U.S. Conventional Arms Transfer Policy

An evaluation was made by GAO of: the implementation of the policy of restraint for conventional arms exports; the decisionmaking process for individual sales cases; and the congressional oversight role. Although in May 1977 the President announced a national policy of restraint in arms sales to all countries except those with which the U.S. has major defense treaties, achievements have been limited under the policy. One difficulty is that there is no systematic record kept of turndowns of arms sales and no consistent criteria have been established for turndowns. The State Department has not formulated a system for identifying violations by private manufacturers. U.S. diplomatic and military officials abroad were unclear as to their roles under the restraint policy. GAO observed that: the Defense Department appears to dominate decisionmaking when policy guidance is lacking from the Department of State; the review process builds a momentum for positive approval of arms transfer; and decisionmaking is a reactive process and there is a reluctance to turn down a request. GAO examined in detail 50 requests for arms sales and found that precedent often set the policy in the consideration of requests. Other countries are unwilling to join with the U.S. in its restraint effort. Information flow to Congress on arms sales continues to be inadequate, with the result that Congress cannot exercise policy formulation and oversight.