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A Risky Business:U.S. Arms Exports to Countries Where Terror Thrives
As the war on terrorism moves into its next phase, the United States continues to build its campaign upon an international coalition against terrorism. The administration of President George W. Bush has partnered with countries that are participating in varying degrees of military, political, economic, and diplomatic cooperation to stamp out terrorism worldwide. As part of this cooperative effort, the Bush administration has expressed a willingness to provide weapons to countries that, in the past, have been criticized for human rights violations, lack of democracy, and even support of terrorism. While there may be understandable short-term reasons for considering such a shift in U.S. arms export policy, there also are long-term risks. There are 28 terrorist groups currently operating in 18 countries, according to the State Department's bi-annual list of active foreign terrorist organizations (see below). The United States does not arm these groups directly, but weapons sales and other forms of U.S. military assistance (training, etc.) freely flow to many of the countries within which these groups are active. In some cases, the U.S. supplies arms to these countries to assist in the fight against internal terrorist organizations, such as in Spain. In other countries, however, governments, in countries such as Saudi Arabia, are doing little to stem the activities of terrorist cells within a country's borders that are organizing to commit foreign terrorist activities. In the period of 1990-1999, the United States supplied 16 of the 18 countries on the State Department list with arms through the government-to-government sales under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, or through industry contracted Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) programs, or with military assistance. Recipients included Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Sri Lanka (see below), where, arguably, the risk of diversion is high. In addition, the U.S. military (and the CIA) has trained the forces of many of these 18 countries in U.S. war fighting tactics, in some cases including individuals now involved in terrorism. Of additional concern is that some countries receiving U.S. weapons and/or training continue to recruit children for their official armed forces, and many of the terrorist groups residing in those states rely on children as combatants (see below). Thus, United States is supplying arms and military aid to countries where children are used as soldiers. Indeed, the Stinger anti-aircraft missiles being used in Afghanistan were supplied by the U.S. government, in order to help the mujahidin during their war with to oust the Soviet Union from the country. And both the Taliban and Northern Alliance have used children in their ranks for years. As the Bush administration seeks to allow arms sales and/or training to countries whose assistance is needed in the new U.S. war, policy-makers must be aware of the risks. Partners today may not be on the same side tomorrow. In addition, as the circle of potential recipients widens, the U.S. government immediately should move to strengthen controls, such as end-use monitoring, to ensure that U.S. weapons and know-how remain in the hands of the intended parties. Such end-use monitoring traditionally has not been a strong suit. In FY 2000, for example the State Department conducted end-use checks on only 0.005 percent of all defense articles licensed by the Office of Defense Trade Controls (DTC). The U.S. government further should be wary of ignoring its own export control laws and policies in conducting the campaign against terrorism. The regulations in the Foreign Assistance Act and Arms Export Control Act were developed to ensure that U.S. weapons went into the hands of only desirable actors. U.S. policy was crafted to ensure that weapon exports should not undermine long-term security and stability, weaken democratic movements, support military coups, escalate arms races, exacerbate ongoing conflicts, cause arms build-ups in unstable regions, or be used to commit human rights abuses. Clearly, some U.S. arms exports over the past decade have undermined at least the spirit of these criteria. At this point, it is imperative that Washington re-examine its export record, especially with respect to the 18 countries where terror groups continue to do business, and take measures to ensure that American soldiers do not, sometime in the near future, find themselves facing down terrorists armed with U.S. weapons.
Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO1 list: al Qaeda — formed by Osama bin Laden in the 1980s, with the goal of uniting Arabs who fought the Soviets in Afghanistan. This group is extremely anti-Western and also works closely with other Islamic terrorist groups to overthrow non-Islamic governments. Defense Trade Controls: June 27, 1996: Amendment to ITAR 126.1 2 May 8, 2001 : Denial Policy to territory of Afghanistan under Taliban control and all of Afghanistan. Use of Child Soldiers: Children have been steadily involved in Afghanistan's two decades of civil war. Forced and compulsory recruitment is indicated in many armed groups including the Taliban and the Northern Alliance, with no specific legal age governing the minimum age of recruitment into these armed forces. Many of these child recruits are not only drawn from Afghanistan, but also from the Afghan refugee population dispersed throughout neighboring countries, and from some religious schools in Pakistan known as madrasas.
