I think Pence gets botox shots
Known (planned) defective, air freight, destination known, shipper known, etc.
At the same time, I can picture an Export Control Officer being out of the loop and demanding to "look in the box" based on his impression of the shipment. ANd that, regardless of the operation perhaps being a sting, sheds light on at least the attitude of ONE official in the UAE.
I figure it was a battle between two low level grunts, in the scheme of things. If these triggers are so all fired important, there are other forms of control that are more strict than export license granted on the buyer's affidavit.
Anyway, just another example of a speaker presenting facts in the light most favorable. Everybody does it - including President Bush.