By Jeff Abramson
With news out of Egypt that U.S. manufactured goods are being used to suppress protests, an administration overhauling its export control system, and notifications to Congress in 2010 of record-breaking 
potential arms sales (including more than $60 billion to Saudi Arabia), now's a good time to ask what's going on with U.S. conventional arms control policies and practices. Not surprisingly, you won't find an answer in last week's state of the union speech address, which lacked any real talk of this administration's conventional arms control record and how it is contributing (or harming) U.S. and global security.
To fill that gap, each day next week we'll provide a grade to the administration's approach to specific conventional arms control issues, and in many cases make suggestions for improvement. Please check back on Monday.
Grading Guide
A: Global leader pressing for actions to curb arms races and set or reinforce highest international norms.
B: Working to raise or meet global norms. Breaking with past policies where appropriate.
C: Policies under review and may result in meeting global norms, or undermining them.
D: Falling behind global norms. Actions may exacerbate or create arms races and insecurity.
F: Actions undermining global norms and likely contributing to arms races.