Here is an interesting letter to the editor of the times of london. (Please note europe and the rest of the world use the term "thousands of millions" instead of billions so 31,800 million is actually 31.8 billion.)
from..
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-610145,00.html
Letters to the Editor
March 14, 2003
Supplies of arms and oil revenues
From Professor Andrew J. Hamilton
Sir, I have often heard the claim that “we armed Saddamâ€. Thankfully A. H. Cordesman, in his 1998 report on the Iraqi military for the Center for Strategic & International Studies, has enlightened me.
In the key period between 1973-91 the US exported a mere $5 million of weapons to Iraq; more reprehensibly the UK sold $330 million-worth of arms. Of much greater interest are the arms export totals to Iraq of the four countries most against military action: Germany with $995 million, China $5,500 million, France $9,240 million, and the Russians a massive $31,800 million. So the claim that we armed Saddam has to be treated with a degree of care, particularly by those who would award the moral high ground in this debate to the leaders of nations such as Germany, France and Russia.
I remain your obedient servant,
ANDREW HAMILTON,
Dermatology Laboratory,
Thomas Guy House, Guy’s Hospital,
St Thomas’ Street, SE1 9RT.
March 10.
from..
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-610145,00.html
Letters to the Editor
March 14, 2003
Supplies of arms and oil revenues
From Professor Andrew J. Hamilton
Sir, I have often heard the claim that “we armed Saddamâ€. Thankfully A. H. Cordesman, in his 1998 report on the Iraqi military for the Center for Strategic & International Studies, has enlightened me.
In the key period between 1973-91 the US exported a mere $5 million of weapons to Iraq; more reprehensibly the UK sold $330 million-worth of arms. Of much greater interest are the arms export totals to Iraq of the four countries most against military action: Germany with $995 million, China $5,500 million, France $9,240 million, and the Russians a massive $31,800 million. So the claim that we armed Saddam has to be treated with a degree of care, particularly by those who would award the moral high ground in this debate to the leaders of nations such as Germany, France and Russia.
I remain your obedient servant,
ANDREW HAMILTON,
Dermatology Laboratory,
Thomas Guy House, Guy’s Hospital,
St Thomas’ Street, SE1 9RT.
March 10.
