Stirring the Pot
or
Ever Wonder Where All These Small Countries Get Their Weapons?
by James Glaser
May 23, 2011
How do those Middle Eastern countries get the weapons they use to kill our troops, their own citizens, or their neighbors? Well, the United states is the biggest seller of weapons in the world, and we have been for a long time.
By THOM SHANKER
Published: September 6, 2009
WASHINGTON — Despite a recession that knocked down global arms sales last year, the United States expanded its role as the world's leading weapons supplier, increasing its share to more than two-thirds of all foreign armaments deals, according to a new Congressional study.
You ever wonder what that Military Industrial Complex is that Anti-war people write about all the time? Well, it is the companies who supply our country and much of the world with everything they need to fight wars with. It is a huge industry, and they make huge profits.
They want those profits to continue, so they are constantly lobbying Congress and the White House to keep us in a war at all time, some place, any place. Also, they sell weapons with Washington's approval to anyone country that wants them. If the country doesn't have the money, Washington will give those countries "Military Assistance Grants." We give Israel and Egypt and other Middle Eastern Countries that grant money every year.
The following list give you some idea of the amount of money involved in these foreign Arms Sales over the years. These numbers do not include what the Pentagon spends every year on our own military.
You may notice that the Obama administration set a new sales record in 2009 of $31,682,369,000.00 for weapon sales to foreign countries. So, next time President Obama talks about how he is working for peace, think of that number.
Years
| Worldwide
Arms Sales | Near-East/South-Asia
Arms Sales | Percent
of Total |
| 1950-69 | $10,927,010,000 | $1,845,957,000 | 16.90% |
| 1970 | $1,066,506,000 | $390,339,000 | 36.60% |
| 1971 | $1,381,569,000 | $688,432,000 | 49.80% |
| 1972 | $2,822,129,000 | $1,136,085,000 | 40.30% |
| 1973 | $5,737,497,000 | $4,408,280,000 | 76.80% |
| 1974 | $9,495,009,000 | $7,794,253,000 | 82.10% |
| 1975 | $13,219,489,000 | $6,268,995,000 | 47.40% |
| 1976 | $13,312,951,000 | $10,277,753,000 | 77.20% |
| 1977 | $5,899,625,000 | $3,569,889,000 | 60.50% |
| 1978 | $6,941,098,000 | $3,656,085,000 | 52.70% |
| 1979 | $11,487,271,000 | $7,425,356,000 | 64.60% |
| 1980 | $13,599,651,000 | $7,226,200,000 | 53.10% |
| 1981 | $6,876,942,000 | $2,722,834,000 | 39.60% |
| 1982 | $14,669,278,000 | $7,541,769,000 | 51.40% |
| 1983 | $13,782,542,000 | $4,756,426,000 | 34.50% |
| 1984 | $12,068,435,000 | $4,156,398,000 | 34.40% |
| 1985 | $10,771,803,000 | $4,284,441,000 | 39.80% |
| 1986 | $5,954,236,000 | $1,764,805,000 | 29.60% |
| 1987 | $5,884,901,000 | $1,862,730,000 | 31.70% |
| 1988 | $10,567,946,000 | $6,612,466,000 | 62.60% |
| 1989 | $8,624,991,000 | $4,976,744,000 | 57.70% |
| 1990 | $14,514,451,000 | $8,713,841,000 | 60.00% |
| 1991 | $17,084,891,000 | $11,592,612,000 | 67.90% |
| 1992 | $12,036,173,000 | $2,583,135,000 | 21.50% |
| 1993 | $28,186,376,000 | $14,093,629,000 | 50.00% |
| 1994 | $12,233,098,000 | $4,525,293,000 | 37.00% |
| 1995 | $8,165,906,000 | $2,265,602,000 | 27.70% |
| 1996 | $8,973,430,000 | $3,769,953,000 | 42.00% |
| 1997 | $7,930,116,000 | $2,080,566,000 | 26.20% |
| 1998 | $8,746,786,000 | $4,464,798,000 | 51.00% |
| 1999 | $11,132,224,000 | $5,402,354,000 | 48.50% |
| 2000 | $10,968,282,000 | $3,879,519,000 | 35.40% |
| 2001 | $12,544,915,000 | $5,722,676,000 | 45.60% |
| 2002 | $11,821,419,000 | $4,910,371,000 | 41.50% |
| 2003 | $12,924,620,000 | $3,267,472,000 | 25.30% |
| 2004 | $14,081,196,000 | $6,503,776,000 | 46.20% |
| 2005 | $9,791,951,000 | $3,874,279,000 | 39.60% |
| 2006 | $18,078,995,000 | $7,561,074,000 | 41.80% |
| 2007 | $18,878,229,000 | $7,455,340,000 | 39.50% |
| 2008 | $28,963,266,000 | $17,706,338,000 | 61.10% |
| 2009 | $31,682,369,000 | $16,702,040,000 | 52.70% |
| | | | |
| TOTAL: | $483,829,574,000 | $230,440,906,000 | 47.60% |
Source: US Department of Defense.
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