Big Win for War Profiteers: Obama Rolls Back Limits on Arms Exports

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/world/obama-rolls-back-limits-arms-exports



The United States is loosening controls over military exports, in a shift that former U.S. officials and human rights advocates say could increase the flow of American-made military parts to the world’s conflicts and make it harder to enforce arms sanctions.

Come tomorrow, thousands of parts of military aircraft, such as propeller blades, brake pads and tires will be able to be sent to almost any country in the world, with minimal oversight – even to some countries subject to U.N. arms embargos. U.S. companies will also face fewer checks than in the past when selling some military aircraft to dozens of countries.

Critics, including some who’ve worked on enforcing arms export laws, say the changes could undermine efforts to prevent arms smuggling to Iran and others.
Brake pads may sound innocuous, but “the Iranians are constantly looking for spare parts for old U.S. jets,” said Steven Pelak, who recently left the Department of Justice after six years overseeing investigations and prosecutions of export violations.

“It’s going to be easier for these military items to flow, harder to get a heads-up on their movements, and, in theory, easier for a smuggling ring to move weapons,” said William Hartung, author of a recent report on the topic for the Center for International Policy.

[G_j]

1. ugh..

no good at all...

[reddread]

2. still ticking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adnan_Khashoggi

[DrDan]

3. well - as we draw down in one area of the world, there has to be something on the horizon

[dairydog91]

4. Baloney

ITAR and the US Munitions List are very broad in scope. They cover lots of equipment (Hell, at times they've even covered math) that can be used in peaceful applications. It can be an enormous pain in the ass for any company which wants to export anything more technologically sophisticated than a lawnmower. I'd suggest actually taking a look at what, exactly, was moved from ITAR to the less draconian EAR.

[xchrom]

5. SAUDI ARABIA, UAE SEEK $10.8 BILLION IN US WEAPONS

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_GULF_US_ARMS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-10-16-07-31-14

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates say they seeking $10.8 billion in advanced U.S.-made missiles and other weapons as part of bids by Western-allied Gulf states to stay ahead of claimed military strides by rival Iran.

Gulf nations regularly spend billions of dollars on U.S. military equipment and upgrades amid lingering regional tensions with Iran, which often conducts major military exercises and claims to have made advances in drone technology and other areas.

Notifications posted late Tuesday on a Pentagon website say Saudi Arabia is seeking to purchase $6.8 billion in missiles, bombs, launch systems and other ordnance. The UAE is seeking approval for a similar ordered estimated at $4 billion.