Center Decries Apparent Conflict Of Interest In Recent Technology Decontrol Initiatives

The Center for Security Policy today urged the Bush Administration to repudiate the recommendations for the wholesale decontrol of sophisticated machine tools recently developed by a so-called "Wise Men" Working Group under the auspices of the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (COCOM). This group was comprised of representatives of leading machine tool manufacturers and trade associations from five nations (the United States, West Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Italy). The "Wise Men’s" recommendations are now awaiting formal acceptance by COCOM.

In a new report entitled Retooling the Soviet Military: Dangerous Decontrol Actions on Machine Tools, the Center expressed concern about the wisdom of the United States government and allied nations delegating decisions affecting their vital security interests to representatives of commercial concerns with a vested interest in weakening the technology security regime. The Center’s analysis concludes that, in the process, the formal U.S. negotiating positions at COCOM have been grievously undermined. Far worse, however, the policies now being pursued will substantially aid in the retooling of the Soviet military.

"The ‘Wise Men’s’ recommendations are contained in a document known as COCOM Working Paper 5. This paper departs dramatically — and recklessly — from established guidance and sets the stage for a massive raid on a critical strategic technology," said Frank J. Gaffney, the Center’s director.

Machine tools are devices used to manufacture other machines. The more sophisticated and accurate the machine tool, the more formidable is its ability to facilitate efficient weapons system production. The proposed departure from current controls on machine tools would, among other areas, improve Soviet production of high precision components such as "stealthy" composite materials, quiet ship propellers, nuclear weapons hemishell components, and missile accelerometers.

A related unclassified study recently completed by the Defense Department identifies machine tools as perhaps the most critical category of industrial equipment regulated by COCOM. The study states that, "The net result of [decontrolling beyond the current precision standard of plus-or-minus 10 microns] would transfer to the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies a host of critical military production capabilities which would result in a drastic closing of the technological gap which is the basis of U.S. defense policy." (Emphasis added.)

Copies of the Center’s report may be obtained by contacting the Center.