Iraq

Date : 19 January 2003

To : The Editor, The Business

From : Nagindas Khajuria

Subject : IRAQ

Iraq

Sir - Your editorial suggests that the UN resolution clearly puts the onus on Iraq to make "a currently accurate, full and complete declaration of all aspects of its programmes to develop chemical, biological and unclear weapons, ballistic missiles and other delivery systems". Yet we should consider what is also precipitating the US into war and dragging Britain with it.

First, the US has spent an average of around 5% of its GDP on military aircraft, submarines, missiles, rockets and so on for the past 50 years to counter the threat of communism. As the cold war is over now, it wants to prove that such expenditure is warranted over the next 50 years. In 1991, military equipment revenues accounted for a substantial part of US companies turnover: Boeing (20%), General Dynamics (84%), Grumman (89%), Lockheed (50%), Martin Marietta (43%), McDonnell Douglas (48%) and Northrop (10%). A lot of this arsenal was never deployed and was wasted as technology kept changing. Germany and Japan were wiser: they spent 1% and 0% of GDP on defence during the same period.

Second, 55% of world oil reserves are concentrated in Saudi Arabia (25%), Iran (10%), Iraq (10%) and the Gulf states (!)%). US oil companies are already losing influence there due to emerging non-US oil companies.

Third, homo sapiens likes the sound of warring drums. Maybe there is no enemy, no threat - we just like to fight.