1. The term "arms transfers" refers to the provision of non-nuclear combat equipment, spare parts, ammunition, and support services by outright grant or by sale. A foreign government wishing to procure American-manufactured arms may receive them in three ways. First, if received as part of a foreign aid package, the arms are paid for with funds appropriated by Congress under the Military Assistance Program. See 22 U.S.C.A. §§ 2311-2322 (1979 & Supp. 1988). Congress can directly control such transfers through its appropriation power. Second, a foreign government wishing to purchase arms may initiate discussions with the United States government under the Foreign Military Sales Program. See 22 U.S.C.A. §§ 2761-2770a (1979 & Supp. 1988). In this case, the United States government acts as an agent for the sale, buying the arms from American manufacturers and reselling them to foreign governments. Under this program, loans may also be made available to some foreign governments to cover the purchase price. Third, a foreign government may seek to buy arms directly from an American manufacturer in a commercial sale. Such sales involve the United States government only in the issuance of an export license. See 22 U.S.C.A. § 2778 (1979 & Supp. 1988). In the latter two cases, under the current state of the law, Congress can only register disapproval of a pending sale late in the process, when negotiations have been completed. For a complete description of the decision-making processes involved in each type of sale, see P. HAMMOND, D. LOUSCHER, M. SALOMONE & N. GRAHAM, THE RELUCTANT SUPPLIER 83-124 (1983) [hereinafter RELUCTANT SUPPLIER]
arms transfers" refers to the provision of non-nuclear combat equipment, spare parts, ammunition, and support services