Source: New York Times Contact: Sat, 2 Aug 1997 U.S. Eases Ban on Arms Sales to Latin America By STEVEN LEE MYERS W ASHINGTON Reversing a policy enacted two decades ago because of human rights concerns, the Clinton administration announced Friday that it would lift the ban on sales of the most advanced weapons, like fighter jets and tanks, to countries in Latin America. President Carter imposed the ban in 1978, determined to deny advanced weaponry to the military dictatorships that then ruled most of Central and South America. In recent years, though, the Pentagon and the nation's military contractors have pressed the White House to allow some sales, arguing that most of the countries, with the exception of Cuba, are now moving toward democracy. The administration said it would now consider allowing arms sales "case by case," essentially putting Latin American countries through the same approval process as other countries. In announcing the change, the administration insisted that selling the weapons would help stabilize the region and bolster the transition to democracy. "It is in America's national security interest to promote stability and security among our neighbors in the hemisphere by engaging with them as equal partners as they modernize and restructure their defense establishments," said a statement released Friday by White House spokesman Michael McCurry. The reversal is a victory for the big military contractors, like Lockheed Martin Corp. and McDonnell Douglas Corp. While the arms market in Latin America is relatively small ranging from $500 million to as much as $2 billion a year, most of it for aircraft the change could open markets in countries that have in the past bought weapons elsewhere. "Latin American countries will now be able to consider American products as well as European and other," said Joel Johnson, a vice president of the Aerospace Industries Association in Washington, which represents aircraft makers. "We have had for the last two decades a policy of unilateral paternalism, in which we've told them they shouldn't have modern military equipment. And the end result is they bought it elsewhere." The administration's decision, which followed an internal review that dragged on for more than a year, drew immediate criticism from lawmakers and armscontrol advocates. They say that Latin American democracies remain unstable and that an influx of advanced weapons could set off an arms race in the region and rekindle traditional rivalries like those between Chile and Argentina, or Peru and Ecuador. Sen. Christopher Dodd, DConn., denounced the change and said he would redouble efforts to pass legislation restoring the restrictions on sales. Rep. Nita Lowey, DN.Y., has introduced similar legislation in the House. "I continue to believe that the 20year policy has worked and is the right policy," Dodd said. "I find it hard to believe that selling sophisticated aircraft, such as F16s, helps to maintain regional security and stability." Perhaps anticipating criticism, the White House made the announcement with little fanfare, issuing a statement Friday as Congress broke for its August recess. The previous policy was not a blanket ban on sales of weapons including jets, helicopters, tanks and radar systems. Instead it was "a policy of restraint with the presumption of denial." In practice, though, only once did the United States allow an exemption for a major sale, permitting Venezuela to buy 24 F16 fighter jets in 1981 because of its fears about Soviet troops stationed in Cuba. The Pentagon, under Secretary of Defense William Perry, asked Clinton to review the policy two years ago. Chile, which made its transition to democracy from military rule in 1990, also promoted the reconsideration, expressing an interest in buying 18 to 24 F16s. The review led to an internal debate. Warren Christopher, secretary of state at the time, told the Senate's Committee on Foreign Relations, "I think we should show great restraint in introducing new or high levels of weapons into areas where they do not presently have them." In January, however, Christopher joined Perry in recommending the review before both stepped down. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright also supported the change, State Department officials said, but Clinton held off on a decision until now as opponents in the administration continued to argue against it. Administration officials said Friday that even now the United States will scrutinize each request closely, granting sales only to those countries with solidifying democracies and firm civilian control over the military. Also, officials said the United States would not approve sales to countries with unresolved conflicts, like Peru and Ecuador, which battled along their border just last year. "It's a lifting of the ban, not an invitation to an arms race," Thomas McLarty III, the president's special coordinator for Latin American policy, said. The likelihood of military conflict in Latin America has certainly declined in recent years as countries moved toward civilian governments and increasingly integrated their economies. Thomas McNamara, the assistant secretary of state for politicalmilitary affairs, said the United States had to allow countries in Latin America to modernize their militaries, as any modern democracy would. Jeffrey Davidow, the assistant secretary for interAmerican affairs, said the change was "a sensitive decision" but was the next step in relations with the region. "If we're going to deal with these countries as democracies," he said, "I think we have to have a little faith and confidence in them."