christiefan915
Catalyst
Just think, Saudi Arabia is third in line for buying US arms. That means we're arming Muslims in a dictatorship with a lousy human rights record. What do all the Muslim haters have to say about this?
"A study released last week by the Congressional Research Service showed that the United States remains the world’s leading arms merchant.
America dominated the market in 2014 with $36 billion in sales, more than half of the world total. U.S. sales were up by nearly $10 billion, or 35 percent, from the year before.
South Korea was America’s top customer, at $7 billion, followed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia. South Korea’s purchases indicated a desire to bulk up on armaments in the face of a continuing challenge from North Korea. South Korea was also the world’s top buyer, with $7.8 billion purchased overall. Iraq was second, at $7.3 billion, based on a need to stay armed in the face of American troop withdrawal, even though 3,500 U.S. forces remain. The world’s third-largest buyer was Brazil, at $6.5 billion, mostly for Swedish aircraft. The world’s No. 2 arms seller was Russia at $10 billion.
Although U.S. weapons sales help the nation’s balance of trade, it’s hard to say if Americans should be pleased. It is arguable that the supply of arms to various countries enables Washington to keep a handle on what those clients do with them. It is also likely that if these countries did not buy from the United States, they’d seek arms elsewhere.
Unfortunately, the arms supplied by the United States — along with the corresponding provision of technicians to maintain them — can draw America into affairs such as Saudi Arabia’s savage bombing of the Shiite Houthis in Yemen and can commit the United States to defend a vulnerable Persian Gulf monarchy such as Qatar.
America’s arms sales dominance probably does not contribute to bringing peace to troubled regions, but rather to raising tensions to more dangerous levels.
http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion...s-the-world-s-top-seller/stories/201512300018
"A study released last week by the Congressional Research Service showed that the United States remains the world’s leading arms merchant.
America dominated the market in 2014 with $36 billion in sales, more than half of the world total. U.S. sales were up by nearly $10 billion, or 35 percent, from the year before.
South Korea was America’s top customer, at $7 billion, followed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia. South Korea’s purchases indicated a desire to bulk up on armaments in the face of a continuing challenge from North Korea. South Korea was also the world’s top buyer, with $7.8 billion purchased overall. Iraq was second, at $7.3 billion, based on a need to stay armed in the face of American troop withdrawal, even though 3,500 U.S. forces remain. The world’s third-largest buyer was Brazil, at $6.5 billion, mostly for Swedish aircraft. The world’s No. 2 arms seller was Russia at $10 billion.
Although U.S. weapons sales help the nation’s balance of trade, it’s hard to say if Americans should be pleased. It is arguable that the supply of arms to various countries enables Washington to keep a handle on what those clients do with them. It is also likely that if these countries did not buy from the United States, they’d seek arms elsewhere.
Unfortunately, the arms supplied by the United States — along with the corresponding provision of technicians to maintain them — can draw America into affairs such as Saudi Arabia’s savage bombing of the Shiite Houthis in Yemen and can commit the United States to defend a vulnerable Persian Gulf monarchy such as Qatar.
America’s arms sales dominance probably does not contribute to bringing peace to troubled regions, but rather to raising tensions to more dangerous levels.
http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion...s-the-world-s-top-seller/stories/201512300018
