Hi,

http://www.fpc.state.gov/documents/o...tion/35975.pdf

Source:BASIC

Key Points

* The United States, the United Kingdom and Russia dominated the global arms market in 2003 according to an annual study released recently by the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS).

* In 2003, the value of all conventional arms transfer agreements globally was more than $25.6 billion - the third straight year that the value of worldwide arms deals declined (down from $41 billion in 2000). The value of deliveries also declined to $28.7 billion in 2003, a decrease of about 31 percent from 2002.

* The United States ($13.7 billion) and the United Kingdom ($4.7 billion) accounted for almost two-thirds of the value of global arms delivered in 2003.

* Between 1996 and 2003, the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council were also the top five suppliers of conventional weapons (by value of agreements) to developing countries. The United States, Russia, France, China and the United Kingdom were responsible for a total of $118.1 billion worth of arms transfer agreements to developing countries from 1996 to 2003.

* Taken together, the United States and the United Kingdom were responsible for 61 percent of the value of all arms deliveries made to developing countries in 2003.

* In the post Cold War arms industry, so often talked about as a "buyer's market," all the indications point to an increasingly favorable environment for recipients, undermining the utility of arms transfers as a tool of political influence.

Peace
-=SF_13=-

What's the point of this post, Swordfish?
Aside from the points cited in your quote, which I confirmed by reading the cited doc on the website posted, what is your point here?

Hi,

Umm the US Department of State's Annual report was released So maybe Someone would be Interested in reading it ..........




Peace
-=SF_31=-

Its interesting to read, i hadnt realised the arms market was shrinking so much, also that the UAE and egypt were so active in getting weapons.

There will always be a market for arms either from countries or groups of fighters.

and there are always arm contractors because this arm trading is just so profitable.