https://twitter.com/mic/status/754087794058887168
On Fri, Jul 15, 2016 at 6:38 PM, plainolamerican <[email protected]> wrote: > One has to wonder what the Russian involvement is in this: > ---- > Saudi Arabia was the top recipient of American-made arms from 2011-2015, > followed closely by the United Arab Emirates, according to research > compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), > which has been analyzing international arms transfers since 1968. > The rest of the top 10 included Turkey, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, > India, Singapore, Iraq, and Egypt. > Experts believe the Middle East will remain a top destination for weapons > for some time -- it currently accounts for about 40% of U.S. arms exports > -- especially given the rise of ISIS > <http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/08/world/isis-fast-facts/index.html>. > "The dynamic of the [falling] oil prices has been overwhelmed by the deep > insecurity these countries are currently feeling and the insecure future > they feel they face," Andrew Hunter of the Center for Strategic and > International Studies told CNN. > Hunter, the director of the defense-industrial initiatives group, said > that the countries in the region were "prioritizing defense" over other > spending. > The American exports include everything from small arms to fighter jet > aircraft and tanks, to Patriot Missile batteries. > Several Asian countries are also represented high up on the arms sales > list, reflecting ongoingtensions with North Korea over its nuclear and > missile > <http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/17/asia/north-korea-missile-launch/index.html> > programs > and China's stepped up military activity in the South China Sea. > The tightening of U.S.-Vietnam relations comes as Vietnam has protested > China's actions in its nearby waters, including an incident where China > stationed an oil rig in disputed waters off of Vietnam's coast in 2014 > <http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/19/world/asia/china-vietnam-islands-oil-rig-explainer/index.html>, > an event that sparked anti-China riots in Vietnam. > The day after the US. announced it would lift its arms embargo against > Vietnam, Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday that Vietnam needs the > military equipment it will get in order to defend itself. > Will U.S. lifting Vietnam arms ban raise South China Sea tensions? > <http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/23/politics/vietnam-arms-ban-south-china-sea/index.html> > While most of the top importers use their own money to buy arms from the > U.S., the U.S. also provides some countries with grants and loans -- > separate from the arms sales -- to purchase defense equipment from American > manufacturers, as part of a program called Foreign Military Financing. > The State Department's 2017 budget request includes approximately $5.7 > billion for Foreign Military Financing. > In the proposed budget, the top five recipients of American foreign > military financing will beIsrael ($3.1 billion), Egypt ($1.3 billion) > <http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/11/politics/us-foreign-aid-report/index.html>, > Jordan ($350 million), Pakistan ($265 million), and Iraq ($150 million). > While Israel is supposed to spend this money on U.S. arms, some of that > country's most expensive purchases, like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, > have yet to be delivered and are therefore not reflected in SIPRI's > statistics. > While the Middle East tops the list, funding for African armies in 2017 > will more than double from last year, likely a consequence of increased > terrorist activity > <http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/10/politics/africa-terror-isis-boko-haram/index.html> > in > places like Mali, Somalia, and Nigeria. > Hunter said that U.S. defense companies were explicit in their desire to > boost international exports in the wake of recent defense budget cuts. > At a media day event in March, the CEO of U.S. defense giant Lockheed > Martin, Marillyn Hewson, said, "One area where we expect the majority of > our growth potential to come from in the years ahead is our international > customers." > Opinion: 'Sham democracy' is fueling Africa's terrorism > <http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/10/opinions/africa-terrorism-democracy/index.html> > Other major arms exporters after the U.S. include Russia, China, France, > and Germany. > While Hunter said Russia will always have a market for its "cheaper" arms > exports to countries that are accustomed to Soviet-era weaponry, he sees > China as being increasingly active in the international market. > "You are seeing more and more Chinese at arms shows trying to compete > with the U.S. > <http://money.cnn.com/2016/02/22/news/china-arms-exports-rising/index.html>," > he said. > China has upped its share of global arms exports by over 60% compared to > the 2006-2010 period, according to SIPRI. > One area where China has been particularly active is drone technology, with > reports > of China exporting drones > <http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/01/opinions/china-drone-sales-kreps/> to > Nigeria, Iraq, and Pakistan. > He added that China was facing challenges to growing its market share due > to increased tensions over competing claims in the South China Sea, as many > of the countries in the region, like Vietnam, are also amongst the > fastest-growing markets for arms exports. > > On Friday, July 15, 2016 at 4:21:43 PM UTC-5, KeithInTampa wrote: >> >> Wow......One has to wonder what the Russian involvement is in this: >> >> >> http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160715/1043073272/turkish-pm-military-coup-attempt.html >> >> 23:07 15.07.2016(updated 00:10 16.07.2016) Get short URL >> 8 >> <http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160715/1043073272/turkish-pm-military-coup-attempt.html#comments> >> 18542519 >> The Turkish military claims it has taken over the government and seized >> all power in the country. >> >> In a statement read on television, Turkish General Staff announced that >> "Turkish Armed Forces took full control of power." Earlier in the day, >> military vehicles, soldiers, and security forces were deployed on the >> streets of Istanbul and the capital of Ankara. Military jets and >> helicopters were seen flying over both major cities. Gunfire has been >> reported in the capital of Ankara. Bridges leading over the Bosphorus >> out of Istanbul have also been closed. A blast has been heard in Ankara. >> >> A curfew has been put in effect across the country. >> >> The Turkish military is currently led by General Hulusi Akar, however >> Turkish Anadolu news agency reports that he has been taken hostage by the >> military. >> [image: Turkish Chief of the General Staff Hulusi Akar] >> © WIKIPEDIA/ >> Turkish Chief of the General Staff Hulusi Akar >> >> According to Justice Minister Bozdag, the government prosecutor's office >> in Ankara and Istanbul has opened an investigation into the actions of the >> rebels. >> >> "I consider it necessary to reassure our citizens that the government has >> taken and continues to undertake all necessary steps," he said. >> >> Prime Minister Binali Yildirim went on national television to stress that >> some elements in the military attempted to overthrow the government, but >> "the government elected by the people remains in charge.This government >> will only go when the people say so." >> >> "Some people illegally undertook an illegal action outside of the chain >> of command," Prime Minister Yildirim added. >> >> It is unclear who is currently controlling the situation in the country. >> President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is reportedly on holiday in the Turkish city >> of Bodrum. Erdogan is reportedly en route to the international airport >> in Istanbul. His residence in Istanbul is under heavy guard, with the >> street blocked off on both sides. >> >> "This is a mutiny attempt. We will not let this attempt win. We will >> uphold democracy," he said on Turkish NTV. >> >> In a statement, the Turkish military claims that it has taken over and >> that all international relations will be maintained. The government denies >> these claims. >> >> A number of ambulances are en route to the Army General Headquarters >> building in Ankara. >> >> Tanks have been spotted at Ataturk airport in Istanbul. All flights >> leaving the airport have been cancelled. A number of flights bound >> for Turkey have been diverted. >> >> The military has reportedly stormed local television stations. 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