ALGERIA Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Armed Islamic Group (GIA) - active since 1992, with the goal of replacing the Algerian government with an Islamic State. Defense Trade Controls: None. Use of Child Soldiers: The compulsory recruitment age for the government forces is 19; the voluntary age of recruitment is unknown and there are no indications of children being recruited into the government armed forces. However, reports indicate the use of children in paramilitary "legitimate defense" groups and armed opposition groups. In 1997, it was reported that the Islamic Salvation Army (AIS), a major opposition group, recruited boys as young as 15. Reports also indicate that children as young as 12 are reportedly active participants in the Armed Islamic Group (GIA).
COLOMBIA Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: National Liberation Army (ELN) - Marxist guerilla group made up of approximately 3,000-6,000 combatants. Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) - Marxist guerilla group made up of approximately 9,000 to 12,000 combatants. United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) - paramilitary group made up of an estimated 8,000 combatants working under the pretext of protecting its supporters, including economic elites, drug traffickers and towns that lack government protection, from the insurgent groups. Defense Trade Controls: None. Use of Child Soldiers: For government forces, the compulsory recruitment age is 18 and the voluntary age of recruitment is also 18. While the government has ended the recruitment of children under 18, the AUC, paramilitary forces and the guerilla groups FARC, and ELN recruit an estimated 14,000 children forcibly. Children as young as 8 years old are used to fight, guard hostages, transport arms and place bombs as well as other related tasks. FARC not only recruits Colombian children, but also pays parents for their children in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Panama. U.S. Arms Deliveries
U.S. Military Assistance
EGYPT Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Al-Jihad (also known as the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Jihad Group, Islamic Jihad) and Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group, IG)-extremist groups that want to replace the Egyptian government with an Islamic State. The strength of these groups is unknown, although they are affiliated with Al Qaeda. Defense Trade Controls: None Use of Child Soldiers: The compulsory recruitment age for government forces is 18, the voluntary age of recruitment is unknown. It is not very likely that government forces contain many under 18s, however, the armed opposition groups reportedly use children. IG recruits students, some of which may be under 18. There are no reports of Al-Jihad using child soldiers. U.S. Arms Deliveries
U.S. Military Assistance
GREECE Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Revolutionary Organization 17 November (17 November) - a small radical leftist group that protests the military and wants the Turkish military out of Cyprus. Revolutionary People's Struggle (ELA) - a small radical leftist group that protests the military and is against U.S. military forces in Greece. Defense Trade Controls: None Use of Child Soldiers: Greece has been in a state of general mobilization since July 1976 due to ongoing tensions with Turkey and the Cyprus conflict. The government reserves the right to recruit under 18s if it is in need of increased mobilization. Therefore, while the age of recruitment is 18, 17 year olds may serve in government forces. U.S. Arms Deliveries
U.S. Military Assistance
IRAQ Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) (also known as Fatah Revolutionary Council, Arab Revolutionary Brigades, Black September, and Revolutionary Organization of Socialist Muslims) - split from the Palestinian Liberation Organiztion (PLO) in the 1970s, and has since then attacked targets in 20 countries and killed or injured an estimated 900 people. Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK or MKO) (also known as The National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA), the militant wing of the MEK, the People's Mujahidin of Iran (PMOI), National Council of Resistance (NCR), Muslim Iranian Student's Society (front organization used to garner financial support) and Palestine Liberation Front (PLF)) - was established in the 1960s as a Marxist and Islamic group whose main target is the Iranian government. Defense Trade Controls: August 3, 1990: Department of State Revocation Notice - any licenses or approvals to transfer defense articles and defense services from the United States to Iraq, or the transfer of any U.S. defense articles from foreign countries to Iraq, are revoked. September 13, 1990: Department of State Notice designating Iraq as a terrorist country October 29, 1991: Amendment to ITAR 126.1 Use of Child Soldiers: The compulsory recruitment age for government forces is 18, the voluntary age of recruitment is somewhat unclear and there is no age limit for recruitment within the paramilitary forces. Child involvement during the Iran-Iraq war was reportedly extensive; boys as young as 12 were part of the Iraqi military. The Kurdish Working Party (PKK), (listed as a terrorist group under Turkey), operating within Iraq, has increased child recruitment since 1994, and have created regiments specifically for children such as the Tabura Zaroken Sehit Agit. An estimated 3,000 children, reported to be as young as 7, formed part of the PKK in 1998, 10% of whom were girls. Other armed opposition groups such as the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have been known to use children soldiers as young as 10 years old. U.S. Arms Deliveries
U.S. Military Assistance
IRELAND Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Real IRA (RIRA) (also known as True IRA) - formed in 1998 with the purpose of unifying Ireland. It is made up of about 150 to 200 members. Many of the participants are former Irish Republican Army members who were opposed to IRA's the cease-fire. Defense Trade Controls: None Use of Child Soldiers: There is no conscription in the Irish government forces. The voluntary recruitment age is 17, but according to the Irish government, under-18s are unlikely to be deployed. U.S. Arms Deliveries
U.S. Military Assistance
ISRAEL Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Kach and Kahane Chai - a group formed under the pretext of restoring the biblical state of Israel. HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement) and The Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) (operates in primarily in Israel but is headquartered in Syria). Both HAMAS and the PIJ aspire to replace Israel with an Islamic Palestinian State, and while their strength is unknown, HAMAS reportedly has tens of thousands of supporters and sympathizers. Defense Trade Controls: None Use of Child Soldiers: The compulsory recruitment age is 17, the voluntary age of recruitment is also 17, which indicates the use of children under 18 in government armed forces, but the number of minors used is not known. HAMAS is known for recruiting children as young as 12.
