Made in Germany. By German pacifists.
For the International Defense Exhibition & Conference (Idex) in Abu Dhabi. For all of us, I mean.
Die deutschen Konzerne betreiben einen großen Aufwand, um sich in Abu Dhabi zu präsentieren. Denn wer auf der Arabischen Halbinsel Rüstungsgüter erfolgreich verkaufen will, muss seine Produkte auf der Idex zeigen.
Dr. Evil: [about his new “laser“] You see, I’ve turned the moon into what I like to call a “Death Star”. [Scott snickers]
German defense firm Rheinmetall Defense used a new high-energy laser weapons system to shoot fast-moving drones at a distance. The system, which uses two laser weapons, was also used to cut through a steel girder a kilometer away.
All I can say is thank goodness this technology is in German hands. That way it will only be used for peaceful purposes. You know, like making money, and stuff like that.
ONE MILLION DOLLARS!
Since when has any of this been a secret?
That Germany is the world’s third largest weapons exporter, I mean (preferably to the Middle East these days, by the way). So what’s the problem here? Germany is simultaneously the world’s number one pacifist nation too, you know.
But to make matters even, uh, better, some here are unabashedly calling this enlightened policy “the Merkel Doctrine” now: It’s better to maintain peace by selling weapons, rather than have to fight for it. They have to be German weapons, of course. But still. You know, help those who help themselves while you’re helping yourself at the same time?
Wait a minute. Hasn’t that always been the doctrine here?
Waffen verkaufen, statt selber zu kämpfen.
Except criminals, of course (but they won’t have to get theirs registered).
Germany is introducing a national firearms registry that will be operational next year, implementing a European Union directive two years ahead of its due date.
The register will pool nearly 550 local-level databases of gun owners, the Interior Ministry said in an e-mailed statement today. The EU weapons directive requires every member state to put in place a national registry by December 31, 2014.
…In a second step, the registry will also track producers, traders and importers of legally bought weapons in Germany.
“The national weapons registry contributes significantly to the security in Germany.”
BAE Systems has warned it will walk away from its proposed €35bn tie-up with EADS if the deal waters down its special relationship with the Pentagon.
This SSA, specifies that BAE’s senior leadership in the US is made up of Americans, among other things, and has allowed the UK’s biggest defence company to work on many lucrative US national security projects.
“The [US] military would rather have a BAE than a combined BAE-EADS. BAE has been very successful in managing its US relationship. EADS is not in the same bucket, and a combined EADS-BAE is going to be treated a lot more like EADS than BAE.”
Observing Hermann 