Following today's terrorist attack in London that left 30 people dead and 350 injured, the G8 leaders issued a statement condemning terrorism. The statement, issued early today and stating that "terrorists will not prevail" will likely be the only strong statement issued by the G8 countries. The terrorist attacks have largely overshadowed other issues at the Summit such as climate change and aid to Africa. Statements on those issues are delayed until Friday and are likely to be limited due both to the United States refusal to negotiate on climate change and the fact that the G8 countries benefit from the status quo in Africa.

Not surprisingly, the G8 countries failed to mention their role in creating the conditions that foster terrorism, including inequality and global arms dealing. Before the G8 Summit began, Amnesty International issued a report titled The G8: Global Arms Exporters that detailed how the G8 was undermining commitments to end poverty and injustice by transferring arms to repressive regimes, regions of extreme conflict, and to countries who buy arms instead of investing in social programs. According to the report, loopholes and weaknesses in arms exports controls have resulted in the transfer of weapons to repressive regimes:

• Canadian military exports to countries involved in armed conflict or human rights abuse including light armoured vehicles and helicopters to Saudi Arabia and aircraft engines and handguns to the Philippines
• French exports in the UN category of "Bombs, grenades, ammunition, mines and other" to countries subject to European Union arms embargoes such as Myanmar and Sudan
• The use of German components in military equipment destined for countries involved in serious human rights violations such as German engines incorporated into military vehicles that have ended up in Myanmar
• A loophole in Italian law allowing large quantities of so-called "civilian firearms" to be exported to countries suffering gross human rights violations such as Colombia, the Republic of Congo, and China
• Russian exports of heavy weaponry including combat aircraft to states whose forces have committed abuses such as Ethiopia, Algeria, and Uganda
• Substantial US military aid to states carrying out persistent human rights violations including Pakistan, Nepal and Israel
• Japan's export of small arms and light weapons to countries with poor human rights records such as the Philippines
• The lack of control on UK equipment that can be used for torture or ill-treatment and the UK's increased use of "open licences" that allow companies to make multiple shipments without adequate scrutiny