Selling Arms to Latin America
* Jeffrey Record calls for an end to the arms ban (such as it is) for Latin America (Commentary, Sept. 9). At the same time, he admits that “war-threatening territorial disputes have declined” and “country after country has adopted free market institutions and prosperity is spreading.” What is the need for arms?
He endorses the Republican Party platform plank to open “the opportunity to replace their obsolete military equipment, raise the professional competence of their armed forces and cooperate fully with the United States in joint military training and exercises.” For what, a possible invasion of penguins from Antarctica?
Record totally overlooks the problem that Latin American armies historically have been and continue to be. And while worrying about the “standing insult to national sensitivities” that such a ban poses, he ignores the human rights violations and constant threat to democracy of armies south of the border.
Furthermore, given the poverty and misery of the area, it is simply obscene to take more money out of their coffers for new toys for their military brass.
WILLIAM J. DAVIS
Malibu
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