Bush team reviewing defense trade policy. (Government Policy Notes).The Bush administration in 2002 began a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of U.S. defense trade policies in an effort to identify changes needed to protect the country's national-security and foreign-policy interests. This assessment, National Security Policy Directive 19--a classified presidential order directing the review--is scheduled to be finished in May. The review's objectives, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. an unclassified un·clas·si·fied adj. 1. Not placed or included in a class or category: unclassified mail. 2. public announcement released late last year by the White House, ate to ensure that defense trade, technology security and acquisitions policies: * Support the security of the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . * Contribute to peace and stability, including regional security. * Support U.S. nonproliferation non·pro·lif·er·a·tion adj. Of, relating to, or calling for an end to the acquisition of nuclear weapons by additional nations: a nonproliferation treaty. and counter-terrorism policies and strategies and international commitments. * Control critical military technologies. * Protect such technologies from diversion. This is not the first attempt to revise U.S. export-control regimes. More than a decade ago, the previous Bush administration initiated a review of the U.S. Munitions mu·ni·tion n. War materiel, especially weapons and ammunition. Often used in the plural. tr.v. mu·ni·tioned, mu·ni·tion·ing, mu·ni·tions To supply with munitions. List, which was completed during the Clinton administration Noun 1. Clinton administration - the executive under President Clinton executive - persons who administer the law . At best, this review resulted in token, minor reductions in the list. In 2000, the United States announced the Defense Trade Security Initiative, which was the first major post-Cold War attempt to revise the U.S. export-control system. This system is a series of safeguards designed to prevent the inappropriate export of sensitive military technology by requiring a license for the export of certain munitions and defense services. The Departments of Defense and State are responsible for determining what can and cannot be exported. Although welcomed by industry and supported by the Pentagon, the Pentagon, the, building accommodating the U.S. Dept. of Defense. Located in Arlington, Va., across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., the Pentagon is a five-sided building consisting of five concentric pentagons connected to each other by corridors and covering expected efficiencies from DTSI DTSI Defense Trade Security Initiative DTSI Digital Twin Spark Ignition DTSI Datron/Transco Systems Incorporated DTSI DataTel Solutions, Inc. (San Antonio, Texas) have not materialized. It is widely believed that the reason DTSI has not worked is because it made only procedural modifications to an already complex export system, as opposed to what is really needed to break with the old Cold War thinking-a complete paradigm revision. Unlike the DTSI, the NSPD-19 is a complete review of export procedures. It will encompass all aspects of the U.S. defense trade and identify foreign market access barriers that impede im·pede tr.v. im·ped·ed, im·ped·ing, im·pedes To retard or obstruct the progress of. See Synonyms at hinder1. [Latin imped U.S.-Allied defense industrial cooperation. The review aims to maintain America's industrial, technological and war-fighting advantages over its potential adversaries, while suggesting methods to facilitate friends' and allies' efforts to increase capability and interoperability The capability of two or more hardware devices or two or more software routines to work harmoniously together. For example, in an Ethernet network, display adapters, hubs, switches and routers from different vendors must conform to the Ethernet standard and interoperate with each other. for more effective coalitions. For instance, discussions will include the top U.S. weapons-acquisition programs, for which increased industrial participation or greater access to U.S. technology by allies--and vice versa--would improve military effectiveness of U.S. coalitions. Also included are ways to facilitate fundamental research, exploitation of commercial developments, increase allied defense spending and burden sharing. The review is meant to determine the effectiveness of current policies and procedures Policies and Procedures are a set of documents that describe an organization's policies for operation and the procedures necessary to fulfill the policies. They are often initiated because of some external requirement, such as environmental compliance or other governmental such as DTSI and develop recommendations for continuing, changing or discontinuing the initiative, as well as consider additional initiatives as appropriate. However, all proposed modifications will be assessed against the potential risks to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. The Departments of Commerce, Defense, State and other federal agencies have been tasked with conducting the review. Several defense-related agencies are soliciting the U.S. defense industry for comments. Working through organizations such as NDIA NDIA National Defense Industrial Association NDIA New Doha International Airport (Qatar) , Defense Trade Advisory Group, Aerospace Industries Association and the Center for Strategic and International Studies The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a Washington, D.C.-based foreign policy think tank. The center was founded in 1964 by Admiral Arleigh Burke and historian David Manker Abshire, originally as part of Georgetown University. , industry has met to discuss all aspects of defense trade issues, from foreign military financing to export controls. The result has been constructive recommendations on possible improvements in the programs, as well as legislative proposals to implement change. NDIA strongly supports the NSPD-19 review. Today's defense trade policies and regulations do not reflect current realities-on the one hand, the cooperation and collaboration required for the U.S. defense industry to supply best value for U.S. programs and, on the other, the growing effect of the globalization globalization Process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world. Factors that have contributed to globalization include increasingly sophisticated communications and transportation of the defense market. From an industry perspective, the current U.S. defense trade regulations are complex and restrictive, seriously inhibiting cooperation with this nation's closest allies. Moreover, industry believes the current export-control system, on balance, may do more unintended damage to U.S. national security polity than it does good. Major weapons-systems acquisition programs, such as the Joint Strike Fighter-a centerpiece of the current administration's transatlantic cooperative efforts-are predicated on increased U.S. and foreign industrial collaboration, requiring greater technology exchanges. The definition of "U.S. industry" has changed through foreign and U.S. acquisitions and mergers of U.S. defense companies, such as BAE SYSTEMS BAE Systems British manufacturer of aircraft, missiles, avionics, naval vessels, and other aerospace and defense products. BAE Systems was formed (1999) from the merger of British Aerospace (BAe) with Marconi Electronic Systems. , and joint ventures, such as Raytheon/Thales. Current defense trade laws and policies must be revised to balance rational national security concerns and strategies with the need to enhance both the international competitiveness of the U.S. defense industry and the military effectiveness of U.S.-led international coalitions. The NSPD-19 review can be the catalyst to identification of the foreign market access barriers that impede U.S.-allied bilateral defense-industrial cooperation. NDIA's International Division is working with other associations to ensure that the U.S. defense industry participates in this process. In the next issue of National Defense, we will offer some specific suggestions for the next step in the NSPD-19 Review. NDIA Government Policy Peter M. Steffes Vice President, Government Policy psteffes@ndia.org Ruth W. Franklin Director, Procurement rfranklin@ndia.com Ben Stone Director, International bstone@ndia.org Jim Linden Linden, city, United States Linden, city (1990 pop. 36,701), Union co., NE N.J., in the New York metropolitan area; inc. 1925. During the first half of the 20th cent. Analyst, Government Policy jlinden@ndia.org Amber Johnson Staff Assistant ajohnson@ndia.org Dennis Kennelly is vice chairman of NDIA's International Division and senior manager of the Washington. D.C., office for MBDA MBDA Minority Business Development Agency (US Department of Commerce) MBDA Michigan Broadband Development Authority MBDA Minnesota Band Directors Association MBDA Matra BAE Dynamics Alenia MBDA Magnolia Ballroom Dancers' Association , Inc. Candace Miller, director of International Trade Compliance of BAE Systems and a board member of ND IA International Division, also contributed to this article. For further information on topics related to NDIA Government Policy, please visit our online resource library at http://www.ndia.org/advocacy/resources/ |
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