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U.S. intelligence can't prove allies aren't proliferators

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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