Resources - News

This section includes the latest news relating to U.S. security policy around the world. Updated daily, the news provided in this searchable database highlights the most relevant security developments from around the world. 

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An "Emergency" Arms Deal: Will Congress Acquiesce in Another Blow to Its Authority?

Thursday, June 6, 2019
SAM's fact sheet on the arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE involved in the Trump Administration's emergency declaration are cited.
Author(s): 
Diana Ohlbaum and Rachel Stohl

Trump bypassed Congress on Saudi weapons sale. Here's how he did it

Thursday, May 30, 2019
SAM Director, Christina Arabia, is quoted in this article examining how President Trump is sidestepping congressional opposition to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Author(s): 
Ali Harb
Publisher / Source: 
Middle East Eye

What Went Wrong With The Somali National Army?

Monday, May 20, 2019
SAM's report on Corruption in the Defense Sector is cited in this piece that examines failures in dozens of efforts to build an effective Somali National Army while maintaining an emphasis on the importance of an army in Somalia.
Author(s): 
Paul D. Williams
Publisher / Source: 
War on the Rocks

Why Support for U.N.-Backed Anti-Corruption Commission in Guatemala is Vital to U.S. Interests

Monday, September 24, 2018
In a rare and strong show of bipartisanship, the leadership of the U.S. Senate and House foreign relations committees wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently expressing support for a United Nations-backed anti-corruption commission in Guatemala. The President of Guatemala is taking steps to eliminate the commission – notwithstanding the fact that more than 100 individuals charged in the course of its investigations remain at large – now that the panel has begun investigating him for campaign finance violations.
Author(s): 
Brittany Benowitz
Publisher / Source: 
Just Security

Counterterrorism Efforts Proving Counterproductive

Friday, September 14, 2018
In a report released this month, Corruption in the Defense Sector: Identifying Key Risks to U.S. Counterterrorism Aid, SAM found that corruption is rampant among recipients of U.S foreign security aid. The most common misuses of aid include nepotism, bribery, extortion, embezzlement, theft, and the misappropriation of arms and supplies.
Author(s): 
Andrea Page
Publisher / Source: 
Homeland Security Digital Library

Corruption in Counterterrorism Aid Programs Fuels Extremist Groups, Says New Report

Thursday, September 13, 2018
A report released this month by the Center for International Policy’s Security Assistance Monitor finds that U.S. counterterrorism aid intended to bolster U.S. and its allies' efforts to combat violent extremists has also had the unintended consequence of fueling corruption and funding terrorist group activities and recruitment.
Author(s): 
Daniel Cebul
Publisher / Source: 
Defense News

US Defense Bill Could Impact Arms Exports to Middle East

Thursday, August 2, 2018
SAM Director Colby Goodman is quoted in this article on this year's U.S. defense authorization bill, which calls for protection of U.S. technology even as weapons sales to the Middle East boom.
Author(s): 
Jack Detsch
Publisher / Source: 
Al Monitor

How a One-Word Loophole Will Make It Easier for the U.S. to Sell Weapons to Governments That Kill Civilians

Friday, July 20, 2018
SAM Director Colby Goodman is quoted in this piece about a possible loophole in the Trump Administration’s new arms export policy.
Author(s): 
Alex Emmons
Publisher / Source: 
The Intercept

Trump’s arms export rules will undermine US security and risk human rights abuses

Monday, July 16, 2018
SAM's fact sheet on congressional notifications for U.S. firearms exports was cited in this piece that details the major critiques of the Trump Administration's proposed firearms export rule.
Author(s): 
William Hartung
Publisher / Source: 
The Hill

With NATO Defense Buildup, US Weapons Makers Could Benefit

Monday, July 16, 2018
SAM's arms sales data is used in this article stating that some of the biggest beneficiaries of the recent NATO Summit could be U.S. weapons manufacturers.
Author(s): 
Ken Bredemeier
Publisher / Source: 
VOA News

Africa’s Terror Fight to Suffer as China, Russia Take U.S. Focus

Wednesday, July 11, 2018
SAM’s data on American counterterrorism aid to sub-Saharan Africa is used in this article about the U.S. scaling back aid to African military units fighting terrorism as it realigns its defense strategy to compete with more traditional threats from China and Russia.
Author(s): 
Daniel Flatley
Publisher / Source: 
Bloomberg

Thousands make their voices heard on a proposal that would ease gun export rules

Tuesday, July 10, 2018
SAM Director Colby Goodman is quoted in this piece about the rule change to turn oversight of firearms exports from the State Department to the Commerce Department.
Author(s): 
Beatrix Lockwood
Publisher / Source: 
The Trace

Shifting trafficking routes for illicit narcotics and the importance of Spain-US counter-narcotics cooperation

Thursday, July 5, 2018
SAM's data, security aid programmes and assistance from the US DoD to Spain, 2007-16, is used in this report by Elcano Royal Institute.
Author(s): 
Eric L. Olson
Nina Gordon
Publisher / Source: 
Real Instituto Elcano

Congress Seeks Uptick in North Africa Operations

Monday, June 25, 2018
SAM Director Colby Goodman is quoted and SAM’s data analysis is cited in this piece about a recently introduced bill that would boost funding for the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership.
Author(s): 
Jack Detsch
Publisher / Source: 
Al-Monitor

The U.S. Spends Billions in Defense Aid. Is It Working?

Wednesday, June 13, 2018
SAM Director Colby Goodman is quoted in this article and provides analysis for some of the failures in DoD's Global Train and Equip program.
Publisher / Source: 
, The New York Times

A New Framework for Assessing the Risks From U.S. Arms Sales

Wednesday, June 13, 2018
SAM’s arms sales data is cited in a post about changes the U.S. government should implement in its approval process for arms sales.
Publisher / Source: 
War on the Rocks

Trump Favors Arms Industry in Effort to Loosen Export Controls

Thursday, June 7, 2018
SAM’s recent arms sales trend report and firearms exports notifications fact sheet are both cited in this brief that looks at the dangers and faults in the Trump Administration’s proposed changes for U.S. conventional arms export policies.English
Author(s): 
JEFF ABRAMSON
Publisher / Source: 
Arms Control Association

U.S. has spent $2.8 trillion on counterterrorism since 2002

Thursday, May 17, 2018
This article cites SAM's fact sheet on counterterrorism aid to Africa and beyond.English
Publisher / Source: 
Homeland Security News Wire

How Trump Could tell the Truth about Armenian Genocide

Monday, April 23, 2018
This article cites SAM data on United States military aid to Turkey.English
Author(s): 
Hagar Hajjar Chemali
Publisher / Source: 
CNN

Georgia: Trump Administration Boosting Military Aid

Tuesday, November 14, 2017
This article covers the United States’ recent increase of military aid to Georgia in light of the fact that Georgia’s ability to join NATO has decreased.
Author(s): 
Joshua Kucera
Publisher / Source: 
EurasiaNet

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