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Ben Stansall / AFP - Getty Images, file
A Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire, southern England, on July 22, 2010.
WASHINGTON -- As many as 66 countries would be eligible to buy U.S. drones under new Defense Department guidelines but Congress and the State Department, which have a final say, have not yet opened the spigots for exports, a senior Pentagon official said on Wednesday.
The 66 countries were listed in a Defense Department policy worked out last year to clear the way for wider overseas sales of unmanned aerial systems, as the Pentagon calls such drones, said Richard Genaille, deputy director of the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency. He did not name them.
"We don't really have a comprehensive U.S. government policy" on such exports, he told an industry conference called ComDef 2012. "It hasn't moved quite as fast as we would like, but we're not giving up."
NYT: US arms sales make up most of global market
Northrop Grumman Corp chief executive Wes Bush on Wednesday praised the Obama administration for what he described as significant moves to boost arms exports, but voiced frustration at delays in codifying them in a new export policy.
"I wish we were further along in getting that done. It's slow, it's painful, but we're doing the right things to move in that direction," Bush told Reuters.
Panetta: Military cuts to hit 'all 50 states'
U.S. arms makers are looking abroad to help offset Pentagon spending cuts spurred by U.S. deficit-reduction requirements.
Northrop Grumman's ability to boost its overseas arms sales, which now account for less than 10 percent of its overall revenues, hinges largely on streamlined export controls, Bush said.
Counterterrorism advisor Jon Brennan outlined the use of drones, arguing that it's legal and has reduced the ability of al-Qaida to attack the U.S. NBC News investigative reporter Bob Windrem and The National Journal's Yochi Dreazen discuss.
Complex web of regulations
U.S. defense and high-technology exporters have long complained about the complex web of regulations governing exports of weapons and "dual-use" goods that have both civilian and military applications. They believe the rules disadvantage them versus foreign competitors.
Of particular concern to Northrop Grumman are restrictions on exports such as the company's high-altitude Global Hawk surveillance planes.
The New York Times' Elisabeth Bumiller recently reported on the individuals responsible for flying drone planes, traveling to Hancock Field Air National Guard Base near Syracuse, New York to speak with pilots flying drones in Afghanistan.
The administration last year began informally consulting Congress on plans to sell Global Hawk to South Korea before withdrawing the proposed sale for reasons that have not been publicly disclosed.
Japan, Singapore and Australia also have shown interest in acquiring the aircraft, a Northrop Grumman spokeswoman told Reuters last year.
Bush said that failure to allow such exports could spark a repeat of the 1990s, when strict curbs on U.S. commercial satellite sales prompted other countries to develop rival hardware and software. Those efforts eventually eroded the market share of U.S. satellite producers from more than 70 percent to just around 25 percent.
New Navy fighter drone promises pilotless future
"The consequences of the decisions that were made in the early '90s were devastating for the US industrial base, and ultimately did nothing to enhance security, and in fact, were detrimental to our security," he said.
Overhaul of munitions list
The Obama administration, over the objections of some Republicans in Congress, is aiming to create a single list of items subject to export controls overseen by a single licensing agency, instead of the two separate lists now administered by the State Department and the Commerce Department.
Report: Obama embraces disputed definition of 'civilian' in drone wars
Jim Hursch, director of the Defense Department's Defense Technology Security Administration, speaking at the ComDef event, said the administration was well into the overhaul but still had significant work to do.
Government agencies, as interim steps toward creating the single unified list, have worked their way through the 21 categories of the U.S. Munitions List administered by the State Department to see what items can be moved to the Commerce Department's Commercial List, Hursch said.
"We'll see what happens in November and what the victors of that election want to do to move forward on that," Hursch said.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says if budget cuts hit the Department of Defense, it will be disastrous. Pentagon Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs George Little joins MSNBC's Chris Jansing to discuss.
Beth McCormick, deputy assistant secretary for defense trade and regional security, said she hoped the reforms would continue whether President Barack Obama is reelected on November 6 or Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
"Regardless of what happens in November, we should continue this work and bring it closure," McCormick said.
The Obama administration has already put proposed revisions to nine categories of the munitions lists out for public comment and faces some hard decisions moving ahead.
'Covert' US drone operation is mapped on Twitter
"There are some categories that by their basic nature are very, very difficult," including one that encompasses both night-vision technology and fire control, she said.
