Middle East Focus: The Economics of Drones, Iranian UAVs, Pakistani Nukes, Terrorists……………..

Arabia Deserta

The Economics of Drones, Iranian UAVs, Pakistani Nukes, Terrorists……………..

“US Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed concern Thursday over Iran's aerial drone program, saying the weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists. "Countries like Iran are developing their own UAVs and already have a UAV capability," Gates told the Senate Appropriations Committee, using the acronym the military uses for drones -- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. "That is a concern, because it is one of these areas where -- if they chose to, in Iraq, in Afghanistan -- they could create difficulties for us."…………”

Shouldn’t Gates worry more about nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists before worrying about any drones? Although that can be a worry as well. The one country that comes to mind where terrorists practically share in ruling the country, Pakistan not Somalia, also has nuclear weapons and a missile industry.
As for drones, he must know it is cheaper to produce them locally than import them (the middlemen are too expensive under the sanctions). In other words: increase the supply, that would lower the import price (and middlemen costs), then the mullahs would not need to make their own (it becomes relatively too expensive). Simple economics 101.
Okay, that might mean the mother of all catfights in Congress and losing the next election, but you are a Republican anyway……….
Cheers
mhg

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