Apparently the answer is "screw 'em" according to recent report on global military spending. Despite being a so-called christian administration, the Bush team is much more interested in protective trade policies that limit opportunity for the poor nations and spending-'til-they-drop with the military industrial complex. It's not a pretty picture but then again, those peace loving Swedes are probably just trying to hurt America. Oxfam clearly also hates America because they too dare to question Bush policies.
In 2004 - the sixth successive year in which arms spending increased - the global total spent on munitions topped $1 trillion for the first time since the height of the Cold War. In contrast, the amount spent on aid over the same period was $78.6bn.
"When you look at the amount being spent on arms compared to ... aid, it shows how little is being spent on aid," said Brendan Cox, a spokesman for Oxfam. "We are pushing to increase aid by $50bn annually, but the US spends $450bn on arms. This shows that, when there is a political will to find funding, the resources can be delivered. We need a war on poverty."
The group's report also refers to an investigation by the Congressional Research Service which shows that in 2003 just five members of the G8 - the US, Britain, France, Germany and Russia - were responsible for 89 per cent of arms sales to developing countries.
