Innocent, perhaps naïve notion

[dcentity2000]

A politician over here has suggested that the crisis in the Middle East could be affected by our influencing firearms sales to bothersome countries. The USA would be the main player here, having more influence than any other nation on this planet by a long way.

Pro: placid way of influencing the outcomes of conflicts.
Con: would probably stimulant hostile sales of weaponry.

What do we think?



Rich::

 

[Charade]

I don't quite understand. Please "enlighten" me.

 

[dcentity2000]

Basically, stop selling countries in the region guns and bombs and apply pressure on those who try to continue to do so. Less available guns --> less conflicts embarked upon.



Rich::

 

[goofydad621]

I do not think it will work, if there is a bigger black market business than drugs it is arms.
Great thought but I believe they would just find a more underground solution.

My 2 cents

 

[dcentity2000]

I do not think it will work, if there is a bigger black market business than drugs it is arms.
Great thought but I believe they would just find a more underground solution.

My 2 cents

That's exactly what I thought - it would encourage the dodgy channels, wouldn't it?

Perhaps if we manipulated the existing flow? For example, cut the price of weapons to "good guy" country x and increasing the price of weapons to "bad guy" country y?



Rich::

 

[Charade]

Basically, stop selling countries in the region guns and bombs and apply pressure on those who try to continue to do so. Less available guns --> less conflicts embarked upon.



Rich::

Ok. Understand now but I don't see how the US could be the biggest "player". Sure, we sell arms to other countries but not just any. There are some that will sell to the highest bidder. I'm sure it's possible that some US made arms (you said guns) but I highly doubt they are the guns of choice around the world by those that want to do bad things with them.

 

[JimB.]

Wouldn't do a freakin' bit of good.

Which "country" admits to selling arms to hezbollah? None. BTW, they are using weapons of Russian origin.

If "legitimate" arms sales were halted, the only ones without weapons wold the Isrealis. All of the local terrorist groups are financed and supplied by Syria & Iran.

Not the US.

 

[ChrisFL]

yeah, Im guessing a LOT of weapons over there are Russian in origin...after the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was probably MANY arms transactions

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Wouldn't work. We tried something over here back in the 1920's, it was called prohibition...it didn't work. If they want it...they'll get it.