Russia VS Georgia - UK is the Winner!

[Mr Ed]

While foreign secretary David Miliband has been busy calling for a ceasefire between Russia and Georgia, Britain has also been busy – selling more weapons to both countries.

According to Foreign Office licences, 2007 was a record year for arms exports to both Georgia and Russia. The UK sold Georgia £5.4m of military exports, including very useful-sounding “military firing sets”. This was an eightfold increase since 2005, when British military exports to Georgia stood only at £250,000. Meanwhile the Georgian army underwent a $63m American “train and equip” programme, designed to build up Georgia’s military so it could fight in Iraq and be ready to join Nato – and, as it turns out, prepare an assault on South Ossetia.

 

In response, Putin’s forces appear to have broken the Georgian army, presumably rendering the arms exports useless. Fortunately Britain has been even-handed in its approach: although Russia needs little help running one of the world’s biggest armies, the Foreign Office is keen to do its bit by granting licences. In 2007 Russia got £55m of exports, including armoured personnel carriers and parts for combat aircraft. These sales have also risen dramatically: in 2004 Britain sold Russia a mere £5m of military kit. The eight-to-tenfold increase of British arms sales to both sides of the Caucuses seems to have precisely presaged the war.

[Buzz]

Well there's a suprise ! Arms sales were up to an all time high at the Farnborough Airshow alledgedley

[Peter]

Thats it, I'm jacking in tree work and going selling guns to third world dictatorships. Much more rewarding!

[Mr Ed]

Thats it, I'm jacking in tree work and going selling guns to third world dictatorships. Much more rewarding!

Gives you that warm feeling of a job well done

[Peter]

And its less morally reprehensible than topping trees!

[Mr Ed]

And its less morally reprehensible than topping trees!

 

And more ethically sound!

[Mike Hill]

And more ethically sound!

 

Splendid! I'm already merging my knowledge of firearms and wood by producing very short AK47 stocks.

 

Makes them more practical for the soldiers under seven years old.