HOW WASHINGTON WORKS...ARMS DEALS

THE INSIDE STORY OF HOW THE PENTAGON AND BIG DEFENSE CONTRACTORS GOT THE PRESIDENT TO OPEN THE WAY FOR WEAPONS SALES TO LATIN AMERICA

Over the Easter weekend, President Bill Clinton gave his approval for U.S. defense contractors to market jet fighters to Chile. The decision represented a victory for the new Secretary of Defense, William Cohen, whose Pentagon had pushed hard for lifting restrictions that Washington has had for almost 20 years on the sale of jets to Latin America. For Madeleine Albright, who argued against rushing into the jet sales and who had vowed to reign supreme over U.S. foreign policy as Clinton's second Secretary of State, the decision represented a defeat. Latin America is thus poised to begin an arms race--a race...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!