For a Fool who loves investing in things that go "boom," this is tough to admit -- but Reuters' story Monday on how some $1 trillion will eventually be spent to purchase and fly Lockheed Martin
I mean, sure, a supersonic fighter jet than can take off and land on a dime is cool. But do we really need to spend a trillion dollars to defend ourselves from a jihadist Grizzly Adams-in-a-cave?
Well, it's more than that
As we learned yesterday, we face threats more significant than Grizzly Adams. There's a real live bear in them-thar woods. No sooner had the U.S. government signed a pact with the Czech Republic on Tuesday, allowing the U.S. to install missile defense systems in the republic, than out came a statement from Russia's Foreign Ministry: "If the real deployment of an American strategic missile defense shield begins close to our borders, then we will be forced to react not with diplomatic methods, but with military-technical methods."
Did he just say what I think he said?
Although unsigned, this statement on the Ministry's website presumably projects the voice of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, threatening to attack the Czech Republic if it permits the U.S. to install missile defense batteries on its territory.
Happy days are here again
It's official, folks. The Cold War is back on. While I assume the statement is aimed to derail the missile shield's installation, investors in Boeing
Russia's increasing bellicosity means that there's a continuing need for "Big Defense" in the U.S. Aircraft carriers. Nuclear subs. Tanks. And yes, missile defense. "Ground-Based Midcourse Defense" may not have begun with Russia in mind, but the more Russia speaks, the more you can expect Pentagon planners to listen ... and muse.
Come to think of it, I may have to revise my earlier opinion that Russia's rebuilding of its military-industrial complex threatens U.S. companies' sales in international arms markets. Could be, a growling bear is music to defense contractors' ears.
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