U.S. Arms Sales Up 465% in Last Decade
Travis | Oct 26, 2009 |
0 Andrew previewed it over the summer, but now the DSCA provides confirmation:
With Fiscal Year 2009 figures tallied, and looking back at our projected total sales of $40 billion, we can take pride in the fact we achieved a new record of $37.9 billion in sales. To put that in historical perspective, that is a 465% growth from a low point of $8.1 billion in FY 1998 and slightly over our previous record figure of $36.4 billion in FY 08.
(h/t Matt Schroeder)
The Obama administration recently announced its support for an international Arms Trade Treaty that would “promote the same high standards for the entire international community that the United States and other responsible arms exporters already have in place to ensure that weaponry is transferred for legitimate purposes.”
I guess $37.9 billion per year constitutes “high standards” that “we can take pride in.”
U.S. Arms Sales May Top $40 Billion in 2009
Andrew | Jun 22, 2009 | 0 
Choo choo?
A big focus of President Obama’s foreign policy has been to build consensus with other countries in order to tackle international security issues. Unfortunately, a rise in arms sales may result.
Last week, it was reported that U.S. arms sales are on pace to top $40 billion in 2009. That is up from at least $32 billion in 2008 and $25 billion in 2007.
Numerous Obama administration officials have stressed the importance of international coalitions and partnerships in dealing with security challenges. Implicit in these statements is an offer to sell weapons to countries that are considered key U.S. allies.
There are, of course, other factors at work. For example, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, funded mainly by the U.S. in partnership with eight other countries, is expected to result in over 4,000 fighter orders in the coming years. There has also been a more aggressive pursuit of foreign sales by U.S. companies since Secretary Gates’s defense cuts were announced in April.
Arms sales should not become the cornerstone of Obama’s drive to reinvigorate America’s standing in the international community. Particularly in the developing world, arms sales to repressive regimes discredit the United States in the eyes of local populations. How can we say we stand for freedom and liberty while providing undemocratic governments with weapons that allow them to remain in power and crack down on internal dissent?
