A new War Powers Act challenge to US involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen is coming this week, this time in the Senate. Officials say they expect the vote Wednesday or Thursday, and that it will mark a test for Saudi standing after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
The House was planning a similar challenge earlier this month, but was foiled by a last minute rule change by House leadership preventing the vote, and instead packaging continued support for the Saudi War with a bill backing the killing of grey wolves.
Top Senate figures don’t seem nearly so inclined. Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) says he has personally been backing the Saudis for years, but is “in a real different place right now as it relates to Saudi Arabia.”
Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are both expected to push the Senate to continue the war during a Wednesday session. This session will focus on both the Yemen War and the Khashoggi murder. Sen. Corker expressed annoyance that the CIA Director will not be present.
Though the Senate has tended to be a lot more resistant to such anti-war measures than the house, Sen. Corker said he thinks that the whole Senate is approaching this differently, hinting this could be much closer.
Those wishing to call their senators should do so in the next day or two before the matter comes up for vote. You can do this by calling the Capitol switchboard at (202)224-3121 or by finding individual contact information here.
I won’t hold my breath.