Biden administration not required to disclose sales below set dollar amount, in addition to public shipments worth over $573m

The US is reported to have made more than 100 weapons sales to Israel, including thousands of bombs, since the start of the war in Gaza, but the deliveries escaped congressional oversight because each transaction was under the dollar amount requiring approval.

“This doesn’t just seem like an attempt to avoid technical compliance with US arms export law, it’s an extremely troubling way to avoid transparency and accountability on a high-profile issue,” Ari Tolany, director of the security assistance monitor at the Centre for International Policy thinktank, said.

She added that, in exploiting the loophole, the Biden administration was following the steps of its predecessor. “They’re very much borrowing from the Trump playbook to dodge congressional oversight,” Tolany said.

In defending its continued arms sales to Israel, despite ever more public misgivings about its conduct of the Gaza war, the administration has argued that they are part of the US’s basic commitment to Israel’s self defence.

  • @Varyk@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    -4•7 months ago

    It’s cool that you’re making things up, because it just makes it easier for me.

    The opinion is that Biden is doing this in secret.

    It’s not a secret or you wouldn’t know about it.

    Those sales are publicly available transparent information.

    That’s how that guy writing that opinion piece got them.

    I wish the US was sending no military aid to Israel also, but it ignores all of the problems that come with cutting off a 70-year-old ally in a war you’re not directly involved with.

    • @Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2•7 months ago

      The Washington Post reported that administration officials informed Congress of the 100 foreign military sales to Israel in a classified briefing.

      Few details are known of the sales, because keeping each one small meant their contents remained secret, but they are reported to have included precision-guided munitions, small diameter bombs, bunker busters, small arms and other lethal aid.

      Can you read the entire article before you write your next comment please

      • @Varyk@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        -3•7 months ago

        Again, congress asked to see the numbers, the administration handed them over immediately.

        You have an inaccurate definition of secret, because this information was sealed signed, delivered upon request.