The State of Weapons Proliferation 2004 (part 3 – Small Arms)

Many regional conflicts across the globe, particularly in Africa, are fought primarily using small arms: weapons that can be carried by one or two people and that are cheap and easy to obtain. In Part 3 of our series on Weapons Proliferation, Amy Katz takes a closer look at these weapons, which experts say pose a larger threat than the more feared nuclear, chemical and biological “weapons of mass destruction.” Mr. Krepon emphasized the point, “More people die from small arms than from weapons of mass destruction. This is a huge problem and a hugely difficult problem.” He says Iraq is just one of the countries where the proliferation of small arms has become a major concern. “I would say one half to one third the countries of Africa, we can start there. Iraq, Iran and Iran’s assistance to insurgent forces in Iraq. Iraq is a huge problem.” He said and added, “Small arms are a huge problem in Kashmir, as India and Pakistan square off there. So, the list goes on and on.” Full Story