A decision to sell tanks to Saudi Arabia stirs opposition
GERMANY’S guidelines for weapons exports radiate good intentions. The buyer’s human-rights record will be given “special weight”. Arms will not be sent to countries engaged in conflict. Job creation “will play no decisive role” in deciding whether to approve a proposed deal. So what is Germany doing selling 200 state-of-the-art Leopard tanks to Saudi Arabia?
Standing “on the side of despotism”, thundered Jurgen Trittin, co-leader of the Greens in the Bundestag. Shoring up “counterfeit stability”, snarled Volker Ruhe, a former defence minister, who belongs to the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Chancellor Angela Merkel. As irksome as the sale itself was the manner of its disclosure. The decision by the federal security council, which meets in secret, was leaked to the press. The government still does not admit it has been made and refuses to comment directly. ...
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