Comments on: The Purple Elephant in the Corner: Nuclear Weapons and Arms Sales http://calpolymbatrip.com/2009/china/the-purple-elephant-in-the-corner-nuclear-weapons-and-arms-sales/ The MBA Graduate Program at Cal Poly Tue, 22 May 2012 00:59:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Yuxiang Gao http://calpolymbatrip.com/2009/china/the-purple-elephant-in-the-corner-nuclear-weapons-and-arms-sales/#comment-18015 Yuxiang Gao Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:53:58 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=1660#comment-18015 The issue of nuclear proliferation is a growing concern as more countries are starting to edge forward in economic strength. Nuclear capabilities is a common language that commands legitimacy and forces others to take notice. As long as there is disparity in power, there will be a push to meet the “nuclear bench mark.” I do not think it is a wise idea for the US to share many military secrets or armaments with countries like India. Nuclear weapon has huge risk for all human-being, but on the other side, it keeps the balance of India and Pakistan. Without it, Pakistan may disappear several years ago. I am not saying it is good thing that Pakistan has nuclear weapons, instead, I totally support nuclear limitations The issue of nuclear proliferation is a growing concern as more countries are starting to edge forward in economic strength. Nuclear capabilities is a common language that commands legitimacy and forces others to take notice. As long as there is disparity in power, there will be a push to meet the “nuclear bench mark.”
I do not think it is a wise idea for the US to share many military secrets or armaments with countries like India.
Nuclear weapon has huge risk for all human-being, but on the other side, it keeps the balance of India and Pakistan. Without it, Pakistan may disappear several years ago.
I am not saying it is good thing that Pakistan has nuclear weapons, instead, I totally support nuclear limitations

]]> By: Vitus Holzner http://calpolymbatrip.com/2009/china/the-purple-elephant-in-the-corner-nuclear-weapons-and-arms-sales/#comment-17928 Vitus Holzner Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:25:31 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=1660#comment-17928 Yeah, there is no business like war! I am not someone who sees black helicopters all day but I think it’s important to understand that the Military-industrial complex President Eisenhower mentioned in his Farewell Address to the Nation is very real and carries a huge political weight in this country. As the referenced article outlines, India accounts for about one third of Russia's total arms exports, with aircraft making up the bulk of sales. I would be surprised if the US wouldn’t try to grab a piece of that pie. Yeah, there is no business like war! I am not someone who sees black helicopters all day but I think it’s important to understand that the Military-industrial complex President Eisenhower mentioned in his Farewell Address to the Nation is very real and carries a huge political weight in this country.
As the referenced article outlines, India accounts for about one third of Russia’s total arms exports, with aircraft making up the bulk of sales. I would be surprised if the US wouldn’t try to grab a piece of that pie.

]]> By: Jay Ponto http://calpolymbatrip.com/2009/china/the-purple-elephant-in-the-corner-nuclear-weapons-and-arms-sales/#comment-17529 Jay Ponto Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:54:46 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=1660#comment-17529 Yes, the US should be concerned about our technologies falling into the hands of some other countries. At this time, I do not think it is a wise idea for the US to share many military secrets or armaments with countries like India who were previously aligned with the Soviet Union in terms of military armament. The US clearly spends more money annually on military expenditures than any other country, which provides a large strategic advantage to either our forces, or the forces of any country we choose to share our technology or equipment with. With our military spread throughout the world and our involvement in military spending/deals with Taiwan and Pakistan, allowing extensive sales to another major power in the region (India) might serve to harm US relations with China. It is imperative that the US government be very careful regarding which countries are allowed to receive certain technologies. While forming business deals can be very profitable with countries like India, defense company relations with foreign governments must be carefully considered before allowing such deals to take place. Yes, the US should be concerned about our technologies falling into the hands of some other countries.

At this time, I do not think it is a wise idea for the US to share many military secrets or armaments with countries like India who were previously aligned with the Soviet Union in terms of military armament. The US clearly spends more money annually on military expenditures than any other country, which provides a large strategic advantage to either our forces, or the forces of any country we choose to share our technology or equipment with.

With our military spread throughout the world and our involvement in military spending/deals with Taiwan and Pakistan, allowing extensive sales to another major power in the region (India) might serve to harm US relations with China.

It is imperative that the US government be very careful regarding which countries are allowed to receive certain technologies. While forming business deals can be very profitable with countries like India, defense company relations with foreign governments must be carefully considered before allowing such deals to take place.

]]> By: Matthew Neal http://calpolymbatrip.com/2009/china/the-purple-elephant-in-the-corner-nuclear-weapons-and-arms-sales/#comment-10237 Matthew Neal Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:07:45 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=1660#comment-10237 As an aerospace engineering student planning to go into the aerospace and defense field this subject is of particular interest to me. I have been amazed at the strides China has been able to make in the aerospace and defense sectors. I know a lot of the nuclear proliferation laws remain from the cold war era. Many of the ITAR policies are lingering reminders that America and the world is still is not as comfortable with each other as they may seem on the surface. The JSF is a perfect example of this. Even with US allies, the project has been basically brought to its knees due to the red tape created by the different countries and ITAR regulations. This joint venture of allies has been put on hold because even today there is way too much red tape left from the red scare of the Soviet Union, and our fear of the weapons ending up in the wrong hands. China as expected comes under strict scrutiny from the US in any flexing they try and do as a country on the national defense stage. Although we are economically friends and comrades, China is far from an ally in the defense program and creation of new products and machines for defense. One reason for this is the "mysterious" rapid advance of Chinese rocket technology right after an American rocket happened to have a failed launch on Chinese soil. After this incident the US basically cut all ties to China and forbid any American defense contractor to use Chinese launch pads. I believe that with any advanced technologies the trade regulations will be strict and most of the information will be kept proprietary. The one thing that you pointed out, that I agree with, is that we have no regulation over what happens to our technology after we give it to another country. I do not see the American government giving weapons directly to our enemies. There is however already a twisted web of alliances that makes it possible for our products to come back to us. It is very possible, and even probable, that the bullets and missiles being shot at Americans can be traced back to American factories and companies. As an aerospace engineering student planning to go into the aerospace and defense field this subject is of particular interest to me. I have been amazed at the strides China has been able to make in the aerospace and defense sectors. I know a lot of the nuclear proliferation laws remain from the cold war era. Many of the ITAR policies are lingering reminders that America and the world is still is not as comfortable with each other as they may seem on the surface.

The JSF is a perfect example of this. Even with US allies, the project has been basically brought to its knees due to the red tape created by the different countries and ITAR regulations. This joint venture of allies has been put on hold because even today there is way too much red tape left from the red scare of the Soviet Union, and our fear of the weapons ending up in the wrong hands. China as expected comes under strict scrutiny from the US in any flexing they try and do as a country on the national defense stage. Although we are economically friends and comrades, China is far from an ally in the defense program and creation of new products and machines for defense. One reason for this is the “mysterious” rapid advance of Chinese rocket technology right after an American rocket happened to have a failed launch on Chinese soil. After this incident the US basically cut all ties to China and forbid any American defense contractor to use Chinese launch pads.

I believe that with any advanced technologies the trade regulations will be strict and most of the information will be kept proprietary. The one thing that you pointed out, that I agree with, is that we have no regulation over what happens to our technology after we give it to another country. I do not see the American government giving weapons directly to our enemies. There is however already a twisted web of alliances that makes it possible for our products to come back to us. It is very possible, and even probable, that the bullets and missiles being shot at Americans can be traced back to American factories and companies.

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