Terrorism has its roots in US foreign policy

Left: Consequences of "accidental" bombing that occurs when bombing rules aren't followed.

The US government admits that its “bombing rules” weren’t followed when it accidentally killed 140 or so Afghan civilians last month. No matter, surely a $100 each to the families of the murdered will quiet them down. The US has been very generous when it bombs the wrong people.

These pesky wars are costing US taxpayers a pretty penny; you can’t expect to have decent health care, public transportation and education if you want to introduce freedom throughout the world-----freedom isn’t free someone said. Iraq and Afghanistan has cost taxpayers $1 trillion so far.

One small section of Americans are doing well from it though. Global military spending rose 4% in 2008 to a record $1,464bn - up 45% since 1999, setting a new record. European and US companies are the world’s dominant arms dealers having about 95% of the industry between them but the US is still the biggest manufacturer of weapons accounting for 58% of the total global spending increase during the past 10 years.

The US spends more on arms than the rest of the world combined. Below is the top 10 military spenders according to the report published by AP. It is interesting that Israel is not in that list. I am sure Israel’s military spending relative to its economy must be one of the world’s highest.

The top 10 military spenders

USA $607bn
China $84.9bn
France $65.74bn
UK $65.35bn
Russia $58.6bn
Germany $46.87bn
Japan $46.38bn
Italy $40.69bn
Saudi Arabia $38.2bn
India $30.0bn

Domestically, the US military is opening more military public schools as the government is savaging funding for the public school system. Congress passed a bill last year that will increase the military presence in the schools. De Kalb county which includes much of Atlanta, would receive some $2 million in total for its public military school. Chicago has six such schools.

One parent, a Vietnam veteran, is not pleased with having these schools going after children. Mike Hearington, a Vietnam War says the schools are breeding grounds for the military.

"To pursue children like they are is criminal in my mind," He says. *

*http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2009/06/04/military_backed_public_schools_on_the_rise_in_us/


And we’re supposed to be worried about Iran.