The global arms trade is suffused with corruption, imperils the vulnerable and makes us all less safe. Yet arms merchants and their government supporters can turn to a set of time-honed and well-packaged arguments to justify the status quo. Each one of the claims is either deeply questionable or simply untrue. The arms business needs to be undressed.

Then, we will find its claims are indefensible; nothing more than myths. With Project Indefensible, the World Peace Foundation debunks the seven core myths that the arms industry uses to deflect criticism and explains what can be done. Our cartoonists were asked to illustrate the seven myths.

Myth 1: higher military spending equals increased security.

Myth 2: military spending is driven by security concerns.

Myth 3: we can control where arms go after they’re purchased and how they are used.

Myth 4: the defense industry is a key contributor to national economies.

Myth 5: corruption in the arms trade is only a problem in developing countries.

Myth 6: national security requires blanket secrecy.

Myth 7: now is not the time to challenge the global arms business.

Project Indefensible includes a book and an interactive website.