Arms trade incites war, Pope suggests
September 09, 2013
Pope Francis has questioned how much the international trade in arms contributes to the frequency of war.
The Holy Father raised that question at his Sunday Angelus audience on September 9, at which he repeated his appeal for prayer for peace in Syria (see today’s separate CWN news headline). Referring to armed conflicts around the world, the Pope said:
There are so many of them! And the doubt always remains: this war over there, this other war over there-– because there are wars everywhere-– is it really a war over problems, or is it a commercial war, to sell these arms on the black market?
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Sep. 09, 2013 3:08 PM ET USA
And, of course, the biggest arms trader nation in the world is...the US, and by a country mile. According to the Congressional Research Service, in 2011 the US sold $66.3 billion in weapons, 78% of the world market; Russia was 2nd at six percent! And it's been this way for many, many years. In 2011 developing countries made 84% of the purchases. The US sold them 79% of the total, or $56.3 billion. It's clear to whom Pope Francis speaks. And according to Obama we stand for peace? Is he joking?