U.S. Military Assistance
Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Aum Supreme Truth (Aum) (also known as Aum Shinrikyo, or Aleph) - began as a cult in 1987 and was approved under Japanese law as a religious unit in 1989, made up of approximately 1,500 to 2,000 people. Japanese Red Army (JRA) (also known as the Anti-Imperialist International Brigade (AIIB)) - formed around 1970 with the goal of overthrowing the Japanese government and provoking a world revolution. Defense Trade Controls: None Use of Child Soldiers: While officially there are no armed forces in Japan, the Self Defense Force (SDF) is a military force, which admits 16-year-old youth cadets. However, cadets under the age of 18 are not deployed. U.S. Arms Deliveries
U.S. Military Assistance
LEBANON Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Hezbollah (Party of God) (also known as: Islamic Jihad, Revolutionary Justice Organization, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, and Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine) - radical Shia group that is anti-West and anti-Israel. The group is made up of a few hundred people, but has several thousand supporters. Defense Trade Controls: None Use of Child Soldiers: The compulsory recruitment age and the voluntary age of recruitment for government forces is 18. Children are trained in combat in the Palestinian National Liberation Army (PNLA, PLO), of whom an estimated 3% are girls. Hezbollah previously recruited minors as young as 10 years old, but this is no longer the case.
U.S. Military Assistance
PAKISTAN Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM) - a radical Islamic group with several thousand members that operates mainly in Kashmir and has been linked to al Qaeda. Defense Trade Controls: June 17, 1998: Department of State Revocation Notice - stating that any licenses or approvals to transfer defense articles and defense services from the United States to Pakistan, or the transfer of any U.S. defense articles from foreign countries to Pakistan, are revoked. Use of Child Soldiers: The voluntary age of recruitment for government forces is 16, which indicates the use of child soldiers in the government armed forces. However, there is no indication of under-18s being deployed. Several armed opposition groups within Pakistan, such as the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM), the Shia Movement and Sunni groups reportedly recruit children as young as 16. Since there is a large refugee population in Pakistan, it has also become the home of many armed groups from neighboring countries including Afghanistan, Jammu and Kashmir, which are believed to recruit children. Another major concern is the rise of informal Islamic schools-madrasas- some of which are known for recruiting children for political and military activities. Some madrasas are also known to have links to terrorist networks such as al Qaeda. U.S. Arms Deliveries
U.S. Military Assistance
Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) - is a leftist organization following a militant Maoist doctrine, with the goal of overthrowing the Peruvian government and replacing it with a radical communist peasant regime. The number of participants is unknown, but it is estimated to be a small group of about 100-200. Defense Trade Controls: None. Use of Child Soldiers: Although there is no conscription in government armed forces, there are indications of children in government armed forces. The two main opposition groups, Sendero Luminoso and the Tuppac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) have been officially defeated, but still maintain small forces that may include under-18s. Both are known to have recruited several thousand children in the recent past. Reports indicate that the MRTA has recruited children as young as 11, and Sendero Luminoso has recruited children as young as 14. U.S. Arms Deliveries
U.S. Military Assistance
Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) - an Islamic separatist group made up of about 200 fighters, with the goal of establishing an independent Islamic state. An estimated 2,000 reportedly joined in August 2000, hoping to receive money for foreign hostages. Defense Trade Controls: None. Use of Child Soldiers: There are no indications of children used in the government armed forces. However, there are reports that the paramilitary and opposition armed forces use child soldiers. Twenty to 30 percent of new recruits in the National People's Army (NPA), a major opposition group, are reportedly male and female children aged between 14 and 17. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) reportedly recruits children, both girls and boys, from 13 years of age and up. ASG has several thousand members, many of which are thought to be under-18s, although the number of youths in their ranks is unknown. The Cordillera Peoples' Liberation Army is also reported to recruit children. U.S. Arms Deliveries
U.S. Military Assistance
SPAIN Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) (also known as (Euzkadi Ta Askatasuna) - a Marxist group with the goal of establishing an independent Basque homeland. ETA's exact strength is not known, but they are reported to have hundreds of members and supporters. Defense Trade Controls: None. Use of Child Soldiers: The compulsory recruitment age for the government armed forces is 18, the voluntary age of recruitment is 17. Children are also associated with the ETA. A Basque youth organization named Haika, made up of children as young as 15, has been linked to the Basque terrorist organization.
