US signs arms trade treaty :)

Finally! I was incensed last year when the US torpedoed the whole thing at the 11th hour, much to the disappointment of many other countries who were all ready to sign. Now however, the resolution has been passed at the UN.

Earlier this week John Kerry, US secretary of state, signed the Treaty during the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. 

As the world’s largest weapons exporter, the US supplies 35–40% of exports to 170 countries around the world. The signing marks an important step towards ending the flow of conventional arms that fuel atrocities and abuse around the world. 

At least 500,000 people die every year on average and millions are displaced and abused as the result of armed violence and conflict. 

The Arms Trade Treaty will prohibit states from transferring weapons to countries when they know those weapons will be used to commit or aid in genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. more

Does this mean that the US is going to stop supplying Syrian rebels who are as guilty as the Syrian gov of war crimes then? *coughs* Well it's a good start anyway. I imagine there's much more to do, but getting the biggest weapons manufacturer in the world to sign this thing is a huge step.