February 17, 2006: Some Swedish politicians and journalists are upset that the new American "smart" artillery shell is being built with Swedish components and technology. The U.S. Excalibur 155mm shell is guided by GPS, and contains a number of components made in Sweden. Many Swedes, particularly leftists, are hostile to American involvement in Iraq. Swedes believe it was wrong for the United States to invade Iraq and topple Saddam Hussein.
Sweden has long made a lot of money selling weapons, and dictators make excellent customers. During World War II, the Swedes did a lot of business with the Nazis and some with the Japanese as well. When the Swedes could not sell weapons, they would license the technology. But if your customer is invaded, you don't get paid. While many Swedes were aghast at the way Saddam ran Iraq, or Hitler ran Germany, you've got to live. So the Swedes tend to make a lot of noise about the moral issues involved, but then heed the sage advice of (the fictional) Don Corleone; "it's business."
