Weapons sales by the United States tripled in 2011 to a record high, driven by major arms sales to Persian Gulf allies concerned about Iran’s regional ambitions, according to a new study for Congress.
Overseas weapons sales by the United States totaled $66.3 billion last year, or more than three-quarters of the global arms market, valued at $85.3 billion in 2011. Russia was a distant second, with $4.8 billion in deals.
The American weapons sales total was an “extraordinary increase” over the $21.4 billion in deals for 2010, the study found, and was the largest single-year sales total in the history of United States arms exports. The previous high was in fiscal year 2009, when American weapons sales overseas totaled nearly $31 billion.
A worldwide economic decline had suppressed arms sales over recent years. But increasing tensions with Iran drove a set of Persian Gulf nations — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman — to purchase American weapons at record levels.
God, you have to admire this guy.
Together with his partners in the Israeli government, they've succeeded in setting a world record in lining the pockets of merchants of death, by claiming a country that has not invaded a neighbor during the 20th or 21st centuries is an existential threat to all mankind.
Hey, Phil. Great stuff. But Guess What? I'm working my fat ass off to get this guy re-elected. I might slip off into nihilism or 3rd party stupidity is it weren't for the likes of Likud Party Sugar Daddy, Sheldon Adelson pledging $100 M to dump Obama and the fact that the bulk of Iran War-Mongers are part of Romney's kitchen cabinet. http://www.policymic.com/articles/3662/warning-mitt-romney-s-advisers-are-george-bush-neocons-calling-for-war-with-iran
ReplyDeleteLesser of evils? You bet'cha...
Elstun W. Lauesen
Elstun,
ReplyDeleteGlad you are exercising your right to vote for the candidate you have judged best.
I would rather jump off a cliff than vote for the GOP, and gave hundreds of dollars last week to REAL Democrats, along with my wife.