Stories from 2002-08-15

"The United States retained its position as the world's biggest arms dealer, but its arms transfer agreements declined to nearly $12.1 billion from $18.9 billion in 2000, the Congressional Research Service reported. American arms sales last year accounted for nearly 46% of all weapons sales. Russia was second with $5.8 billion and France third with $2.9 billion." [more]

"'I didn't even know they could hold you under a name that is not yours,' said Thompson, from her home in Seattle. 'This is the first time I found out that he is not there under his name' Thompson said several civil rights groups have called her, asking how they might assist Ujaama's case — but that these groups are finding it impossible to even find him in the federal system." [more]

"He is unlikely to risk his investment in weapons of mass destruction, much less his country, by handing such weapons to terrorists who would use them for their own purposes and leave Baghdad as the return address. Threatening to use these weapons for blackmail — much less their actual use — would open him and his entire regime to a devastating response by the U.S. While Saddam is thoroughly evil, he is above all a power-hungry survivor." [more]

"This past week confirmed that the American political establishment is not united in support of the Bush Administration's policy of forcible 'regime change' in Iraq. Odd as it may seem, the strongest expression of doubt came from a key member of the GOP's right wing, House majority leader Dick Armey." [more]

"These senior Republicans include former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger and Brent Scowcroft, the first President Bush's national security adviser. All say they favor the eventual removal of Saddam Hussein, but some say they are concerned that Mr. Bush is proceeding in a way that risks alienating allies, creating greater instability in the Middle East, and harming long-term American interests. They add that the administration has not shown that Iraq poses an urgent threat to the United States." [more]