[kelvinn]

This was an interesting way to visualise the arms database.

Some patterns are interesting:

What appears to be almost 50% of Russia's exports go to India, while what appears to be almost 90% of China's exports go to the countries surrounding India (Pakistan, Bangladesh, and a Myanmar).

[ZenoArrow]

Yeah, what's up with that? I know India and Pakistan aren't exactly best friends (Kashmir and all that), but they're not at full scale war with each other are they? Why the need for all the arms? India's arms imports in particular are shockingly high, especially for a country with so much need for investment in infrastructure and poverty alleviation.

No idea where Bangladesh and Myanmar stand in relation to all this.

[plinkplonk]

"India's arms imports in particular are shockingly high"

If you are a country with China for a neighbour, and have experience of having already fought (and lost) a war with China, I bet you would import a lot of arms. India is (among other things) importing arms to defend against China, not Pakistan.

[known]

Patriotism in India is a favorite device of persons with something to sell; A true patriot honors all nations;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_scandals_in_India