The New York Times reports that Saudi and Qatari officials are sending small arms to the rebels, but are holding off sending heavier equipment, such as shoulder-fired missiles.

BBC: 'Saudi weapons' seen at Syria rebel base

But the US media and many members of Congress were pleased that Mr Bush and Mr Putin were able to agree on improved security at Russian nuclear sites and the promises to curb the sales of shoulder-fired missiles.

BBC: NEWS | Americas | Media hail new US-Europe dialogue

As for the erroneous report about MANPADS, it is simply not accurate that 20, 000 shoulder-fired weapons are missing, when 20, 000 is the number of weapons that we have assessed the Qaddafi regime may have acquired over the last 40 years.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Prosecutors in New Jersey recently used the Patriot Act to convict Yehuda Abraham, whose services were used in a plot to sell shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles to terrorists with the understanding that they were going to be used to shoot down U.S. commercial aircraft.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Happy birthday, Patriot Act!

In July, the London Telegraph reported that what appeared to be an SA-7 shoulder-launched missile was fired at an American C-130 Hercules aircraft.

NEWYORKER: Shifting Targets

Spike has been tested successfully as a shoulder-launched missile, and also fired from drones.

ECONOMIST: Cheap smart weapons