Stopping the arms trade

With our economy a mess and the world economy messy as well, it is easy to forget about other problems. One of those "other problems" is the proliferation of arms. It is especially easy to forget, given that our export economy includes a significant sale of armaments.

There is a campaign to stop this trade called "The World Is Watching." The goal? To get the 153 governments who voted at the United Nations to develop an arms treaty. This vote took place in 2006, but so far there is no treaty.

This proposed treaty is not about nuclear arms. It is about the use of conventional war arms. There has been a history of various agreements made in conflict areas, and the agreements are something that any civilized society can agree with. For example: Transfers of arms, ammunition, explosives and other related material shall not be carried to or from states which … commit or sponsor crimes against humanity or human rights violations (Code of Conduct-Central American States), or member states will not issue an export license if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression (European Union Code of Conduct).

According to an Amnesty International report, the United States was the biggest source of illicit small arms seized in Colombia. The U.S. was the primary source by thousands followed by Germany, Venezuela and Russia, in that order. Russia wins the arms sweepstakes in some other countries such as Cote d'Ivoire.

China is not exempt from the arms export business either. It has "made available" huge amounts of arms sales to the Sudan. It has a very vested interest. China has become cozy with the Sudanese government because of its oil. It has looked the other way while the Sudanese government has committed unspeakable acts in Darfur. China has continued to supply arms to Sudan while the government pushes into Southern Sudan in partnership with the Chinese to drill for oil. The grand total in small arms in 2006 was $17.2 million. Within one year from 2006 to 2007 there were 409 military and police flights to Darfur from the larger government. The Chinese government has made available eight K-8 jet fighters for use in Darfur. According to Amnesty International, these jets were equipped with cannons, rockets and bombs. The Russians contributed planes as well to the Sudan government.

So, the question is how do you prevent such insanity? The only option is for a worldwide treaty with pressure from each country's citizens. Recommendations have included outlining provisions for state-to-state transfer of weapons, commercial sales rules and loans and gifts from governments to other governments.

One of the ways that an arms treaty that would end arms to the bad guys of the world is to make sure that countries passed their own laws that mandated certain restrictions and transparency rules as to how small arms would be sold and tracked if they were produced in that country. That would take massive country-by-country pressure from citizens.

Legal small-arms exports from the United States have been tracked at about one half billion dollars per year. It would be easy in this economy to increase this as a way to help our balance of trade. We need to pressure the next president to decrease small arms exports and push through national legislation to make sure they don't go to the bad guys. In the long run, it costs all of us as we fight rogue regimes and human-rights violators.

Debt, security, and oil

"If we let the world know that we're going after every drop that we can responsibly gather, and let the world know that we are going to be the least reliant country in the world on oil...we would send a ripple throughout the world," said Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio) during a telephone conference on energy independence and national security.

"We wouldn't need to be at the mercy of other people. It wouldn't impact our foreign policy decisions as it does today."

Voinovich made the case that the combination of the country's debt and reliance on foreign oil received from hostile nations has created a security concern that neither presidential candidate has properly addressed.

"The problem that they're not talking about is that 51 percent of the debt is owned by foreign countries...70% of it is being bought by the Chinese, the Japanese, and the OPEC nations."

Voinovich likened the situation to a business whose competitors have a supply that's in demand and control of their debt. He said that under those circumstances it was doubtful it would be in business much longer.

An Olympic challenge: Bush should address human rights abuse

As a test of his presidential legacy, President Bush needs to address the human rights violation in China on his visit to the Beijing Olympic Games, said T. Kumar, Advocacy Director for Asia and Pacific for Amnesty International of the United States, especially because, on its own accord, the Chinese government promised to improve its human rights treatment.

Kumar made his message clear: Human rights in China have deteriorated since the International Olympic Committee decided the games would be held in Beijing. 250,000 people are imprisoned in labor camps through the "re-education through labor" detention system. According to Kumar, the Chinese government executes more people than every other country combined.

In his speech in Thailand yesterday, Bush addressed Chinese human rights violations, but that speech was meaningless if he does speak up when he is actually in China, Kumar said. Kumar suggested that Bush meet with"Mothers of Tiananmen," which consists of relatives of Tiananmen Square victims. The Chinese government has decided to designate three areas for peaceful demonstration, Kumar said, and Bush should also visit them.

Bush is sending a conflicted message about religious freedom by visiting state-controlled churches during his visit, argued Kumar. He should also visit independent churches.

Speaking out would be a symbolic victory against human right violations in China. Although it would have not have a significant short-term effect, Bush could set the standard for what the United States expects of China and establish guidelines for the next president, Kumar said.

Beijing's chance to open up to the world clouded with smog

"My hope is for some enlightened leader at the top within China to bring reform about," said Elizabeth Economy, a writer for Foreign Affairs. She and Adam Segal spoke with Gideon Rose, the managing editor of Foreign Affairs Journal, about an article they co-wrote which argues that the Olympics have become a staging ground for domestic and international protests against China's record on human rights, the environment, and even food safety. They also discussed the likelihood that the Olympic games will bring about change within China.

Economy said that the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games were supposed to be a coming out party for China, allowing it to open its doors to the world. However, she said, the Games have not been the transformative event the nation had hoped for, with rising criticism of its smoggy cities, restrictions on internet use, and infrastructure requirements.

Segal gave the example of Chinese taxis that have been equipped with microphones. He said that while some believe the instruments were installed to spy on people and repress them, he agreed with the government's statement that the microphones were put in place to control dangerous protests. Events like these have drawn immense global criticism, according to Segal.

Both Segal and Economy stated expectations of reform within the nation as a result of the games, and hope that the change would come from within the government itself.

Olympics exemplify rising Chinese influence

"Chinese athletes will begin to win their share of [Olympic] golds and Americans will begin to question our status on the planet", said Charles Freeman, an expert in China Studies at The Center for Strategic Studies (CSIS). He spoke at a discussion on US-China Space Cooperation.

Freeman also said that with the Beijing Olympics beginning this week, many are wondering how relations with with the US will change. He went on to say that he expects immense public anxiety in America during the Olympics due to the event's symbolic nature of China's rise to a global power that threatens US dominance.

Dorothy Reimold, Acting Assistant Administrator for International Aviation at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that the United States needs to continue working closely with Chinese aviation officials to improve efficiency and capacity, especially with increased trade between the two nations. However, she also said that because 80 percent of Chinese air space is controlled by the military, the FAA also must consult with them. Reimold also said that progress in these two areas would be key for addressing growing environmental concerns in the region.