Another method of using taxpayer monies to fund the arms trade is through U.S. government support for the defense industry. The government pays for flying military aircraft to international trade shows that is then used to promote private U.S. companies such as Lockheed Martin and McDonnell Douglas. Under this law, some 37 countries are eligible to receive loans to buy American-made weapons. The very reason countries are eligible for the program is because the governments do not have the cash to buy the arms. It is a very real possibility that some of the loans will not be repaid.
American taxpayers underwrite research and development costs of weapons systems for U.S. forces.
But in 1992 the Bush administration ended the practice of collecting recoupment fees onDirect Commercial Sales. End U.S. government support for private companies at international weapons trade shows. Reduce the levels of foreign military grant and loan aid. Reduce the size of the worldwide arms trade bureaucracy. Take a leadership role among suppliers to promote reduced arms sales to developing countries.