Made in the USA (tear gas cannisters)

[notesdev]

...

But it's not clear that the United States even wants greater democracy in the Islamic world. For example, regarding Tunisia, the U.S. government was silent during the first weeks of protests despite savage repression by the government. Less than a week after the uprising began, Congress voted for an addition $12 million in security assistance to Ben Ali's regime. Tear gas canisters lobbed at pro-democracy demonstrators were inscribed with the words "Made in USA," a reminder of whose side Washington was on in the struggle against the dictatorship. By early January, the State Department began issuing mild criticism of the Ben Ali regime for firing live ammunition into crowds of demonstrators but was equally willing to blame the pro-democracy activists. While the movement was largely nonviolent, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley chose to characterize it by its most unruly components. He stated that the Obama administration was "concerned about government actions, but we're also concerned about actions by the demonstrators, those who do not have peaceful intentions."

...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-zunes/post_1617_b_812666.html


Surprised they still make them here, isn't it cheaper to make them in China?

[Kennah]

1. We're still the Arsenal of Democracy!

Even if many of our weapon systems rely upon parts made in China.

[gateley]

2. Haven't I heard that weapons are essentially the only thing we're manufacturing these days?

I don't think Egypt's having purchased those from us indicates "whose side Washington was on in the struggle against the dictatorship".

I think as always, it was all about money. It's always the fucking money.


Edit - a two-letter word and I misspell it! :eyes:

[dmallind]

12. You heard wrong...

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/product/enduse/exports/c0000.html

This is exports even which is far more relevant ( I can supply mfg data if a) you really believe your claim and b) you will admit it if proven wrong - otherwise do your own research as I have this one handy and usually pissy claims of "all we make is weapons" come from people not worth the effort to correct...)


Here are top US exports by final use code in $000 for 2009. The first military category ranks 57th!

