The Arms Sales Monitoring Project from the Federation of American Scientists

[bobthedrummer]

http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/asmp/index.html

[pinto]

1. Thanks for this post. K&R.

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) is a non-profit organization formed in 1945 by scientists from the Manhattan Project who felt that scientists, engineers and other innovators had an ethical obligation to bring their knowledge and experience to bear on critical national decisions.<1> Their first projects focused on controlling nuclear weapons and research on civilian nuclear power, issues that remain prominent to FAS today.

Endorsed by 68 Nobel Laureates<2> in chemistry, economics, medicine and physics, FAS now addresses a range of issues where science and technology analysis is critical.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federation_of_American_Scientists

[stillcool]

2. And I wonder why...thanks for the link!

NEWS RELEASE
On the web: http://www.dsca.mil Media/Public Contact: [phone]
Transmittal No. 09-10
Iraq – M16A4 Rifles, M4 Carbines and M203 Grenade Launchers
WASHINGTON, December 10, 2008 – On Dec. 9, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of (80,000) M16A4 5.56MM Rifles, (25,000) M4 5.56MM Carbines, (2,550) M203 40MM Grenade Launchers as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $148 million.
============================
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country. This proposed sale directly supports the Iraq government and serves the interests of the Iraqi people and the U.S.
The proposed sale of the small arms and support will enable the Iraq Army to expand its force structure. This expansion will enable Iraq to equip new forces to assume the missions currently accomplished by U.S. and coalition forces and to sustain themselves in their efforts to bring stability to Iraq and to prevent overflow of unrest into neighboring countries.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractors are Colt Manufacturing Company in Hartford, Connecticut and Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing Group Herstal, S. A. in Herstal, Belgium. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
U.S. Government and Contractor technical assistance will be required but cannot be fully defined at this time. The use of existing, deployed U.S. military personnel will be maximized.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.
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