U.S. Suspends Military Aid to Nearly 50 Countries

Reuters ^ | July 1, 2003 | Reuters

[Pern]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday suspended military assistance to nearly 50 countries, including Colombia and six nations seeking NATO membership, because they have supported the International Criminal Court and failed to exempt Americans from possible prosecution.

As the deadline passed for governments to sign exemption agreements or face the suspension of military aid, President Bush issued waivers for 22 countries.

But the 22 countries did not include Colombia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Colombia, where the government is fighting leftist guerrillas and drug traffickers, has been one of the largest recipients of U.S. military aid in the world.

A U.S. official said that if countries had ratified the treaty setting up the international court and had not received a waiver, the ban on military aid would apply.

But the threat, enshrined in the American Service Members Protection Act of 2002, does not apply to the 19 NATO members and to nine "major non-NATO allies."

Based on the information initially available to Reuters, the countries subject to the suspension of military aid are:

Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominica, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Niger, Paraguay, Peru, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zambia.

The countries which received presidential waivers are:

Albania, Afghanistan, Bolivia, Bosnia, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, East Timor, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Honduras, Macedonia, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nigeria, Panama, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan and Uganda.

[Gunrunner2]

Might want to start by checking out the following web sites:
http://www.dsca.mil/programs/Country_Programs/cntry_programs.htm

http://www.dsca.osd.mil/programs/eimet/eimet%5Fdefault.htm

http://www.dsca.osd.mil/programs/imet/imet2.htm

http://www.dsca.osd.mil/old%5Fpages/dsca300/sld007.htm

[Guna]

I'm surprised about Latvia too! They were so very much behind the US and the Latvian President even blasted the French for their duplicity. What changed?

[Gunrunner2]

Okay. . .as a personal rule, I never mistake Hollyweird films as fact.

[semaj]

This is just one of the many reasons I don't recommend the military to youngsters seeking advice on military service. Just like the women trying to get out Saudi Arabia with her daughters, the Government, (State Dept, Pentagon) doesn't hesitate to sell its' citizens down the river for the sake of International Relations.

When that policy is changed, maybe my advice to youngsters regarding military service will change also.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Well...it was as close to a factual documentary as Hollywood can get. Just watch it, and then judge. It's not a typical movie.

[Damocles]

The United States on Tuesday suspended military assistance to nearly 50 countries, including Colombia...

But the 22 countries did not include Colombia...

the countries subject to the suspension of military aid are: ...Cambodia, Central African Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica...

I think you are misreading the article.

[kayak]

Jayne ~~~ please see #27 and #6.

[Cathryn Crawford]

I did, indeed. I caught it and made amends later. Thanks. ;-)

[gbaker]

A very sound rule.

[truthandlife]

They didn't cut off these animals

Administration consider resumption of aid to Palestinian Authority; due to receive $200 million

[Gunrunner2]

Apologies for the long post, but it is best to know how and why we engage in FMS in order to pass informed judgment.

From a lecture I give on the subject:

Why The US Conducts FMS
Physical Access to Country
Physical Access for Strategic Reasons (Gulf War)
Political Influence in the Country

US Arms Sales Strictly Controlled by Legal and Financial Constraints
If Break the Rules You Lose the Loan, Lose Technical & Logistics Support, Deliveries Suspended, etc. . .

Access and Influence Gives Real Power to Shape Events In Support of National Security

FMS Enhances US Security By Protecting Infrastructure:
Keeping Technical "Know-How" Current (R&D)
Keeping Factory Doors Open to Ensure US Defense Capability in Time of Crisis
However, US Defense Industry Suffering from World-Wide Defense Cuts
US Defense Spending is so Low, Pentagon Unable to Fully Support Defense Infrastructure

Downsized and Reduced US Overseas Presence Requires Coalition Partners
US No Longer Able to Afford Large Forward Bases
FMS Takes the Place of "Actual" Presence
US Presence is Maintained Through Arms/Support

Coalition Shares Cost of R&D and Production
Lower Cost-per-Unit, Means Sufficient Numbers to Satisfy Defense Needs
Coalition Means Almost Seamless Integration, Less Loss of Life, Increased Opportunities for Success in Multi-National Military Operations

