V. CONCLUSION

The U.S. record of foreign military assistance since September 11 shows a trend toward lowering arms control standards and increasing military aid, especially for broadly defined counterterrorism efforts. Although Human Rights Watch does not take a position on the granting and transfer of military assistance in all circumstances, it does oppose giving such assistance to governments that engage in a consistent pattern of gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. In this time of international conflict, the United States should carefully monitor its military assistance programs and should not loosen controls without regard to human rights consequences.