2009
TOTAL 1,056,042,963
(22090) Civilian aircraft, engines, equipment, and parts 74,755,438
(40100) Pharmaceutical preparations 46,122,661
(21320) Semiconductors 37,487,996
(21180) Industrial machines, other 30,876,273
(30230) Other parts and accessories of vehicles 30,131,644
(21400) Telecommunications equipment 28,683,134
(30000) Passenger cars, new and used 27,501,371
(21610) Medicinal equipment 26,879,276
(20005) Electric apparatus 26,062,564
(12500) Plastic materials 25,543,801
(21301) Computer accessories 25,402,179
(12540) Chemicals-organic 24,602,598
(11110) Fuel oil 23,670,220
(60000) Minimum value shipments 22,610,420
(21100) Industrial engines 21,916,203
(11120) Petroleum products, other 21,731,464
(12550) Chemicals-other 20,785,260
(12770) Other industrial supplies 17,932,452
(21160) Measuring, testing, control instruments 16,939,642
(00100) Soybeans 16,905,202
(41050) Other household goods 16,629,750
(12260) Nonmonetary gold 13,932,512
(12300) Finished metal shapes 13,091,337
(30100) Trucks, buses and special purpose vehicles 12,472,506
(21300) Computers 12,314,744
(00300) Meat, poultry, etc. 12,056,081
(21000) Drilling & oilfield equipment 11,467,010
(12430) Newsprint 10,759,362
(42100) Gem diamonds 10,483,995
(20000) Generators, accessories 10,296,288
(41120) Toys/games/sporting goods 9,839,225
(21030) Excavating machinery 9,810,299
(21170) Materials handling equipment 9,722,423
(00200) Corn 9,680,733
(30200) Engines and engine parts (carburetors, pistons, ri 8,775,176
(21600) Laboratory testing instruments 8,693,696
(12000) Steelmaking materials 8,548,322
(40120) Toiletries and cosmetics 8,436,427
(00360) Other foods 8,116,537
(12270) Precious metals, other 8,007,692
(21190) Photo, service industry machinery 7,888,360
(12100) Iron and steel mill products 7,063,152
(12510) Chemicals-fertilizers 7,034,570
(00320) Fruits, frozen juices 6,888,310
(41320) Artwork, antiques, stamps, etc. 6,861,140
(12420) Pulpwood and woodpulp 6,848,862
(41310) Jewelry, etc 6,807,589
(00220) Animal feeds, n.e.c. 6,350,471
(21200) Agricultural machinery, equipment 6,253,057
(12530) Chemicals-inorganic 6,018,503
(40140) Writing and art supplies 5,942,634
(41030) Household appliances 5,919,684
(12290) Nonferrous metals, other 5,825,561
(60010) Miscellaneous domestic exports and special transac 5,799,825
(12200) Aluminum and alumina 5,691,779
00000) Wheat 5,515,311
(50070) Parts for military-type goods 5,481,298
(12110) Iron and steel products, other 5,412,567
(21120) Metalworking machine tools 5,298,367
(40110) Books, printed matter 5,183,642
(00330) Vegetables 4,942,980
(40000) Apparel, household goods - textile 4,767,587
(12620) Manmade cloth 4,743,467
(11010) Metallurgical grade coal 4,455,228
(00340) Nuts 4,183,367
(01000) Fish and shellfish 4,088,512
(12210) Copper 4,085,511
(00350) Bakery products 4,057,777
(41220) Records, tapes, and disks 4,035,140
(12760) Mineral supplies-manufactured 4,027,656
(41200) TV's, VCR's, etc. 3,904,324
(13100) Logs and lumber 3,523,549
(21140) Wood, glass, plastic 3,414,628
(10000) Cotton, raw 3,368,670
(13210) Shingles, molding, wallboard 3,341,640
(11200) Gas-natural 3,286,064
(41000) Furniture, household goods, etc. 3,221,439
(50050) Tanks, artillery, missiles, rockets, guns and ammu 3,121,615
(21500) Business machines and equipment 2,973,575
(12750) Industrial rubber products 2,864,700
(11130) Natural gas liquids 2,803,344
(12700) Synthetic rubber-primary 2,792,362
(10130) Agric. industry-unmanufactured 2,781,143
(30220) Automotive tires and tubes 2,768,978
(21110) Food, tobacco machinery 2,722,159
(00110) Oilseeds, food oils 2,525,373
(22100) Railway transportation equipment 2,500,782
(50000) Military aircraft, complete 2,381,208
(10140) Agric. farming-unmanufactured 2,358,184
(21150) Pulp and paper machinery 2,311,204
(11300) Nuclear fuel materials 2,283,340
(00010) Rice 2,274,187
(40030) Apparel,household goods-nontextile 2,117,895
(12600) Cotton fiber cloth 2,115,630
(41140) Musical instruments 2,108,088
(10150) Agriculture-manufactured, other 2,087,976
(12640) Finished textile supplies 2,072,266
(11020) Coal and fuels, other 2,066,459
(41110) Pleasure boats and motors 2,050,067
(21040) Nonfarm tractors and parts 2,048,417
(50020) Engines and turbines for military aircraft 1,912,519
(00310) Dairy products and eggs 1,880,555
(41210) Stereo equipment, etc. 1,786,163
(10120) Hides and skins 1,465,990
(13200) Glass-plate, sheet, etc. 1,344,362
(00370) Wine and related products 1,273,536
(01020) Nonagricultural foods, etc. 1,270,889
(22220) Marine engines, parts 1,188,961
(01010) Alcoholic beverages, excluding wine 1,169,517
(10100) Tobacco, unmanufactured 1,133,193
(21010) Specialized mining 1,123,268
(13110) Wood supplies, manufactured 1,014,437
(50030) Military trucks, armored vehicles, etc. 1,012,332
(11100) Crude oil 972,228
(21130) Textile, sewing machines 965,597
(41040) Rugs 849,025
(41020) Cookware, cutlery, tools 840,518
(00210) Sorghum, barley, oats 728,478
(12765) Tapes, audio and visual 696,209
(12650) Leather and furs 568,783
(11400) Electric energy 561,929
(40130) Tobacco, manufactured 533,247
(40050) Sports apparel and gear 520,298
(12630) Hair, waste materials 488,015
(12720) Nonmetallic minerals 481,209
(50010) Aircraft launching gear, parachutes, etc. 452,002
(50060) Military apparel and footwear 434,997
(13220) Nontextile floor tiles 425,461
(42000) Nursery stock, etc. 405,493
(41010) Glassware, chinaware 395,705
(22210) Commercial vessels, other 395,242
(41300) Numismatic coins 282,087
(30210) Bodies and chassis for passenger cars 65,257
(22300) Spacecraft, excluding military 48,362
(22200) Vessels, excluding scrap 22,016
(50040) Military ships and boats 0
(60040) Undocumented exports to Canada 0

[gateley]

16. Boy - I'm not trying to make a statement here - no need to get argumentative.

I thought I'd heard it somewhere but wasn't sure, that's why I ASKED. :eyes:

I have no problem admitting I was wrong since I didn't "claim" anything. What's your problem?

