Bush Arms Sales Prop Up Saudi Dictators

‘King George’ has a fondness for propping up Middle East dictatorships, especially the oppressive regime of Saudi Arabia. Bush Arms Sales Prop Up Saudi DictatorsBy Cliff Montgomery – Jan. 12th, 2008Today we quote from a Dec. 20th Congressional Research Service (CRS) report discussing U.S. arms sales around the globe.Though the Bush Administration often has claimed to be “spreading democracy” throughout the world, the data in this little report reveals that ‘King George’ in fact has a fondness for propping up Middle East dictatorships, especially the oppressive regime of Saudi Arabia.In the renowned 9/11 Commission’s final report, the bipartisan panel described SaudiArabia–a tyrannical monarchy ruled by the Saud royal family–as having been “a problematic ally in combating Islamic extremism.” It added, however, that in more recent years increased terrorist attacks in the country have forced Saudi Arabia to somewhat improve its anti-terrorist activity.Several U.S. congressional proposals since 2004 to prohibit an extension of international military education and training (IMET) aid to Saudi Arabia have been adopted.For instance, a House amendment to its FY2007 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill prohibited U.S. assistance to Saudi Arabia, and made sure to remove any waiver provision for the Bush Administration.In the political world, perhaps no tie to a dictatorship can be more clear-cut than selling to the tyrants those very arms which help them to continue their absolute rule. Thus whatever George W. Bush pretends to be before the world, the numbers in this report show where his heart really resides.The tables below provide:1). The total U.S. dollar values of American arms agreements with the top five purchasers in the Middle–or Near–East for the periods 1999-2002, 2003-2006, and for 2006, respectively;2.) The total dollar values of U.S. arms deliveries to the five largest purchasers in the Near East for those same periods; and3.) The total dollar values of the U.S. arms deliveries to the 10 largest purchasers of American arms worldwide, for those same years.We quote from the report below:“This report provides background data on U.S. arms sales agreements with and deliveries to its major purchasers during calendar years 1999-2006. […]”The data are official, unclassified, United States Defense Department figures compiled by theDefense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), unless otherwise indicated.”The data have been restructured for this report by DSCA from a fiscal year format to a calendar year format. Thus a year in this report covers the period from January 1-December 31, and not the fiscal year period from October 1-September 30.”Leading Purchasers of U.S. Defense Articles and ServicesTotal Values of Near East Agreements Concluded a. Includes a $6.432 billion licensed commercial agreement concluded in 2000 for 80 F-16 fighter aircraft.Total Values of Near East Deliveries ConcludedTotal Values of Worldwide Deliveries ConcludedLike what you’re reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of thee-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!