Strong growth in arms sales

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

At a time when there is a contraction in profits and particularly
investment in new technology, it is comforting that at least there has been
a surge - of 8% - last year, in the investment of the means of production
of war - the global arms trade.

And considering how the USA, having accumulated such a mass of  capital
relative to the rest of the world, has to work even harder to keep up its
rate of profit, it is reassuring that in this armaments surge, the US has
kept and even lengthened its lead.

Indeed but for the generous and prudent contributions of developing
countries, who make up 68% of the overall sales, the US balance of payments
would look even more wobbly than they do now.

> WASHINGTON International arms sales jumped 8 percent last year, to nearly
> $36.9 billion, with the United States further consolidating its stature as
> the supplier of choice, especially in developing countries, according to a
> new congressional report.
>
> American manufacturers signed contracts for just under $18.6 billion, or
> about half of all weapons sold on the world market during 2000, with 68
> percent of the American weapons bought by developing countries.
>
> Russia followed, with $7.7 billion in sales, then France with $4.1
> billion, Germany with $1.1 billion, Britain with $600 million, China with
> $400 million and Italy with $100 million.
>
> The statistics are contained in a study, "Conventional Arms Transfers to
> Developing Nations, 1993-2000," published by the Congressional Research
> Service, an arm of the Library of Congress.


Full article http://www.iht.com/articles/29886.htm



Hypothecation of taxes is much disliked by established governments. But as
we do not have a proper world government at present, hypothecation may help
to highlight the concept of the socially responsible way of controlling
these phenomena.

So how about a global tax on these booming arms sales?

Starting at a modest rate, it could only be helpful for funding more
responsible peace-keeping activities, such as for example, the heavily
publicised offer of NATO to help the Albanians of Kosovo *dis*arm. It could
at least pay for the advertising!

Maybe the Nobel Institute could fund a little study about how to manage the
arms trade more effectively in the interests of global peace. Better than
doing everything retrospectively! It might even be supported by past Nobel
Laureates?

Chris Burford

London