Share
Politico
The State Department did not fully consider the risk of civilian casualties when it approved more than $8 billion in arms sales to Middle Eastern countries last year, according to an inspector general report released Tuesday.
Lawmakers asked the IG to investigate the transfer of military equipment to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in May 2019 cited threats from Iran when using emergency authorities to transfer the weapons. The move short-circuited lawmakers, who had blocked some of the transfers for more than a year over concerns that the U.S.-made equipment could be used to kill civilians.
The IG determined that Pompeo carried out his use of emergency authorities properly. Yet it also said the department “did not fully assess risks and implement mitigation measures to reduce civilian casualties and legal concerns” surrounding the transfer of precision guided munitions to the three countries. The inspector general provided additional details about this failure, as well as a recommendation, in a classified annex of the report.
By Jacqueline Feldscher | 11 Aug 2020
RELATED TOPICS:
Legislation Pandering to Tribal Casinos Is a Bad Bet for Fresno Cardroom Employees
4 hours ago
About 1 in 4 US Adults Over 50 Say They Expect to Never Retire, an AARP Study Finds
4 hours ago
Biden Signs a $95 Billion War Aid Measure With Assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
5 hours ago
First-Round Picks Could Be on the Trading Block on Day 1 of the NFL Draft
5 hours ago
Trojans Rejoice! Reggie Bush Is Reinstated as 2005 Heisman Trophy Winner
6 hours ago
Arizona Just Revived an 1864 Law Criminalizing Abortion. Here’s What’s Happening in Other States
6 hours ago
Fresno County Appoints New Librarian. What’s Her Favorite Book Genre?
7 hours ago
Ukraine Uses Long-Range Missiles Secretly Provided by US to Hit Russian-Held Areas, Officials Say