When the book Spoils of War – The Human Cost of America’s Arms Trade by John Tirman, The Free Press, NY, 1997 was picked up my thinking was how diversification of buyers leads arms manufacturers to ethical decisions. Instead while there is some of the that in the book, the focus of the book is American Policy in the Middle East with a focus on Iran and Turkey and the manufacturing towns in the US where the arms are made. The arms trade were the biggest employers in Connecticut, the Fort Worth area of Texas and LA. The state of Connecticut at one time had over 200 arms company forming the bedrock of the manufacturing industry and employing thousands of workers. At the time of the revolutionary war – Colt, Winchester, Remington Arms, Smith & Weston and Sharps were based there. Later GE engines and the Sikorsky helicopters were based in Connecticut. The GE Engines powered many jet engines as well as helicopters which changed the manner in which warfare was and is conducted. The book focuses on Helicopters and pays homage to Sikorsky’s strengths as an engineer were the necessary attributes of persistence, discipline, and hard work. Plus he had a remarkable mysterious faculty or intuitive insight to leap forward the technology needed. If you know the Blackhawk Helicopter that is one of his inventions.

People generally know about the left wing policy think tanks, there are similar right wing think tanks. When the right wing think tanks offer ideas the military suppliers like, money flows into them. All American Presidents must decided what he wants in foreign policy buffered by the largest and most advanced military in the world. Do you build up the military with the idea the lesser countries will not attack a strong military country? do you cut back the military and have the money go into something else or do a tax cut? Time will tell for no one is really positive of the best answer.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, all profitable companies are drawn into policy think tanks – the senior management’s job is to consider 5 years and beyond and anything the government can do to help your business, is a good thing for your business. By helping the business there will be spin offs into the community and larger boundary defined governments. Jobs are important because in some communities the industries that are there, were there for a reason and if you live there you support your local industries. If a company manufacturers arms, and government policies change every few years so who you sold to was your friend and now is your enemy, it is your fault the arms are used for things that are considered unacceptable in your country? in the Middle East who the friends and enemies changed every 10 years, but to grow the business sales are needed beyond the domestic borders.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions