from time-to-time, the most signifi-
personnel and government-owned weaponry
cant being the decision of Congress
to an overseas air show. That practice--
to suspend military training assis-
known as "direct Pentagon participation"--
tance in 1992, but the overall relation-
has since become routine. U.S. fighter planes,
helicopters, and even F-117 stealth fighters
ship provides opportunities for U.S.
and the B-2 bombers are now frequently sent
defense companies to benefit from the pace
to foreign air shows at taxpayer expense.
of economic growth and concomitant
Accompanying the aircraft are large delega-
defense needs of the Armed Forces of the
Republic of Indonesia (ABRI).43
tions of U.S. military pilots, security person-
nel, and government public relations repre-
sentatives. As Charles Sennott documented
In short, the Commerce Department's
in the Boston Globe, U.S. pilots who are sent to
message to arms exporters is to not worry
overseas weapons exhibitions testify about
about congressional human rights concerns
how well an aircraft or helicopter performed
because money can be made in Indonesia.
in combat, which is an invaluable marketing
Now that the Suharto regime's persistent
boost to U.S. weapons makers.44
corruption and repression have resulted in a
full-fledged political and economic crisis in
During FY96, the Pentagon sent equip-
Defense pork
that country, the Commerce Department's
ment and personnel to 19 overseas weapons
wastes billions of
implication that U.S. companies doing busi-
shows at a cost of more than $5.1 million.
ness there should essentially go along with
But many of the costs of U.S. participation
dollars that could
the atmosphere of influence peddling and
are hidden. For example, the price of trans-
be put to more
repression looks painfully shortsighted.
porting weaponry and replacing lost or dam-
productive uses,
The Commerce Department's most im-
aged equipment is routinely excluded from
portant role in the marketing of U.S.
the cost estimates that the department sub-
such as returning
weapons systems, though, is as the lead orga-
mits to Congress for military participation in
some of the funds
nizer for U.S. participation in overseas arms
weapons shows. But even a rough estimate of
to the public
shows such as the Paris, Farnborough, and
the full costs of fuel, transport, insurance,
Singapore air shows and the FIDAE (Chile)
and salaries of personnel suggests that the
through a tax cut.
and IDEX (Abu Dhabi) weapons exhibitions.
Pentagon's projections of its participation
But since the agency receives important sup-
costs in such shows are off by a factor of at
port in those efforts from the Pentagon and
least twenty.45
the military services, the issue of U.S. govern-
Absorbing Risks: Government Funding
ment participation in weapons exhibitions
for R&D, Factories, and Equipment
deserves separate treatment.
As noted in the previous section, U.S.
Promotion of U.S. Weaponry at Air
weapons makers benefit from massive gov-
Shows and Military Exhibitions
ernment subsidies well before the firms are in
The Clinton administration is following
a position to offer finished weapons systems
its predecessor not only in pressing embassy
on the world market. The subsidies begin at
personnel into service on behalf of U.S.
the earliest stages of R&D. Three-quarters of
weapons exporters but also in promoting
the federal government's R&D budget is
weaponry at air shows. The 1991 Paris Air
devoted to military projects. The bulk of
Show (held just three months after the end of
those funds goes to private contractors.
the Persian Gulf War and one month before a
During the 1990s Pentagon spending on
major meeting at which the "Big Five"
research, development, testing, and evalua-
weapons-exporting countries were to discuss
tion of weapons systems has averaged in
limits on arms sales to the Middle East)
excess of $35 billion per year. Since 1981 the
marked the first time in years that the U.S.
government has spent over $500 billion on
government sent large numbers of military
military R&D.46 In addition to those gener-
15