously trained by its own military or supplied with U.S. weaponry in Panama, Iraq, Somalia, Haiti, and now in Afghanistan. Due to the advanced capabilities these militaries have acquired from past U.S. training and sales, the U.S. had to invest much more money and manpower in these conflicts than would have otherwise been needed.
There are few restrictions on whom the government may export arms to. One notable exception is the Leahy Law, which prohibits U.S. military aid or training to foreign military units known to have committed human rights abuses. Under the Pentagon's interpretation of the law, however, these restrictions may be lifted if the foreign government filters out the "few bad apples" in that particular unit. An International Code of Conduct on Arms Sales is also being negotiated with other arms exporters in the hopes of creating a common set of export criteria. In 2001, total world arms transfer agreements were worth nearly $26.4 billion. The United States led the world with 45.8% of all such agreements. There are two primary channels through which U.S. arms manufacturers sell weaponry to foreign countries: Foreign Military Sales (FMS)and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS).
*
Foreign Military Sales: These are sales of U.S. weapons, spare parts, construction, and related services purchased by foreign governments via the U.S. Department of State . [Data covers actual deliveries of military equipment or services.]
FY2001 total: $12.2 billion (deliveries)
$13.1 billion (new contracts)
FY2000 total: $10.5 billion
$11.4 billion (new contracts)
*
Direct Commercial Sales: These transfers are negotiated directly between the U.S. manufacturing company and the foreign buyers, and approved by the Department of State through the issuance of an export license.
FY2001 totals: $36.3 billion in licenses issued
$821.1 million in estimated deliveries*
FY2000 totals: $55.3 billion in licenses issued
$477.6 million in estimated deliveries*
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User Originated Comments:
From: The anti bush league
2004-03-12 08:29:13
thanks for this article. i found it very
informative and useful. cheers
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