Scuds or Butter?: The Political Economy of Arms Control in the Middle East.

• Author: Damiras, Vassilios

In Scuds or Butter?: The Political Economy of Arms Control in the Middle East, Yahya M. Sadowski examines arms control in a very sensitive part of the world, namely the Middle East. First, Sadowski analyzes U.S. policy toward arms control and second, he examines the specific disarmament policies of numerous Middle Eastern nations, including those of Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Iran.

Following Operation Desert Storm, the United States emerged as the major power in the region. One of the key U.S. problems was how to implement an arms control policy that would avert future conflicts that might run counter to American interests. The main U.S. goal was to stop the flow of weapons to countries like Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and to organizations such as the PLO.

According to Sadowski, the U.S. strategy, which focused on retaining the U.S. devised balance of power as a safeguard for American interests, was not beneficial to most Arab or Middle Eastern nations. Sadowski's main criticism of U.S. arms policy is that it diverts much needed funds from economic development in the fields of health, education, agriculture and transportation.

Further, Sadowski indicates that Middle Eastern nations, owing to declining oil prices, government economic mismanagement, and mounting civil demands for arms control, can no longer afford lavish armament purchases. Sadowski clearly demonstrates that these factors will soon drive leaders to reduce their defense budgets in favor of more pressing economic concerns.

To illustrate his argument, Sadowski examines the economic situations in Iraq, Syria and Jordan. Due to the Gulf War, the Iraqi economy can no longer sustain an arms race. According to Sadowski, the United States has largely destroyed Iraq's infrastructure, while the war caused Iraq to lose its rich Arab allies such as Saudi Arabia. Sadowski argues that Saddam Hussein will eventually be forced to reduce his arms' expenditures as a result of Iraq's declining economic situation. This argument is by no means a compelling one. Despite the fact that Hussein was defeated at the hands of the United States and the U.N. coalition, he persists in trying to obtain armaments in order to reemerge as a dominant Arab leader. It is therefore questionable whether Hussein wants, or could survive, the introduction of arms' control measures in Iraq.

Similarly, Sadowski argues that Syria is also interested in reducing arms expenditures because it has suffered from...