The Economy: Arms Sales and Missile Defences

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | January 31, 2010 at 06:56 am

406 views | 44 Recommendations | 12 comments

While the U.S. economy appears to be in the tank and there are some $85 Trillion in unfunded Medicare and Medicaid liabilities, it would appear that the Arms Industry seems to be thriving.

Some experts have said that the difference between the U.S. and China is that while China has money in the bank and produces goods, the U.S. is in debt, prints money to consume and produces nothing.

It should not come as a surprise that the U.S. Arms Industry is flourishing. The Administration, according to the Washington Post, is quietly working on speeding up arms sales in the Middle East. This includes the strengthening of missile defences to protect oil assets.

Recently announcements have been made to locate Patriot missiles in Poland, apparently to defend against possible missile attacks from Iran. Apparently the push in the Middle East with the UAE and Saudi Arabia is to put pressure on Teheran as well.

The Obama Administration has been advocating a move to clean green energy and pushed the Cap and Trade Bill through the House last year. The push for Arms Sales and the shoring up of missile defenses to protect oil assets, seem to be a contradiction the will to move to clean energy.

Interestingly enough, the Canadian Energy Minister Jim Prentice, announced yesterday that Canada would lower carbon emissions by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020.

There have been a few questions raised about the Afghanistan war as well. The background of this story is in the NP Report titled A Necessary War - for a Gas Pipeline.

The initiatives, including a U.S.-backed plan to triple the size of a 10,000-man protection force in Saudi Arabia, are part of a broader push that includes unprecedented coordination of air defenses and expanded joint exercises between the U.S. and Arab militaries, the officials said. All appear to be aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran.

The efforts build on commitments by the George W. Bush administration to sell warplanes and antimissile systems to friendly Arab states to counter Iran's growing conventional arsenal. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are leading a regionwide military buildup that has resulted in more than $25 billion in U.S. arms purchases in the past two years alone.

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Rhonda J Mangus

at 07:14 on January 31st, 2010

Thanks for this, Karl. Additional information on U.S. Military:

The global reach of the US military today is unprecedented and unparalleled. Officially, more than 190,000 troops and 115,000 civilian employees are massed in approximately 900 military facilities in 46 countries and territories (the unofficial figure is far greater). The US military owns or rents 795,000 acres of land, with 26,000 buildings and structures, valued at $146bn (£89bn). The bases bristle with an inventory of weapons whose worth is measured in the trillions and whose killing power could wipe out all life on earth several times over.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 07:22 on January 31st, 2010

Thanks very much for the additional info Rhonda:)

Uwe Paschen

at 08:41 on January 31st, 2010

China is already reacting to the US arms sales and military expansion, so far only with words though. It does look though as if Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba will very soon have Nuclear weapons to be amend at the US, of course only for the purpose of self defence.

Sadly we have learned nothing from the last cold war.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 08:45 on January 31st, 2010

It's a good way to bankrupt yourself. China has money in its bank account, the US doesn't. Printing money to consume is not the answer. Thanks for recommending and commenting Uwe.

Alida Antonia Cornelius

at 08:47 on January 31st, 2010

I believe it's called "guns economics" as opposed to "butter economics".

Nice post.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 10:03 on January 31st, 2010

You bet Art. Thanks very much:)

158

at 09:47 on January 31st, 2010

Good post. War is expensive.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 10:04 on January 31st, 2010

Thank you very much 158.

merlingraycat

at 10:21 on January 31st, 2010

Good info. More of the media need to shed some light on this problem.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 10:36 on January 31st, 2010

I agree those things are not talked about enough.

YankeeJim

at 11:04 on January 31st, 2010

Well, where do we begin Karl. I am so full of words on this subject I could write books about it until I die. Someone interview me please.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 11:10 on January 31st, 2010

Jim all you need to do is write one book:). I think the unfortunate thing is that despite the rhetoric and sound bytes thrown around for public consumption, both political parties do this in a covert way.