Monday, September 24, 2007

72 Eurofighter Typhoon jets equals peace?

I'll never understand the logic behind those that think the more arms they have the better chances for peace, yet it's alive and well with more to come in the latest arms race which is taking place as we speak. Just a few of the recent arms sales:

In a deal announced this week, Saudi Arabia has agreed to buy 72 Eurofighter Typhoon jets from Europe's largest defense company, BAE Systems worth almost $9 billion. A boon for the company, especially given that a previous major deal is under investigation for allegations of corruption.

Hailed by the UK ministry of defense as a "new chapter" in cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the contract will be called "Project Salam," meaning "peace." It is also a new chapter that will see much more military hardware entering the region and one that ratchets up current tensions and divisions between Sunni-dominated states, such as Saudi Arabia, and Shiite Iran.

Larger deals between governments have been taking place. In August this year, the U.S. agreed to provide Israel with $30 billion in military aid over the next ten years.

Another agreement that is currently awaiting approval by the U.S. Congress would see a further $20 billion in military aid go to Saudi Arabia and other weapons deals to UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, plus a further $13 billion to Egypt.

I can't help thinking back to this flash video cartoon The End of the World....

1 comment:

Scott G said...

I am still of the opinion that a smile can do more to promote peace then 1000 weapons.