Thursday, June 10, 2010

Arms Race Update - A World Wedded to War

An interesting item in The Christian Science Monitor that reveals how the worldwide military/industrial,warfighting complex is thriving today despite the global economic troubles. The link takes you to a CSM review of the top 10 militarized countries ranked according to defence expenditures.

There are a few surprises. Italy, for example, comes in at number 10. Italy? I can see Britain, France and Germany, sure, but Italy? The article offers up a few other juicy bits. Did you know that America's current military expenditures come out at roughly $2,000 per year for every American man, woman and child? That's an $8,000 a year tax burden for the average family of four. China comes in second place but with total expenditures just one-sixth of America's. France edges out Britain for third place spending $63-billion to the UK's $58-billion.

4 comments:

Comrade Okie said...

As part of their $660 billion in military expenditures, the US has developed the prototype weapon on the Christmas wish list of every childlike, aspiring fascists control freak dictator the world over.

A Star Wars like Lazer weapon mounted on an aircraft that destroys ICBM's, Cruise Missles, Scuds and various other once upon a time dream machines for the sick and demented, while still in flight.

The contest for the biggest and bestest stick continues.

Whilst all of this goes on, here at home, the great braintrust fusses and squawks about long guns and hasn't the sense to see it hurts them more than it helps.

Especially when Iggs flips from the right position and flops to the wrong one.

As part of their $660 billion in military expenditures, the US has developed the prototype weapon on the Christmas wish list of every childlike, aspiring fascists control freak dictator the world over.

A Star Wars like Lazer weapon mounted on an aircraft that destroys ICBM's, Cruise Missles, Scuds and various other once upon a time dream machines for the sick and demented, while still in flight.

The contest for the biggest and bestest stick continues.

Whilst all of this goes on, here at home, the great braintrust fusses and squawks about long guns and hasn't the sense to see it hurts them more than it helps.

Especially when you flip from the right position to flopping onto the wrong one.

Spare the Whip, set my People Free!

Okie said...

Oh, delete that would you mound? My darned old eyes. I'll repost later.

The Mound of Sound said...

Why delete it? It seems fine to me.

The airborne laser system is interesting but these things never seem to work as well in the real world as they do in controlled tests. I sure wouldn't want to bet the farm on it.

Okie said...

I mistakenly duplicated most of the post is all. Anyway, no one pays me for my stuff so, meh..

Here is one link on the laser which was mounted on a modified 747;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1250734/U-S-Star-Wars-laser-plane-shoots-ballistic-missile.html

There are a number of articles on it. There is mention of scepticism, as well but apparently it worked as claimed.

The concept uses laser technology in different stages, seeking, tracking, targeting then according to the first article I read some time ago, it heats internal components in the rockets or missile until the thing goes poof. A matter of a few seconds apparently. One article also mentions it could be used to destroy mortar shells as well.

May the Force be with you.