State Department
Suggests to POTUS General FMS direction
Has a Role in Program Determination
Has a Role in Program Integration

How Does the Process Work?
Country Requests "Price & Availability"
Country Must Be on CONGRESSIONALLY APPROVED List before P&A is Provided
Specific MILDEP Contacts Defense Industry to Get P&A Estimate
MILDEP Does "Sanity Check" to Make Sure Price is Reasonable
If P&A Reasonable, P&A is Passed to Country

Country Considers P&A and Submits Formal "Letter of Request" if they want the Stuff
The LOR is Evaluated and Validated
Evaluated for Authority to Ask for the Stuff
Validated for Permission to Have the Stuff
If LOR Approved, The Process is Started
"Letter of Offer and Acceptance" is Prepared
LOA is a "Total Package" Contract:
Establishes Terms and Conditions, Specifies items to be Sold, Delivery Schedule, Liabilities, Cost, Training, Logistics, Follow-On Support, The Works!
LOA Must be Approved By White House, DoD, Commerce Dept, State Dept, and "others" (if Required--Congress)

President Notifies Congress When:
More than $50 Million in Military Stuff
More than $200 Million in Construction
More than $14 Million in Major Items
At any Price, If "Significant Military Equipment" is Involved
When Congress Notified, President Explains: How the Sale Affects the Balance of Power
Impacts the Arms-Race; Impact on US Technological Edge; How it Supports US National Interests

"The President Must Determine The Eligibility of the Prospective Purchaser on the Basis that Sales Will Strengthen US Security and Promote World Peace" (DoD 5105.38-M)

Congress Thinks About the Sale
20-Day "Unofficial" Notification
30-Day "Official" Notification
50-Days to Approve/Disapprove Sale
Lack of Objection = Approval
Country has 120-Days to Sign
Country Accepts and US Military is Honest Broker: Conducts Program Management Reviews; Monitors Delivery and Upgrades; Modifies or Amends the Contract
Legal Authority: Foreign Assistance Act, FARs, DOD 5105.38-M, Security Assistance

Myths and Misconceptions
US Sells Arms For Just for the Bucks
US Sells Arms Because a Manufacturer Wants to
US Sells Arms Just Because We Can
Hollywood Has a Clue about FMS

Reality Check
FMS Promotes US Peace and Security
FMS Protects US National Security
FMS Has Lots of Oversight and Accountability---especially from Congress
FMS Does Generate Big Bucks-However, US National Security Is Driving Factor in ALL FMS Sales

[Joe Brower]

Thanks!

[csvset]

They didn't cut off these animals

C'mon now, the Palis are our parners in the Roadmap to Peace Highway to Hell process.

[OPS4]

The President remains stead fast on his patriotic mission,
if your not with us, your against us.

Ops4 God Bless America!

[InvisibleChurch]

probably some sort of international dispute in Garezars during john's day

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Just like the women trying to get out Saudi Arabia with her daughters, the Government, (State Dept, Pentagon) doesn't hesitate to sell its' citizens down the river for the sake of International Relations

So what do you think? If the US doesn't sell to countries like Saudi, they won't buy any military hardware at all? There are plenty of people standing in line behind us. European arms manufactures would love us to step out of the way. So would Russia and China. The Saudis will buy their equipment somewhere. They want to buy American, but will go elsewhere if needed.

[two23]

"Keep reading on down. Reuters screwed up.

I saw that--they contradict themselves.

#1--"The United States on Tuesday suspended military assistance to nearly 50 countries, including Colombia."

#2--"But the 22 countries did not include Colombia."

[Sofa King]

Based on the information initially available to Reuters, the countries subject to the suspension of military aid are:

Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominica, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Niger, Paraguay, Peru, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zambia.

[WoofDog123]

"I believe Columbia didn't receive a waiver FROM the ban and are subject to the ban on aid.

I could be wrong but that's what it looks like."

But panama did get a waiver. The US has military activites in both countries, but I expect that with the possibility of further involvement in colombia in the future, the US wants that agreement with them NOW.

[WoofDog123]

It also provides a large % of one of the larger retail items in the United States, cocaine. Between that and, as you mention, oil, they are a resource-rich country. Emeralds and coffee are a bonus.