White House Reportedly Seeks Arms Sale Agency
The White House is asking Congress to authorize a government agency that would underwrite sales of military products to NATO nations, Japan, Israel and Australia, a published report said today.
Supporters argue that it would level the playing field with the United States’ chief industrial competitors, most of which have export credit agencies that finance military sales, the New York Times reported.
It said the financing would be available to “any other country”--including those in the Third World--should the White House determine it is in the national interest.
The proposal comes as the Bush Administration seeks to limit rearmament in the Middle East after the Gulf War, but, the report said, Administration officials insist the two efforts do not conflict.
The newspaper said that after a long, divisive internal battle, the White House came down on the side of weapons contractors.
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