U.S. Arms Deliveries
SRI LANKA Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) - a group made up of about 8,000 to 10,000 armed combatants that violently oppose the Sri Lanka government. LTTE began to use terrorist tactics against the government in 1983 by conducting political assassinations and bombings. Defense Trade Controls: None. Use of Child Soldiers: The are no indications of children participating in the government armed forces, however there are indications of child recruitment by the paramilitary groups that fight with the armed forces such as the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), the People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), and the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO). The LTTE, which has been fighting a civil war with the government since 1983, has a substantial record of recruiting children both male and female as young as 9, although the estimated age of children currently recruited is between 14 and 17. In 1998, children were reported to make up 75 percent of the LTTE fighters. Since 1985, LTTE has had a women's front called the "Liberation Birds," which has been known to recruit girls as young as 13.
Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) - formed as a Marxist-Leninist group, currently made up of about 800 people, that opposes negotiations with Israel. Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) branched off of PFLP committed to fighting rather than politics. While the PLFP believes in some diplomatic measures, and in 1999 met with representatives from the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) to discuss issues such as national unity, the PFLP-GC is opposed to the PLO and focuses solely on carrying out guerilla operations. Defense Trade Controls: Oct. 29, 1991: Amendment to ITAR 126.1. Use of Child Soldiers: Military service
in the government forces is compulsory, and the minimum age of conscription
is 19. The voluntary recruitment age is unknown and it is not known if child
soldiers are used. U.S. Arms Deliveries
U.S. Military Assistance
Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - a Marxist-Leninist group formed in 1974, with the goal of establishing an independent Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey. The PKK has approximately 4,000 to 5,000 members and thousands of supporters, located not only in Turkey but also in Iran, Iraq, France and Germany. The Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) (also known as the Devrimci Sol (Revolutionary Left) and Dev Sol) - a Marxist anti-Western, anti-NATO group. Defense Trade Controls: None. Use of Child Soldiers: The compulsory recruitment age in the government forces is 19 and the voluntary age of recruitment is 18. The number of children in the PKK in 1998 was reportedly 3,000, more than 10 percent girls. It has been reported that children's battalions have been formed in the PKK, made up of children ages 8-12. Children are not only forced to join PKK armed forces in Turkey, but also in other countries where the PKK exists such as Iran, Iraq, France and Germany. U.S. Arms Deliveries
UZBEKISTAN Terrorist Organization(s) listed in U.S. FTO list: Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) - an anti-Western and anti-Israeli militant group that aspires to replace the Uzbek government with an Islamic State. Defense Trade Controls: None. Use of Child Soldiers: The compulsory recruitment age is 18 for the government armed forces. The voluntary recruitment age is unknown and therefore it is not known if child soldiers are used. There are strong indications of under-18s being used in the IMU.
End Notes: 1 Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list is compiled biennially by the U.S. State Department 2 Amendment to ITAR 126.1 - Amendment to the International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR) prohibiting the export, import and sale of defense articles and defense services to certain countries, including countries that support or harbor terrorist organizations.
3 DCS - Direct Commercial Sales 4 FMS- Foreign Military Sales 5 IMET - International Military Education and Training 6 FMF - Foreign Military Financing
Sources: Patterns of Global Terrorism - United States Department of State also online: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2001/index.cfm?docid=5265 Child Soldiers Global Report - a global report form the coalition to stop the use of child soldiers, 2001: http://www.child-soldiers.org/ Database on DCS and FMS Arms Transfers from FY 1990-1999. Searchable by type of sale, region or state, and fiscal year(s). Compiled from the annual "655 Report" and Defense Security Cooperation Agency's fact book. Found at FAS website: http://www.fas.org/asmp/profiles/sales_db.htm Radda Barnen CHILD SOLDIERS Information resources from Save the Children Sweden: http://www.rb.se/childwardatabase/ Database on IMET and FMF military training from 1990-2000:
 TERRORISM PROJECT HOME LINKS CDI HOME
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