Trading defense risks for defense dollars: The Senate’s flawed logic on ZTE

On Wednesday, the Senate approved the $717 billion National Defense Authorization Act. In the process, they gave Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE a pass on tougher sanctions to keep the $1 billion fine the company agreed to pay in a deal with the Department Commerce that undercut original sanctions. ZTE had provided American technology to both North Korea and Iran.

In short, the Senate decided that even if you make Americans less safe by literally giving technology to dangerous anti-American nuclear regimes that you can get off with a fine rather than strict sanctions because, well, the U.S. needs the money from that fine to pay for defense.