Cook: The politician the NRA forgot to invite

A few days ago, U.S. Sen. Bob Corker traveled to Nashville to speak at the annual National Rifle Association conference. Other prominent Republicans were there, too. And Jeff Foxworthy.

That's a shame.

The NRA forgot to invite the one politician who belongs there the most.

Obama.

He's the most gun-happy president of the last 70 years.

David Cook

"The numbers are astonishing," writes William Hartung, with the Center for International Policy.

No modern president has fostered the sale of as many weapons as Obama.

Domestically? No.

Internationally?

Giddy-up.

Obama has made weapons exportation a significant part of his foreign policy. In his first five years as president, Obama approved nearly $170 billion in arms sales to overseas buyers. After inflation, that figure is nearly $30 billion more than Bush approved in eight years.

"The Obama administration has approved more arms sales than any other U.S. administration since World War II," Hartung writes.

It is common presidential practice to use the Pentagon to sell American-made weapons overseas. We sell to allies. We sell to the allies of allies. We sell to the enemies of our enemies. Sometimes, we sell to allies that later become enemies, making for this dystopian, twilight-zone moment -- our soldiers get shot at by forces using American guns sold to them by the American government.

"Over $500 million in U.S. weaponry destined for Yemeni security forces has gone missing," Hartung writes, "and may have found its way to Houthi forces or even to al-Qaeda."

Most of Obama's arms deals have been directed to the Middle East, with $46 billion in new deals with Saudi Arabia.

"The Saudis have used U.S.-supplied weaponry to help put down the democracy movement in Bahrain, and now to expand the conflict in Yemen to the point that it may spark a region-wide war," Hartung writes.

The White House claims it's part of a foreign policy strategy that unloads the military burden off our shoulders and onto other countries more directly involved. It helps them get in the game. Spending $50 billion on missiles and warships? It's hard not to use them.

U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., speaks to the media in this file photo

Plus, we're encouraging it.

"Top government officials traveling to particular countries are now regularly prepared to advocate for U.S. firms who are seeking to sell arms there," the Boston Globe reported.

America sells weapons through the Pentagon in government-to-government transactions, or via the State Department, which oversees transactions between weapons corporations and foreign governments.

For certain sales, Obama wants to shift that power from the State Department to the Commerce Department, where regulations would be looser.

"The Obama administration's loosening of controls goes far beyond anything contemplated by the Clinton or Bush administrations," Hartung reports.

It's global weapons creep. Weapons manufacturers such as Raytheon and Lockheed Martin look overseas for future profit, which means global conflict and instability is good for the bottom line.

International arms sales increased 16 percent over the last four years, according to new research by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

America is the biggest exporter, selling one-third of all global weapons.

And Obama is greasing the wheels.

Can he sell his Nobel Peace Prize too?

Contact David Cook at dcook@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6329. Follow him on Facebook at DavidCookTFP.