Keep your list, if I'm "not worth the effort to correct" why waste your time?

[Statistical]

3. The US makes the best weapons. We are good at it. Largest arms dealer in the world.

Quite the dichotomy. "Worlds Policeman" and largest arms dealer.

Imagine if the cops in New York sold guns on the street in order to boost job security.

[hedgehog]

4. "Made in the USA" is not the same as "Gift of the American People"

although I wonder how much of our foreign aid to Egypt went to pay for the tear gas....

[Catherina]

6. Yes it is. Too late to wiggle out of it after writing the checks. n/t

[Poll_Blind]

5. I've also heard this reported during the coverage on cable. n/t

PB

[Brilliantrocket]

7. Literally adding insult to injury!

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Nah, that is one of our chief exports

That, rubber bullets and tactical gear... A lot of the riot gear you see across the world is made here...

[dmallind]

14. no military category is even in the top 50

Once again, facts are not optional

Here are top US exports by final use code in $000 for 2009. The first military category ranks 57th!

2009
TOTAL 1,056,042,963
(22090) Civilian aircraft, engines, equipment, and parts 74,755,438
(40100) Pharmaceutical preparations 46,122,661
(21320) Semiconductors 37,487,996
(21180) Industrial machines, other 30,876,273
(30230) Other parts and accessories of vehicles 30,131,644
(21400) Telecommunications equipment 28,683,134
(30000) Passenger cars, new and used 27,501,371
(21610) Medicinal equipment 26,879,276
(20005) Electric apparatus 26,062,564
(12500) Plastic materials 25,543,801
(21301) Computer accessories 25,402,179
(12540) Chemicals-organic 24,602,598
(11110) Fuel oil 23,670,220
(60000) Minimum value shipments 22,610,420
(21100) Industrial engines 21,916,203
(11120) Petroleum products, other 21,731,464
(12550) Chemicals-other 20,785,260
(12770) Other industrial supplies 17,932,452
(21160) Measuring, testing, control instruments 16,939,642
(00100) Soybeans 16,905,202
(41050) Other household goods 16,629,750
(12260) Nonmonetary gold 13,932,512
(12300) Finished metal shapes 13,091,337
(30100) Trucks, buses and special purpose vehicles 12,472,506
(21300) Computers 12,314,744
(00300) Meat, poultry, etc. 12,056,081
(21000) Drilling & oilfield equipment 11,467,010
(12430) Newsprint 10,759,362
(42100) Gem diamonds 10,483,995
(20000) Generators, accessories 10,296,288
(41120) Toys/games/sporting goods 9,839,225
(21030) Excavating machinery 9,810,299
(21170) Materials handling equipment 9,722,423
(00200) Corn 9,680,733
(30200) Engines and engine parts (carburetors, pistons, ri 8,775,176
(21600) Laboratory testing instruments 8,693,696
(12000) Steelmaking materials 8,548,322
(40120) Toiletries and cosmetics 8,436,427
(00360) Other foods 8,116,537
(12270) Precious metals, other 8,007,692
(21190) Photo, service industry machinery 7,888,360
(12100) Iron and steel mill products 7,063,152
(12510) Chemicals-fertilizers 7,034,570
(00320) Fruits, frozen juices 6,888,310
(41320) Artwork, antiques, stamps, etc. 6,861,140
(12420) Pulpwood and woodpulp 6,848,862
(41310) Jewelry, etc 6,807,589
(00220) Animal feeds, n.e.c. 6,350,471
(21200) Agricultural machinery, equipment 6,253,057
(12530) Chemicals-inorganic 6,018,503
(40140) Writing and art supplies 5,942,634
(41030) Household appliances 5,919,684
(12290) Nonferrous metals, other 5,825,561
(60010) Miscellaneous domestic exports and special transac 5,799,825
(12200) Aluminum and alumina 5,691,779
00000) Wheat 5,515,311
(50070) Parts for military-type goods 5,481,298
(12110) Iron and steel products, other 5,412,567
(21120) Metalworking machine tools 5,298,367
(40110) Books, printed matter 5,183,642
(00330) Vegetables 4,942,980
(40000) Apparel, household goods - textile 4,767,587
(12620) Manmade cloth 4,743,467
(11010) Metallurgical grade coal 4,455,228
(00340) Nuts 4,183,367
(01000) Fish and shellfish 4,088,512
(12210) Copper 4,085,511
