Lockheed: Post 911 US Arms Sales & Military Aid Demonstrate Dngerous Trend

http://www.themoderntribune.com/weap...hange_-_us.htm


Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the United States has employed as
many means as possible to fight the war on terror. In one aspect, however,
an alarming trend has emerged. The United States is more willing than ever
to sell or give away weapons to countries that have pledged assistance in
the global war on terror. In the past, the United States has used arms sales
to "reward" countries for their loyalty. And, today, if one examines each
sale or change in policy individually, there does not appear to be a
paradigm shift in U.S. arms export policy. However, when one looks at these
transfers together, it becomes clear that the United States has altered its
relationships with a significant number of countries, many of which are now
receiving military aid that would have been denied before Sept. 11.

The United States has revised the list of countries that are ineligible to
receive U.S. weapons. Since Sept. 11, the United States has waived
restrictions on arms or military assistance to Armenia, Azerbaijan, India,
Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Yugoslavia.

Since Sept. 11, the United States has made billions of dollars worth of arms
deals to strategic countries, including a $1.2 billion sale of fighter jets
and missiles to Oman and nearly $400 million worth of missiles to Egypt.
Countries identified as fighting terrorist groups are also set to receive
large shipments of military aid, including $92 million in weapons to the
Philippines. Other countries are benefiting from military training
relationships. Indonesia, for example, which had been banned from receiving
military training, is set to receive training through the new Regional
Defense Counter Terrorism Fellowship Program, a new DoD program that is not
subject to training limitations contained in the annual Foreign Operations
legislation. Human rights and lack of democracy concerns have been given
less importance in some cases. Turkey is now set to receive 14 Sea Hawk
naval helicopters, even though accusations of gross human rights abuses and
tensions with regional rival Greece have delayed other recent helicopter
deals.

To avoid being seen as favoring one side over another, some of these recent
sales and military aid packages have been given to both sides of a conflict.
Both India and Pakistan are set to receive weapons and, in direct response
to the lifting of sanctions to Azerbaijan, Armenia was promised $90 million
in foreign assistance, $4 million in foreign military financing, and
$300,000 for military training.

These sales are just the tip of the iceberg. After the Gulf War, arms
exports to the Middle East skyrocketed. The recent display of force with
American weaponry could lead to another spike in the near future. Further,
while arms agreements are made in the short term, export licenses are good
for four years and production can take much longer, and thus actual arms
deliveries will continue in the long run.

Below is a compilation of post-Sept. 11 pending and approved U.S. arms
sales. The data is collected from the following sources: House International
Relations Committee (HIRC), the Federal Register, Jane’s, Defense News and
Defense Systems Daily.