When our allies arm our adversaries: What to do when diplomacy fails

by J. Michael Waller, Strategic Communication White Paper No. 2

The United States must draw the line when its foreign military suppliers endanger US national security interests. This is especially true when foreign defense companies aid and abet regimes that subvert their democratic neighbors and align with state sponsors of terrorism.

When political and diplomatic efforts fail to convince or dissuade, the last resort is Congress. Rather than enact new laws with their cumbersome regulations that impede commerce, Congress should simply refuse to appropriate tax dollars for contracts to foreign firms found to be aiding the nation’s foes. That message will help foreign companies choose whose side they want to be on.

Such is the case at present with a Spanish aircraft manufacturer that seeks multibillion-dollar contracts to supply the US Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. Rebuffing numerous requests and warnings from the Bush administration, that manufacturer – and Spain’s Socialist Workers Party government – have colluded with Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez in an unusually aggressive anti-US propaganda campaign. Meanwhile, they lobby the US Congress for more money. [For the full text of this paper, click here.]



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