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.
DOD Amends DFARS re: Export-Controlled Items
07/21/08 04:15 PM
On
July 21, 2008, the Department of Defense (DoD)
issued an interim rule in the
Federal Register amending the
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation
Supplement (DFARS) to address requirements for
complying with export control laws and
regulations when performing DoD contracts. The
rule recognizes contractor responsibilities to
comply with existing Department of Commerce and
Department of State regulations.
DoD published a proposed rule at 70 Fed. Reg. 39,976 on July 12, 2005, to address requirements for preventing unauthorized disclosure of export-controlled information and technology under DoD contracts. In consideration of the public comments received, DoD published a second proposed rule at 71 Fed. Reg. 46,434. In the Federal Register publication today, DoD sets out the changes from the interim rule and addresses the public comments received from 167 persons or organizations in response to the second proposed rule.
DoD published a proposed rule at 70 Fed. Reg. 39,976 on July 12, 2005, to address requirements for preventing unauthorized disclosure of export-controlled information and technology under DoD contracts. In consideration of the public comments received, DoD published a second proposed rule at 71 Fed. Reg. 46,434. In the Federal Register publication today, DoD sets out the changes from the interim rule and addresses the public comments received from 167 persons or organizations in response to the second proposed rule.