Buy American provisions are not what was intended.

The controversial "Buy American" provisions in the House Defense Authorization bill are being watered down by the House-Senate conference committee, according to legislative aides on Capitol Hill. A new compromise proposed by the Bush administration is being considered by the provision's sponsor,

The administration compromise would exempt close to 70 countries from the Buy American requirements for "essential military equipment." Countries that supported the United States in its war against Iraq would be exempt, thereby leaving German and French arms suppliers facing more restrictions in selling to the U.S. military, say those who have seen the proposal. Countries with specific defense agreements with the United States and those that freely purchase U.S. weapons systems would also be exempt from the Buy American requirements. Hunter is mulling over the proposals, but aides say he is still adamant about increasing the Buy American requirement from 50 percent to 65 percent. The Bush administration opposes Hunter's legislation.