In deciding what items to move to the commercial list, "we obviously have to think about the type of technology that we use on the battlefield, where obviously the control of the night has been something that's been very, very important to us," McCormick said.
Kevin Wolf, assistant secretary of Commerce for export administration, said moving an item from the munitions list to the commercial list did not mean it was "decontrolled."
It does give the U.S. government more flexibility in allowing exports to close allies, while maintaining a strict arms embargo on other countries such as China, he said.
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Leave a Comment:
I have a feeling that no matter what we say, those in control of the birds will do what they're going to do despite our comments. Money has a funny way of ruining ones day every time.
Yeah ... let's just share every secret we hold...
Los Alamos is already known as chinese take out
Idiot directs the release of our nuclear arsenal totals to the world..
Now, let's hand out our most successful weapon to the international market ...
WTF!
As incoherent a statement as that is .... when I consider the source. I understand.
I wonder which cost more. The Drones or the Congressional votes to approve this. I can imagine right now some rag heads are talking about where the easiest place to steal some of these drones might be. I've never liked this weapon. Makes killing seem a bit sterile doesn't it. Seems like the wrong Government could control alot of people with drones tracking them.
"All we have to do is keep 85% of the peasants out there BS'd, and we can have our party any way we want it." quote- 535 members of the House and Senate. (I've had 5 personally tell me that's the "saying" on the Hill they all laugh about.)
You are all insane! Utter madness! More weaponry had not made this world more secure, nor will it. We are nothing but technological savages.
This is just another step towards one world government, ruled over by those military industrial paranoids and power hungry drunken fools that we call our elected officials. They are in cohoots with others of their ilk at the UN to implement Agenda 21 and if you do not know what that is it is because you have been dooped by the conglomerate news media into thinking very one is your enemy.
This is not acceptable anymore than allowing countries like Israel, Iran, India, Pakistan, North Korea and China to obtain nuclear weapons. We, as a species are going to kill, wound and subjugate billions of our fellow humans into high tech slavery and servitude.
Our freedom has been sold to the highest bidder and in this instance it is the weapons makers and the government that wants to make you "safer" at the expense of every freedom the Founding Fathers gave us in our Bill of Rights and Constitution.
the arms sales/pentagon/ part of the economy is booming isnt it? our military spending is part of our problem,wonder what we could do with all that money if we put it toward energy research, schools, job training or any of the other things we need to so badly?
What? And actually do something for the betterment of mankind instead of destroying it? Sorry but there's not as much money to be made in the former.
I believe this is a dangerous step to take just to make a buck. Our men have been killed by armament we have sold to other countries in the past. In the wrong hands, the drone could be turned against us by nothing more than reprograming software. Hackers are doing it everyday.
It's gonna be turned against us alright, right here at home! We have seen our better days, there are very very dark clouds on the horizon.
So, that leaves the only thing we don't/can't sell them - condoms.
..or contraceptives...remember its ok to kill the kids AFTER they are born...jez ask the Bush Administration
Here's an idea, lets stop building weapons for other countries. By being responsible for what we build for our security and defending ourselves with our weapons we need not worry about such technology falling into the wrong hands. Perhaps we can teach others how to make model airplanes. That's where it all started in the first place!
Yeah. Blame it on Galileo.
Sale our secrets ??? Hell load them up with hell fire bombs and send them to America, what a crock of -h-i-t,
If we simply passed laws forbiding our companies to sell weaponology and weapons to other countries, we'd have a zillion libtards marching on D.C. over free enterprise infringements, etc., and accusing the government of Socialism. We always want everything both ways. Washington DeCeit ain't Burger King. You don't get it your way. So, get over it. Just go with the flow and follow Cheney's stock broker around. (if you could). Join the dark side !
Manufacturers of anything tend to have an advantage in development because they are exposed to the manufacturing process. Now that we have exported a large percentage of our manufacturing capability, it is only reasonable to conclude that the countries we have exported that capability to will, in time, surpass us in development. In other words, we should sell them while we can, we will be a buyer in the near future. Oh, and yes, that is 'bad'. Very bad. Stupid bad.
Gee, I wonder how long until one of these drones is used against us...you know like Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Yemen, etc....
