Defense Trade: Arms Export Control Vulnerabilities and

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Inefficiencies in the Post-9/11 Security Environment

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6169

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United States Government Accountability Office

2005

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Summary

The State Department has not made significant changes to the arms export control system since

the September 2001 terror attacks. State Department officials maintain that such changes are not

needed. However, their position is not based on systematic evaluations of the effectiveness of

controls. Over the years, we have identified weaknesses in the arms export control system and

made corrective recommendations, a number of which the departments involved have not yet

implemented. Weaknesses include disagreements and poor coordination over whether certain items

are controlled by the State Department, as well as limitations in the government’s ability to ensure

that exports not needing prior government approval comply with export laws and regulations. These

weaknesses are compounded by challenges facing the enforcement community, including

constrained budgets and limited resources. Taken together, these weaknesses and challenges

create vulnerabilities in the arms export control system and undermine assurances that the system

is protecting U.S. interests.