Letters

It is good to see that Economists Allied for Arms Reduction (Ecaar) is no longer alone in questioning the wisdom of the arms deal.

However, Judith February's article "Arms deal fringe benefits in tatters" (Cape Times, November 8) does not surprise those who have looked at the website of Ecaar.

That is where world-renowned economists report about the long and sad history of arms deals which rich armaments-selling countries have made with "developing countries".

Not once have the promised fringe or off-set benefits worked to the advantage of the buying country.

In the end the taxpayers of the deceived buying countries had to make up for the losses.

With acknowledgements to Joachim Zimmer and the Cape Times.