Global Military Spending

With figures like these, does the word "hypocrisy" ever come to mind. We try and stabilize a region like the Middle East by supplying weapons to it's leaders.... hmm... peace through war. How's it working out so far???? Also: the figures are rather stark: --- US is spending half a trillion dollars on weaponry. That is 10times as much as China. And yet we fear China's military expansion. Isn't some of that unfear a little unfounded, or a least premature. More fundamentally: is it possible for Western democracies - avowed peace loving countries - to continue to justify arms exports to the remainder of the world? Rationalizations and justifications abound... but proof is in the pudding.

Arms Report Says Global Weapons Sales Continue to Rise
By VOA News , 11 June 2007

A noted Swedish research institute says global military spending by the world's 100 largest weapons manufacturers rose by 3.5 percent in 2006, to $290 billion.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, in its annual report, says U.S. and western European sales spurred the increase. It also notes that the United States remained the world's top military spender last year, allotting $529 billion for weaponry. Authors attributed a $24 billion increase from 2005 to costly U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Researchers note China's continuing surge in military spending, which reached nearly $50 billion in 2006. China overtook Japan last year to become the fourth largest buyer of military goods.

Russia spent nearly $35 billion on arms last year, and the report links Moscow's increasing buying power to its surging energy wealth.

Research project leader Siemon Wezeman said U.S. and European suppliers continue to supply vast quantities of arms to the Middle East, despite the fact that it is a highly volatile region.

Researchers also question how cost-effective military expenditures are as a way of increasing the security of human lives.