Report Finds U.S. Arms Sales are Undermining Human Rights
12/11/08 11:58 AM
On
December 10, 2008, the New America
Foundation, a
nonpartisan policy institute, issued a
report
stating that of
the top 25 U.S. arms purchasers in the
developing countries during 2006 - 2007, more
than half were either undemocratic governments
or regimes that engaged in major human right
abuses. An executive summary of the report can
be found here.
The thirteen countries listed in the report were Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt, Colombia, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Morocco, Yemen and Tunisia. Over 2006 - 2007, arms sales to these countries totaled more than $16.2 billion. The report also states that of the 27 nations engaged in major arms conflicts, 20 were receiving weapons and training in the U.S.
A spokesperson for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs at the State Department commented that U.S. policy on sale of arms is well established, and considers a country’s need for an item, its human rights record, and whether the arms transfer supports U.S. foreign policy and national security goals. U.S. arms sales grew to $32 billion in 2007, or more than three times the level since President Bush took office in 2001.
The thirteen countries listed in the report were Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt, Colombia, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Morocco, Yemen and Tunisia. Over 2006 - 2007, arms sales to these countries totaled more than $16.2 billion. The report also states that of the 27 nations engaged in major arms conflicts, 20 were receiving weapons and training in the U.S.
A spokesperson for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs at the State Department commented that U.S. policy on sale of arms is well established, and considers a country’s need for an item, its human rights record, and whether the arms transfer supports U.S. foreign policy and national security goals. U.S. arms sales grew to $32 billion in 2007, or more than three times the level since President Bush took office in 2001.