So Who Arms These Terrorists Anyway???

The United States was once again the runaway leader in worldwide arms sales in 2002. Of the $13.3 billion plus in arms sales, $8.6 billion was to developing nations. Russia was second in sales to the developing world last year, with a relatively modest $5 billion, followed by France with a meagre $1 billion.

Who armed Saddam? USA.

Who armed and trained Osama Bin Laden? USA.

As the Guardian reports, the US administration's defence authorisation bill for fiscal year 2004 totals $401.3 billion, plus an additional $150 billion for one-off appropriations for US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It includes provision for the controversial Star Wars program, plus "mini-nukes" which will make nuclear warfare "both more doable and more likely".

US defence expenditure under Mr Bush is higher, in relative terms, than equivalent, average American spending during the Cold War. Michael Moore's "Bowling For Columbine" documentary explored the madness of US citizen's obsession with handguns. This is the same madness on a much, much larger scale.

US Weaponry, not Terrorism, is the single greatest threat to the future of our planet.