U.S. intelligence can't prove allies aren't proliferators
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Sunday, November 25, 2001
WASHINGTON Ñ The United States lacks adequate intelligence to determine whether its allies are preventing the flow of material and technology needed to develop weapons of mass destruction, a General Accounting Office director has testified.
Congress is conducting an investigation following complaints
that several U.S. allies have been lax in preventing the flow of dual-use
technology that could be used in WMD programs. They include the sale of
advanced computers.
The administration does not have a clear picture of which U.S. ally is
exporting dual-use material for WMD programs. A CIA report earlier this year
said Western European countries are engaged in dual-use exports that could
be used in WMD programs in the Middle East.
Joseph Christoff, General Accounting
Office director of international affairs and trade, told a Senate subcommittee International Security,
Proliferation, and Federal Services on Nov. 7 that the Commerce Department
does not have complete intelligence information on license applicants that
may serve as fronts for proliferators or terrorists engaged in illicit
activities. He added that the U.S. government has difficulties confirming
the appropriate use of exported technologies and determining end-users.
"While the goal of export controls is to prevent the transfer of
sensitive technologies, a number of factors hinder their implementation,"
Christoff said. "These include a failure to assess the security risk
associated with the transfer of sensitive goods and technologies, and
difficulties in screening out end-users and monitoring the use of items
after export."
"Member countries do not always agree on which countries and
technologies are of greatest concern," Christoff said. "We are currently
examining how the extent to which members abide by their commitments,
establish laws and regulations to restrict transfers, and coordinate their
actions with other members limit these arrangements."
On Nov. 19, the European Commission approved a proposal that would lead
to improved trade with Iran and strengthen cooperation in such areas as
drugs, refugees, energy and the environment.
Officials said the United States has employed international treaties,
multilateral export control arrangements, U.S. export controls, and security
assistance to other countries to help prevent the transfer of weapons of
mass destruction and associated technologies to terrorists or rogue states.
They said Washington has often disagreed with its allies over what
technologies should be denied such countries as Iran, Libya and Syria.
"We need to reassess the adequacy of our current policy tools to address
our new vulnerabilities and changed perceptions of the threats we face,"
Christoff said.
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