Austerity-bludgeoned Greece has a society teetering on collapse. It is a country headed by a government gone mad.
Even as, "doctors in Athens hospitals are handling only emergencies, bus drivers
are on strike, schools are still short of textbooks and thousands of
state employees are demonstrating against their dismissal," Greek leaders talk openly about inking more than ten billion Euros in contracts for warplanes, ships, and other weaponry if the next 80-billion Euros in bailout monies arrives.
The new austerity programme that Greece's government has announced
leaves hardly a Greek unscathed. Unless, that is, he works for the
military or for the armaments industry.
In 2010 Greece’s budget for the military was almost seven billion
euros. That is about three percent of its economic output, a figure
surpassed among NATO countries only by the United States. The Ministry
of Defence did, however, cut its arms procurement in 2011 by €500
million. But all this will mean, believes an arms trade expert, is that
future needs will be all the higher.
Mound, off the topic I understand B.C coastal areas had a major earthquake. I hope your area is ok.
ReplyDeleteIn the Maritimes we are waiting for Sandy. It is hoped that it will lose its velocity by the time it reaches Maritimes. It looks that frequency of quakes and storms is on the rise.
Hi, LD. Everything's fine here. Some neighbours say they heard it but I learned about the quake well afterward online.
ReplyDeleteYou, however, may be the one in harm's way. Bloomberg just ordered 375,000 people out of NYC before Hurricane Sandy hits. Hope you're ready for the storm.
Mound, thanks for asking. I think we'll be okay in the Maritimes. There is no emergency declared as such. We're going to get a lot of rain Monday and Tuesday, that's all. However, I do wish good luck to Ontarians and people who live close to the shore areas here in the Maritimes.
ReplyDelete