Booming market: global arms sales top $1.3 trillion.

• Position: WASHINGTON PULSE: NEWS FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY - Brief article

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* Military spending around the globe shows no signs of slowing down. The world spent nearly $1.3 trillion on armaments in 2007--2.5 percent of the planet's gross domestic product--and the United States accounted for 45 percent of the total. Following far behind are the United Kingdom, China, France and Japan--with less than 5 percent each, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

While global arms sales have increased 45 percent since 1998, only five...