Russia Led Arms Sales to Developing World in ’05

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 — Russia surpassed the United States in 2005 as the leader in weapons deals with the developing world, and its new agreements included selling $700 million in surface-to-air missiles to Iran and eight new aerial refueling tankers to China, according to a new Congressional study.

Those weapons deals were part of the highly competitive global arms bazaar in the developing world that grew to $30.2 billion in 2005, up from $26.4 billion in 2004. It is a market that the United States has regularly dominated.

Russia’s agreements with Iran are not the biggest part of its total sales — India and China are its principal buyers. But the sales to improve Iran’s air-defense system are particularly troubling to the United States because they would complicate the task of Pentagon planners should the president order airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities.
...
France ranked second in arms transfer agreements to developing nations, with $6.3 billion, and the United States was third, with $6.2 billion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/29/world/europe/29weapons.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[bluerum]

1. Once Putin looked into those beady eyes of our squatter in chief

he knew he could whatever the fuck he wanted.

[HereSince1628]

2. In clear violation of the PNAC objektives.

The US should tolerate no one challenging our economic superiority.

All I can say is they'll try to take this out on Venezula.

[tabasco]

3. I guess we know who's # 1 overall??

The US sells more weaponry than any other country in the world and sells more than the next 14 countries combined.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_trade

Maybe if we made better assault rifles we could move in on this "developing nation" segment.

[Theduckno2]

4. Just some more manufacturing jobs that went overseas.

The private manufacturing of armaments; such a dreadful business!

[leesa]

5. Ruh Roh...our last manufacturing stronghold...although they probably aren't

counting all of Dick Cheney's illegal dealings with Iran and other banned countries. Our number 1 spot is probably safe if the illegal trade is added on.

[Nolo_Contendre]

6. Only because Israel is not considered a "developing nation"

Otherwise the US wins that race every year.