Posted on Jun 5, 2019
Senators Look to Force 22 Votes Blocking Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia
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A bipartisan group of senators will try to force nearly two dozen votes rebuking the Trump administration’s decision to declare a national emergency to circumvent Congress and sell billions of dollars of munitions to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The legislation, led by Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Trump ally and once a staunch defender of the kingdom, underscores lawmakers’ fury at the administration’s support for the Saudis after the killing of the dissident Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. And it could grind business in the Senate to a crawl while allowing rare public criticism of President Trump’s administration from members of his own party.
Mr. Trump circumvented Congress late last month by declaring an emergency over Iran and moving forward with arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan that had been blocked by Congress since last year, a decision that immediately drew criticism from lawmakers, who are also furious over the civilian death toll from the Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen.
The legislation, led by Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Trump ally and once a staunch defender of the kingdom, underscores lawmakers’ fury at the administration’s support for the Saudis after the killing of the dissident Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. And it could grind business in the Senate to a crawl while allowing rare public criticism of President Trump’s administration from members of his own party.
Mr. Trump circumvented Congress late last month by declaring an emergency over Iran and moving forward with arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan that had been blocked by Congress since last year, a decision that immediately drew criticism from lawmakers, who are also furious over the civilian death toll from the Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen.
Senators Look to Force 22 Votes Blocking Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia
Posted from nytimes.com
Weapons
Saudi Arabia
Yemen
United States Senate
Congress
Posted >1 y ago
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I have to say a couple things here.
First, Kashoggi was a US citizen and his killing should be accounted for.
However, it is not something you overturn decades of alliance over.
Second, I find it very novel and interesting that Senators are upset over the loss of civilian lives in Yemen. Maybe they were asleep all those years (and indeed currently) the US was launching drone strikes in Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere resulting in scores of civilian (and legitimate target) deaths during the Obama and Bush administrations. Now we have religion on collateral damage? Bullshit. This is selective moral outrage if ever it was.
Third, Saudi Arabia is fighting a war against avowed Iranian proxies who have fired Iranian-manufactured ordinance into the kingdom. I don't blame them for giving them what for.
And finally, with as many significant issues the country is facing, 22 votes on something that will surely not become law instead of dealing with those issues is a gross waste of time and resources. We couldn't lodge our displeasure with one vote, or five? Nope, 22 votes.
It is a shame that we can only vote a third of the Senate out of office at a time.
First, Kashoggi was a US citizen and his killing should be accounted for.
However, it is not something you overturn decades of alliance over.
Second, I find it very novel and interesting that Senators are upset over the loss of civilian lives in Yemen. Maybe they were asleep all those years (and indeed currently) the US was launching drone strikes in Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere resulting in scores of civilian (and legitimate target) deaths during the Obama and Bush administrations. Now we have religion on collateral damage? Bullshit. This is selective moral outrage if ever it was.
Third, Saudi Arabia is fighting a war against avowed Iranian proxies who have fired Iranian-manufactured ordinance into the kingdom. I don't blame them for giving them what for.
And finally, with as many significant issues the country is facing, 22 votes on something that will surely not become law instead of dealing with those issues is a gross waste of time and resources. We couldn't lodge our displeasure with one vote, or five? Nope, 22 votes.
It is a shame that we can only vote a third of the Senate out of office at a time.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel There are still many unanswered questions from the Saudis on the killing of that journalist
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