Domingo Soto: Because Freedom Isn't Dumb

REPORT CHIDES US ROLE IN PROVIDING WEAPONS TO TYRANTS
Bush launched his second term as US President in January by vowing to implant democracy around the globe "with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world". This was a key neoconservative goal with overtures of regime change. Nearly six months later, the World Policy Institute in New York reveals in a study that the US is stepping up its arms sales to some of the most odious and repressive regimes in the world. "Perhaps no single policy is more at odds with President Bush's pledge to end tyranny... than the US's role as the world's leading arms exporting nation," says Frida Berrigan, co-author of the report. She adds: "Arming repressive regimes, while simultaneously proclaiming a campaign against tyranny, undermines the credibility of the US and makes it harder to hold other nations to high standards of conduct on human rights and other key issues."
(JANE'S FOREIGN REPORTS)