The controversial arms trade continues to bedevil the international system. Although the world arms trade continues to decline in dollar value, the major arms supplying states have redoubled their efforts to export their weapons overseas. This decline has occurred in both the richer and poorer countries, although the rate of decline has been greater for the large industrial countries. The decline in arms sales could also relate to the increase in black and gray market arm sales, which may run anywhere from two to five times more than the legal sales in some countries. Also, not every country publicly reports all sales.

Arms-control policy rests at the intersection of defense and diplomacy. During the cold war, arms control became a key tool for managing the strategic relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective alliance systems. Arms control also developed along multil

ateral lines, producing universal agreements intended to limit proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to stop nuclear testing. Today, there are major questions about the future of arms control.

Both a strong defense and effective diplomacy depend on U.S. decision makers having access to the best possible intelligence. The U.S. intelligence community faces a continuing crisis. It is generally agreed that the United States still need the ability to retrieve, analyze and present information to the President and senior policymakers, but with the Soviet Union gone, there appears to be no consensus on the priorities that should guide intelligence collection and production. There is even less agreement on the role that clandestine intelligence activities should play in the new international order. Maybe a clearer focus on U.S. interests, objectives and values will help shape future intelligence priorities. With the Middle East, East Asia, and Western Europe becoming t

Some common words found in the essay are:
Soviet Union, Western Europe, , arms control, Security Council, international system, arms trade, arms trade continues, role arms, relationship united, soviet union, multilateral cooperation, key tool, trade continues, international organizations,
Approximate Word count = 662
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)