After the US delayed its sale of $53 million worth of arms to Bahrain, it was announced last week that a new package of weapons may be sold, without public notification.
The new package would include the sale of patrol boats, communications equipment, and spare parts for helicopters and fighter jets. The US has been accused of making use of a legal loophole, which states sales of under $1 million could be made, without congressional approval. This loophole also allows for multiple sales, all under $1million.
Three Senators and 18 Representatives, all Democrats, signed a letter to Hillary Clinton condemning the sale, shortly after news of the deal broke out.
See the letter in full here. Extracts have been reproduced below.
US lawmakers push to halt arms sales to Bahrain (09 Oct 2011)
US will wait for inquiry before approving Bahrain arms (19 Oct 2011)
The new package would include the sale of patrol boats, communications equipment, and spare parts for helicopters and fighter jets. The US has been accused of making use of a legal loophole, which states sales of under $1 million could be made, without congressional approval. This loophole also allows for multiple sales, all under $1million.
Three Senators and 18 Representatives, all Democrats, signed a letter to Hillary Clinton condemning the sale, shortly after news of the deal broke out.
See the letter in full here. Extracts have been reproduced below.
"We recognize the limited nature of the sales, and we acknowledge that the Bahraini government has taken some positive steps with respect to human rights in recent months."Also see our earlier posts:
"However, it has not done enough to justify the sale of any military items or services to Bahrain."
"Tragically, even a brief survey of reports from reliable sources makes clear that the Bahraini government continues to perpetrate significant human rights violations."
"In fact, it is noteworthy that the Bahraini government has pursued prosecutions against protestors far more aggressively than it has pursued prosecutions against senior government officials or security forces who have been responsible for grave abuses over the past year."
"We are deeply concerned that the Government of Bahrain is trying to shield itself from scrutiny. In the last three weeks alone, Bahrain has denied entry to prominent independent human rights monitors, including Brian Dooley of Human Rights First and Richard Sollom of Physicians for Human Rights."
US lawmakers push to halt arms sales to Bahrain (09 Oct 2011)
US will wait for inquiry before approving Bahrain arms (19 Oct 2011)
