Area : NIGHT_SHIFT_CP
Date : Sep 10 '95, 23:04
From : Don Allen, 1:3618/2
To   : All
Subj : Arms Sales Code of Conduct Call-In Day 9/19


* Forwarded from ANEWS
* Originally By: eskinews!nyxfer.blythe.org!nyt
* Originally To: All
* Originally Re: Arms Sales Code of Conduct Call-In Day 9/19
* Originally Dated: Saturday September 09 1995 11:27
______________________________________________________________________

From: eskinews!nyxfer.blythe.org!nyt (NY Transfer News Collective)
Date: Sat, 9 Sep 1995 14:27:33 -0400 (EDT)


Sep  8, 1995 by peaceaction@igc.apc.org

Stop the Arms Sales Boomerang!
Support the Arms Transfers Code of Conduct
NATIONAL CALL IN DAY!
SEPTEMBER 19!

What is the Arms Sales Boomerang?

* Combat Boomerang - In Panama, Iraq, Somalia, and Haiti a total of
453 US soldiers lost their lives facing enemies with weapons ~Made in
the USA.~

* Jobs Boomerang - "Offsets" are financial kickbacks by arms producers
to "offset" the cost of the sale to the purchasing nation.  An example
is the deal by McDonnell-Douglas to exchange 150% of the cost for the
Netherlands' purchase of  30 Apache helicopters, transferring 5,500
work years of employment from the US to Dutch workers.  Offsets can
also require arms producers to promote foreign products in the US;
thereby trading non-defense jobs for increased military industry
profits.

* Corporate Welfare Boomerang - In FY~95 the US taxpayer is shelling
out $7.3 billion in direct subsidies of the arms export industry.  For
example, $500,000 was just spent on sending advanced fighters to the
Paris Air Show.

* Political Boomerang - A recent poll  found that 96% of those
questioned responded that they were against the United States selling
arms to dictators. Of those who identified themselves as Republicans,
98% were against such sales!

Call your Senators
and tell them to endorse the
Arms Trade Code of Conduct.
Call: (202) 224-3121.

Tell Your Senator:

* Sen. Hatfield intends to bring the Arms Trade Code of Conduct to a
vote this September as an amendment to the Foreign Operations
Appropriations bill.

* This legislation will place restrictions on arms sales to countries
that do not participate in the U.N. arms registry, violate human
rights, are undemocratic, or are involved in acts of aggression
against their neighbors.   The United States routinely sells arms to
dictators and countries that violate human rights.

* By selling weapons to unstable countries that could emerge as
threats, we risk facing our own weapons in the field.  In Panama, the
Persian Gulf, Somalia, and Haiti, our troops faced forces armed with
weapons and weapons technology that we had either given or sold to
them.

* Arms transfers are not saving American jobs.  ~Offset~  agreements
used by arms manufacturers to secure foreign sales often send as many
jobs abroad as they bring back to the country, and  they trade away
non-defense jobs to facilitate industry profits.  We realize very
little, if any, economic benefit.

* Despite what the critics say, the Code does not conflict with U.S.
security interest.  If the President determines that selling arms to a
country that does not meet the Code~s standards is necessary, he could
ask Congress to approve a national security waiver to permit sales.
This is a more than reasonable alternative to the current arms
~uncontrol~ policy.


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