MILITARY -- BUSH ADMINISTRATION SELLING MORE ARMS TO UNDEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES

by Christy Harvey and Judd Legum
with Nico Pitney and Mipe Okunseinde

5/27/2005

MILITARY -- BUSH ADMINISTRATION SELLING MORE ARMS TO UNDEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES: The New York Times reports on a study by the World Policy Institute that revealed "[t]he sale of military weapons to other countries, including many that were once barred from making such purchases, has increased sharply (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/27/business/27arms.html?oref=login) since the attacks on Sept. 11." In order to improve its relationship with new allies, the United States has sold weapons to countries that in the past could not receive American products because of their poor human rights records. In 2003, more than half of the top 25 recipients of weapons sales were countries the State Department has defined as undemocratic. In his remarks at his swearing-in, new U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman said trade can " deepen the roots of democracy (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050517-3.html) ." Unfortunately, as the Bush administration's actions are showing, trade can also deepen the roots of undemocratic regimes.

 

If people only knew the facts, they would not be fighting for the 'RIGHT' to be screwed over.

Time will tell all the Truth.

VT