The “Good News” of making weapons in Michigan
The state business journal MiBiz announced today in their e-newsletter Michigan Loves Manufacturing that the General Dynamics Corporation plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan was awarded a “$44 million contract to make tanks for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s tank program.”
The announcement was based on a brief media release by General Dynamics that the MiBiz e-newsletter linked to in the News You Can Use section. No doubt the editors of MiBiz consider this “good” news since it means $44 million dollars for a weapons manufacturing company with factories in Michigan.
One can certainly argue from a business point of view that this additional $44 million dollars will keep people employed in Michigan and might even create some new jobs. One could also argue that this money helps the tax base in Michigan because that $44 million is being spent in the state.
However, the News You Can Use information on General Dynamic’s new weapons contract doesn’t provide the public with a complete picture of what this means. First, since this is a contract for tanks that will be used by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia it is most likely being funneled through the Pentagon. This means the $44 million contract is being paid for by US taxpayers.
Second, even if the contract is directly between General Dynamics and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabi, why is this “good news?” While Saudi Arabia has been a political ally of the US since FDR developed a friendship with the royal family, Saudi Arabia is no democracy or a country that practices or promotes human rights. Human Rights Watch has been documenting Saudi human rights abuses for decades and provides amble evidence that should give any US taxpayer concern over the General Dynamic contract to provide them with tanks.
Saudi Arabia is also not a stabilizing force in the Middle East as is evidenced in its recent military involvement in the Yemeni suppression of rebel forces. The Saudi government is even forcibly returning Yemeni refugees who are fleeing the violence, which as one commentator noted is a violation of international law.
Lastly, such news from the business press does not factor in the level of political influence that a company like General Dynamics has on determining these contracts for weapons manufacturing. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, General Dynamics has given over $12.5 million dollars to political candidates since 1990, money that has been equally given to Republicans and Democrats. In addition, general Dynamics spends millions annually on Lobbying, with a total of $7.5 influencing Congress in 2010 alone.
So before we naively accept the notion that new weapons contracts are “good news” for Michigan it would be good to have all the facts before we start dancing in the streets.
Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy 
Read the facts, thought about it, yep, still good for Michigan.
“…it is most likely being funneled through the Pentagon”
really? “most likely” is good enough for you? you’re going to claim that US taxpayers are paying for Saudi tanks on some pretty slim evidence, dontcha think?
i’m with the above poster; thought about it – still think it’s good for michigan.
Fred, the question about using tax payers money is just one of the arguments. I could not find any info on the DoD website about the contract and Senator Levin’s staff were unwilling to give out any information on this.
Even if this contract is not being paid for by US taxpayers there is the issue of selling weapons to a non-democratic country (a monarchy) that has a history of human rights abuses. However, if you are ok with that then that is your opinion. I on the other hand have a problem with weapons trafficking to countries that abuse their own population.