Rick
Iran already supposedly captured one of our drones. China captured one of our spy planes, and Pakistan (our allies) sold the stealth helicopter that crashed at bin Laden's compound to China. What we don't sell them, they steal, and sell it to everyone else. At least it's a great motivator to stay ahead in technology, but, how long will that last and at what cost ? North Korea was given their nuclear technologly by the Clintons along with massive food aid to their military in the late 90's. As well as top-secret security clearances to Communist Chinese businessmen. But, hell, we can blame Bush.
Be afraid, very very afraid. Your own gov. has already given it's self the green light to go ahead and put 30,000 of them in the skies over our heads right here at home. Remember?
We will be hiding like ants in a few years. Always listening and looking up with our faces painted as not to glare back at the eye of the Drones. Living underground eating what ever we can find. Yep bad times coming down.
You are spot on. The go ahead has already been approved. What they are not telling us is that they are ALREADY there as we speak.
Sell our weapons to everyone against the US so we can be killed by US weapons...Nice job A**holes
This is the new America. No strategic thought, or concerns, just very short-term tactical thought, and not a lot of that. No secrets, everyone is our friend, free trade is great, make all the money you can, live for today, forget about tomorrow, don't worry about communist China (yep, still communist, still red). Don't worry, be happy. So what has changed from 20 or 30 years ago? Money. Lots and lots of money. The Internet and very large container ships have changed trade, and the rich are having a money orgy. They will not stop, unless we stop them. The financial services sector of the American economy is now twice as large as the manufacturing sector. Think about that, then vote.
And just how do you propose that we peons stop the gov. and big money from doing anything, with our deer rifles? Do you truly believe that ANY vote you or any of the rest of us peons casts counts for anything? Our utter complacency has rendered us one and done a long time ago.
Great noe we can be killed by our own weapons nice job A**HOLES
Just a question. Is it ethical to sell defense technology to other countries developed and funded by American Tax dollars for the soul purpose of defending the United States; technology developed by U.S. government contractors based upon specific requirements by the Department of Defense, all paid for by the U.S. taxpayers?
I do not believe that any technology (defense of otherwise) developed and paid for by US taxpayers should be spun off to other countries that clearly do not have the technological skill, resources, and quiet frankly a need, to develop these systems in the first place. Also, I think it is not a good idea to enable other countries to utilize specific "drone" technology for their own national security purposes. The main check of the use of these tools in the hands of Americans are our principles of Liberty and the U.S. Constitution. The use of these tools by other countries will certainly not be constrained by our American values.
Once every country has our drone - execute order 66.
Sell the SERVICE, not the PRODUCT. That way, the revenue comes in but the technology doesn't go out! And we get to take our ball and go home any time we want.
Yes! Now you're thinking! Might even provide some good jobs to Americans. That is, until we can train-up some East Indians.
Rent-A-Drone ! I like it.
That statement is true at every level.
Here we go again selling guns to the Indians.
And once again I point to President Dwight Eisenhower's farewell speech when he said:
And this was from a Republican President who's rank of 5-Star General made him a member of a very elite group of only 11 people to have risen to that rank.
I think he might be rolling over in his grave now, and has been for a while!
Nope, he's not rolling. He new it was inevitable and unstoppable. He just gave us all a heads up on it out of the goodness of his heart.
It makes no sense that common sense don't make no sense no more..........
It makes plenty of sense if you realize and are willing to admit and accept the fact that we are living in the end times.
commom sense says this is a bad idea. But then again, our government is short on common sense these days.....
These days? Only these days?
It never ceases to amaze me at how naive people can be. To hell and be damned with all of the amendments to the constitution AND the bill of rights as well. You are already living in a police state, YOU are already being spied upon. YOUR government has the wool pulled over your eyes all the way to the floor!
I don't think it is naivity. They know what they are doing. They are destroying the rest of us so they can be part of the power structure when the U.S. collapses and the U.N., aka New World Order, takes control.
Not one loyal U.S. citizen in his/her right mind would be in favor of this. It is one more example of how the citizens of the U.S. are being raped and plundered by a bunch of greedy, senseless whores.
"I don't think it is naivity. They know what they are doing."
Yes indeed, the gov knows exactly what they are doing, and they are doing exactly what you just said that they are doing. Try bringing that up with almost anybody though and they will look at you like you are crazy as hell right before they brand you a conspiracy theorist. Most people are as dumb as a deer in the headlights when it comes to what is truly headed our way, and that's the point I was attempting to make.