Replies

Bump.
I agree with both of you. Currently, the government is not keeping up with new technology controls etc. and foreign governments, one way or another, have fairly easy access to otherwise restricted technology. Then again, as BJ indicated, I don't think its worth just giving up and making the acquasistion of potentially sensitive technology easy for 'strategic competators'. Lets face it, even if the technology is obsolete to the US, it can be a leap of 5-10 years to a 'low-tech' nation (especially when combined with critical espionage information). A five-ten year boost in missile/nuclear/weapons technology is significant to a nation playing 'catch-up.
If I remember correctly, there once was an international orgainsation (I believe its acronym was COCOM) comprised of the US and its allies which used to take on the regulation of sensitive technology at on the world level. Unfortunatley, the Clinton Admin. dismantled COCOM, forcing the US to act unilaterally in technology control (which, as indicated by super175, is quite easily circumvented).
It appears that Bush has chosen to just give up on some tech controls. I would have rather seen him try to reestablish COCOM or a similar organisation. Then again, it is likely that US allies (especially some European allies) would resist the re-establishment of such an organisation since their local companies make a good deal of money selling and outsourcing high tech stuff to the Chinese. Even Canada would probably resist given Nortel's investments in China...