Who is SIPRI and are they considered to be a credible source? How possible is it that we delivered weapons to Iraq covertly, like through third parties and that sort of thing, ways that don't show up on these sorts of lists?
I'm just wondering because this looks like good info to wave in the face of kooky leftists and other riff raff and I'd like to make sure it's solid.
SIPRI is the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute based in Sweden. This page explains their methodology:
http://projects.sipri.se/armstrade/atmethods.html "SIPRI uses the term 'transfer' rather than 'trade' since the latter is usually associated with 'sale'. SIPRI covers not only sales of weapons, including manufacturing licences, but also other forms of weapon supply, including aid and gifts.
The transferred weapons must be destined for the armed forces, paramilitary forces or intelligence agencies of another country. Weapons supplied to or from rebel forces in an armed conflict are included as deliveries to or from the individual rebel forces, identified under separate 'recipient' or 'supplier' headings. In cases where deliveries are identified, but where it is not possible to identify either the supplier or the recipient with an acceptable degree of certainty, transfers are registered as coming from 'unknown' suppliers or going to 'unknown' recipients.
Weapons must be transferred voluntarily by the supplier. This includes weapons delivered illegally-without proper authorization by the government of the supplier or recipient country-but excludes captured weapons and weapons obtained through defectors.
The weapons must have a military purpose. Systems such as VIP (very important person) aircraft used mainly for other government branches but registered with and operated by the armed forces are excluded. Weapons supplied for technical or arms procurement evaluation purposes only are not included."