(00350) Bakery products 4,057,777
(41220) Records, tapes, and disks 4,035,140
(12760) Mineral supplies-manufactured 4,027,656
(41200) TV's, VCR's, etc. 3,904,324
(13100) Logs and lumber 3,523,549
(21140) Wood, glass, plastic 3,414,628
(10000) Cotton, raw 3,368,670
(13210) Shingles, molding, wallboard 3,341,640
(11200) Gas-natural 3,286,064
(41000) Furniture, household goods, etc. 3,221,439
(50050) Tanks, artillery, missiles, rockets, guns and ammu 3,121,615
(21500) Business machines and equipment 2,973,575
(12750) Industrial rubber products 2,864,700
(11130) Natural gas liquids 2,803,344
(12700) Synthetic rubber-primary 2,792,362
(10130) Agric. industry-unmanufactured 2,781,143
(30220) Automotive tires and tubes 2,768,978
(21110) Food, tobacco machinery 2,722,159
(00110) Oilseeds, food oils 2,525,373
(22100) Railway transportation equipment 2,500,782
(50000) Military aircraft, complete 2,381,208
(10140) Agric. farming-unmanufactured 2,358,184
(21150) Pulp and paper machinery 2,311,204
(11300) Nuclear fuel materials 2,283,340
(00010) Rice 2,274,187
(40030) Apparel,household goods-nontextile 2,117,895
(12600) Cotton fiber cloth 2,115,630
(41140) Musical instruments 2,108,088
(10150) Agriculture-manufactured, other 2,087,976
(12640) Finished textile supplies 2,072,266
(11020) Coal and fuels, other 2,066,459
(41110) Pleasure boats and motors 2,050,067
(21040) Nonfarm tractors and parts 2,048,417
(50020) Engines and turbines for military aircraft 1,912,519
(00310) Dairy products and eggs 1,880,555
(41210) Stereo equipment, etc. 1,786,163
(10120) Hides and skins 1,465,990
(13200) Glass-plate, sheet, etc. 1,344,362
(00370) Wine and related products 1,273,536
(01020) Nonagricultural foods, etc. 1,270,889
(22220) Marine engines, parts 1,188,961
(01010) Alcoholic beverages, excluding wine 1,169,517
(10100) Tobacco, unmanufactured 1,133,193
(21010) Specialized mining 1,123,268
(13110) Wood supplies, manufactured 1,014,437
(50030) Military trucks, armored vehicles, etc. 1,012,332
(11100) Crude oil 972,228
(21130) Textile, sewing machines 965,597
(41040) Rugs 849,025
(41020) Cookware, cutlery, tools 840,518
(00210) Sorghum, barley, oats 728,478
(12765) Tapes, audio and visual 696,209
(12650) Leather and furs 568,783
(11400) Electric energy 561,929
(40130) Tobacco, manufactured 533,247
(40050) Sports apparel and gear 520,298
(12630) Hair, waste materials 488,015
(12720) Nonmetallic minerals 481,209
(50010) Aircraft launching gear, parachutes, etc. 452,002
(50060) Military apparel and footwear 434,997
(13220) Nontextile floor tiles 425,461
(42000) Nursery stock, etc. 405,493
(41010) Glassware, chinaware 395,705
(22210) Commercial vessels, other 395,242
(41300) Numismatic coins 282,087
(30210) Bodies and chassis for passenger cars 65,257
(22300) Spacecraft, excluding military 48,362
(22200) Vessels, excluding scrap 22,016
(50040) Military ships and boats 0
(60040) Undocumented exports to Canada 0

[d_b]

9. we're still making shit? interesting.

[Blue Owl]

10. So comforting to know there's a future in bioweapons

I wouldn't trust a tear gas canister made in China -- they are probably tainted with toxins.

:sarcasm:

[DeadEyeDyck]

13. LOL

[customerserviceguy]

11. Democracy in the Islamic world

always gets hijacked by religious fundamentalists. There are simply some areas of the world that are not ready for Western-style democratic government, in fact, the West had to throw off the papacy for it to be able to happen in Europe and North America.

When Islam becomes a background religion, like Presbyterianism, then maybe democratic institutions have a shot in the Islamic world. In a few years, we'll have the results of our "experiment" with turning Iraq into a democratic society. I don't have high hopes for that working out, but David Petraeus does.

[spanone]

15. we do manufacture some things.....

[donheld]

17. Another reason, BIG reason they hate US

[sledgehammer]

18. Twitter and Facebook: Made in USA n/t