International arms trade is the 800 lb. gorilla in the room at the G8

The Brits will be proposing a plan for the G8 to address the considerable problem of arms trade which until now, has been sidestepped by the G8 countries. In this business, the US is #1 by a mile, leading the world with $15.18 Billion in arms trade though combined, the G8 members make up 84% of the global trade. Any serious comprehensive aid plan for undeveloped countries has to include the arms trade or else it is otherwise almost meaningless.

With a delicate economy in the US and even worse in France, Germany and Russia, I just don't see these countries giving up billions in sales. Add to that the the close ties in all countries between government and the arms industry, I'm even less confident in change, unfortunately.