The inspector general also found the State Department avoided congressional review by dividing sales of controversial arms into smaller packages.
Tag: Arms Trade
State Dept. Says Report Defends Pompeo on Arms Sales. But It Finds Fault Over Mass Deaths.
The agency gave its interpretation of an inspector general’s report on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pushing arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E., but declined to release the findings.
Lawmakers Aim to Prevent Trump From Bypassing Ban on Armed Drone Sales
Senators from both parties say President Trump cannot be allowed to help drone technology proliferate, and they want it to be kept away from Saudi Arabia in particular.
In Afghanistan, a Rarely Seen Anti-Tank Weapon Destroys a Helicopter
Another Afghan helicopter was hit in January by an anti-tank guided missile in southern Afghanistan, in a swath of territory long contested by the Taliban.
Trump Administration Is Bypassing Arms Control Pact to Sell Large Armed Drones
The move has been opposed internally by arms control officials and lawmakers trying to limit the proliferation of such drones, especially in countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
U.K. Says It Will Resume Arms to Saudi Arabia
Military sales were suspended over concerns about Saudi human rights violations in Yemen. Now, Britain argues that Saudi violations there are “isolated incidents.”
Trump Administration May End Congressional Review of Foreign Arms Sales
Mike Pompeo and other aides to President Trump are discussing ending a bipartisan review process because lawmakers have held up sales to Saudi Arabia over civilian casualties in Yemen.
Pompeo Aide Who Pushed Saudi Arms Sale Said to Have Pressured Inspector General
Congress is looking into whether Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked President Trump to fire Steve Linick, the department’s inspector general, to retaliate for investigations.
Pompeo Declined Interview Request From Inspector General About Saudi Arms Sales
The secretary of state instead offered written answers. He was aware of the inquiry and the specific lines of questioning about his decision to resume the sales.
5 Takeaways on U.S. Involvement in the World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis
Thousands of civilians have died in Yemen, and American-made bombs sold to the Saudis have played a key role as the White House has sought to boost the arms industry.