Why Is The U.S. Selling Weapons To Autocratic Regimes?

A Japanese F-2 Fighter Jet built and designed largely by Lockheed Martin, a major US defense contractor. Sales of US defense technology to other countries has surged recently. CNN

Why Is the U.S. Selling Billions in Weapons to Autocrats? -- Zach Toombs, R. Jeffrey Smith, Foreign Policy/Center For Public Integrity

The export of American arms to countries around the world -- even those actively repressing their own citizens -- is booming.

Every May and June, different branches of the State Department paint contrasting portraits of how Washington views dozens of strategically significant countries around the world, in seemingly rivalrous reports by its Human Rights and Political-Military Affairs bureaus.

The former routinely criticizes other nations for a lack of fealty to democratic principles, citing abuses of the right to expression, assembly, speech, and political choice. The latter tallies the government's latest successes in the export of American weaponry, often to the same countries criticized by the former.

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Update #1: U.S. expects record $60 billion in arms sales in 2012 -- Reuters
Update #2: Globalization Both Boon and Bane for U.S. Weapon Suppliers -- National Defense

My Comment: It's always about the money .... and the perception in the world is that American weapon systems are the best.