Interesting take on US Arms Sales to the Middle East.

via CFIP

The surge in arms sales under Obama is rooted in two factors, one political and one economic. The political aspect of the Obama approach mirrors the path pursued by President Richard Nixon in response to the unpopularity of the Vietnam War. In 1969, Nixon announced that henceforth the United States would supply generous quantities of military assistance to allied regimes, in an effort to “avoid another war like Vietnam anywhere in the world.” And in a 1967 article in Foreign Affairs, Nixon referenced the political roots of his emerging policy, noting that Vietnam had sown “bitter dissension” domestically, producing a “deep reluctance to become involved once again in a similar intervention on a similar basis.”

And then this...

Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewsonsuggested that continued “volatility” in the Middle East and Asia make them “growth areas” for the firm.And a few years ago, Boeing launched an effort to get export sales in its defense division up to 25 to 30 percent, from just 7 percent in 2005.

First I'll be straight with you...the Center For International Policy is one of those old skool liberal, peacenik think tanks....

But that doesn't mean they can't be right on certain topic!

What I found extremely compelling is the link between the policy approaches adopted by Nixon in comparison to what Obama is doing.  I checked and the analysis seems to be spot on.  What surprised me is the economic link they pointed out.  Military Industrial Complex indeed.  I'm sure someone can point to other sectors that experienced sales increases that rival the examples in the article but I can't think of one right now.

General Smedley Butler!  Sir, you are proving to be a prophet!  I'm gonna have to re-read your book!