As reported by state.gov, America exported $175 billion in armaments in 2020, of which, as reported by bbc.com, “The US has increased its global share of arms exports to 37%.” Since, America, consistently runs a national trade deficit, it is somewhat comforting to know that at least in arms sales, it more than holds its own. Then again, it could be strongly argued, that armaments are probably not the type of sales, that America needs or should be leading the category of; for arm sales, in reality, are destructive of both infrastructure as well as of human life, in which there most definitively is a strong correlation between arm purchases, civil unrest, and wars. Further to the point, monies spent on armaments, are by definition, money that could have been spent on education, infrastructure, housing, food, and the like. In fact, many oppressive countries like to purchase armaments of all types, because those that have arms, often are able to use such against their own people, if necessary, in order to maintain their power.
On the other hand, the exportation of food, healthcare, medicine, general machinery, vehicles, and the like, commonly serve the good purpose of helping in the aid of the importing country and its people. Additionally, since America desires so strongly to represent itself as a vibrant democracy, of freedom and opportunity, as well as fairness and justice, one would have a tendency to believe that America would like to represent itself on the world stage as that which believes that the power of good deeds and right actions, should take precedence over the power of violence and conquest; but based upon its own arms exports, this doesn’t seem to be the actual case.
Those that wonder why there is so much warring, civil unrest, and overall violence in this world, should recognize that much of today’s modern weaponry arsenal, have made it abundantly easier for that party which controls such, to use that weaponry in a way that can be extremely destructive and chillingly effective, against those that would stand in their way, whether that be within one’s borders or across one’s borders. Quite unfortunately, the killing machines of today, don’t necessarily need a lot of manpower, but rather they just need to be directed to where they are perceived to be best deployed, and the results thereof are often devastatingly effective.
Those that would applaud the killing of the enemy, as defined by that who did the killing, or the destruction of infrastructure, as reasoned by the destroyer of such; are living in a construct which believes that might is right, or if not, they don’t really care.To believe, that those that receive armaments are going to somehow always be responsible with them, is a non-starter for the United States, because no matter what words or reasoning is so used, the reality is that America cares for nothing other than the sales so made, and the money so received.That is, as long as profits are satisfactory, and the trade is legal, all is to the good; however, for those that believe that the arc of the universe bends towards justice, there will surely be a heavy price to pay.