ocr: Although it withdrew from direct participation in goverment in 1985,Brazil's military remais a powerful force in national political life. In 1989,it played a behind-the-scenes role in ensuring Collor de Mello's election. It controls the far north for national security reasons. Brazil has a large arms industry. Exports to Iraq,a major market, were hit by a UN embargo in 1991 following the Gulf War. Plans to develop nuclear weapons have now been abandoned by the military.
