May 28, 2011, post by Artur Nowak
Last week China’s top military officer, Gen. Chen Bingde, visited Washington and everything was ‘c’mon people now, smile on your brother’ — or as much as it gets with the head of the People’s Liberation Army. This week, Congress was back to a tough line, and depending on how it all plays out, relations between the U.S. and China could cool right off once again.
On Thursday, the House voted to bar Chinese companies from ever being eligible for U.S. defense contracts, on the “belief” that a Chinese firm wants to try to build the U.S. presidential helicopter. When Secretary Gates was asked about this earlier this year, he said it was the first he’d heard of it; “I’d be curious for the opinion of the Secret Service about that,” he deadpanned.
Read more: www.dodbuzz.com
May 28, 2011, post by Artur Nowak
India is today the world’s largest importer of arms. These include fighter jet planes, missiles and radar systems for strategic partnerships and geo-political power.
India is also investing in security and surveillance to combat foreign threats and resistance from its own people in places like the Kashmir valley, and the North East and tribal regions of Central India. This provides tremendous opportunity for multi-national corporations to sell and invest in India, a country marching ahead as an economic and military power.
Read more: www.counterpunch.org
May 28, 2011, post by Artur Nowak
ABC News’ Huma Khan reports: Defense accounts for the largest chunk of U.S. federal spending. Of all the money that Congress controls each year, nearly a quarter goes towards the Pentagon and defense spending.
As Congress mulls budget cuts, defense spending is coming increasingly under scrutiny and threatens to become another explosive topic that could divide Republicans as the 2012 race heats up.
Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com
