ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to assess the impact of human rights considerations on arms transfer policy since 1973 when Congress began to pressure the Executive branch to insert the human rights factor into the decisionmaking process. The Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs looks at the proposed arms transfer from the standpoint of regional and global implications and also drafts the regional Bureau's justification. An interdepartmental group, the Arms Export Control Board, was established by the new Administration to have jurisdiction over all aspects of its arms transfer policy. Arms transfer recommendations from the Executive are subject to modification or elimination in the appropriations process. According to Ellis Jones, the original arms transfer policy officer, it took only two and a half days to arrange arms transfer eligibility for Somalia, and humanitarian affairs was confronted with a fait accompli. Human rights policy is also being included in the training programs of the Foreign Service and military services.
