Missile Sales Criticized

"Once we say 'yes,' to weaponry sales to one nation, it becomes harder to say 'no,' to another, explained an unidentified U.S. State Department official to the news media. This official, while protecting his anonymity, reflected on the little-discussed fact that since the Cold War, when U.S. policy makers banned sophisticated arms sales to small countries, bans have now been lifted with little or no debate, perhaps because of the fear of seeming hypocritical when the U.S. makes demands of other nations with regard to nuclear arms control.

Previously, it was feared that cutting edge weaponry might fall into the hands of enemy forces, but commercial enterprises who court powerful backers in the U.S. Congress, have come to treat such sales as America's most lucrative playing cards.

Part of the problem lies in the fierce sales competition between the U.S. and Russia, both eager to provide East Asian countries deadly and accurate Amraams--Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles--that allow pilots to shoot down unseen aircraft 30 miles distant. The Amraam is believed to have been among the most important weapons used during the Persian Gulf war.

Defense manufacturers, including McDonnell Douglas, are ever in search of expanded profits, and say they hope, by such sales, to keep afloat while they reputedly serve the needs of Pentagon procurers. Their ploy is thus cloaked in patriotic rhetoric while their sales fly upward into many billions of dollars.

The Clinton administration initially turned down a request for Amraam missiles by Thailand. It was feared that such sales would contribute to an arms race in the region and to Southeast Asian instability. The Thais, to whom the controversial missile sale has now been OK'd, threatened the U.S. missile-making business with the cancellation of their earlier agreement in which Thailand would buy fighter planes worth $600 million. The Thais said they'd buy Russian MIG-29's instead, though officials in both countries seemed to agree that these were inferior. Even so, Washington capitulated to the threats.

Once available only to NATO allies, the Amraam missiles were sold in 1995 to the United Arab Emirates in spite of strenuous objections by the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. As soon as Thailand's government became aware of this sale, it became harder to say no to Thais requesting a similar sale. Saudi Arabia and Egypt, who have previously asked for Amraams, are now expected to renew their demands.

Jane's Defense Weekly, a publication with focus on weaponry systems, says any nation with Amraams enjoys "a clear advantage over the enemy." The Thais won't get the weaponry immediately, though McDonnell Douglas has agreed to buy Thai products--including rubber and frozen chickens--to make happier their newly satisfied clients.