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Ever the violence-inducing hawk, George W. Bush now wants to sell $20 billion in advanced weapons to six Persion Gulf countries -- Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. But, according to an article in today's Washington Post, some House members will try to block the sale. I hope they will succeed. According to the article:Human rights groups warned that new U.S. arms meant to contain Iran's rising influence could backfire, allowing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to rally greater support for his hard-line faction in the run-up to parliamentary elections next spring. And arms control groups said Bush's strategy would accelerate an already-dangerous trend that could increase tensions rather than generate a greater sense of security.No kidding. Some of the countries involved are notorious for committing gross violations of human rights. And Bush wants to enable them to commit further violence, when we should instead be pressuring them to change their policies and start respecting human rights. Keep your fingers crossed in hopes that Congress will force some restraint. -----
