31.   Bolton defended the U.S. record of arms sales, citing its strong export regulations and weapons destruction programs.

32.   A decision is expected by April, when the United States and Taiwan hold annual talks on arms sales.

33.   About half of all American arms sales now go to countries that could be considered dictatorships.

34.   But arms sales contribute only marginally to national employment and trade.

35.   But Bush also singled out U.S. arms sales as a major cause of instability.

36.   But critics say China should be disqualified because of its human rights record and its arms sales to terrorist nations.

37.   But he warned that American arms sales to Taiwan could jeopardize relations.

38.   But Putin should not provoke Washington by expanding Russian arms sales to Cuba or helping Havana complete an unfinished civilian nuclear reactor.

39.   But the Chinese Foreign Ministry Thursday toned down a month-long drumbeat of indignant rhetoric over everything from the US spy plane incident to arms sales to Taiwan.

40.   But the Americans said they have no intention of stopping arms sales to Taiwan in the meantime.