Leading Senators Push Towards Deal Targeting Saudi Arabia Over Yemen

Floor debate on Yemen War expected to begin on Monday

Efforts to advance a War Powers Act challenge to the Yemen War through the Senate continue apace, with Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) saying he believes the floor debate will begin on Monday.

As Congress never authorized the Yemen War, this resolution would demand the US end its support for the Saudi War. The soaring civilian death toll in the war was fueling this effort in Congress, and the Saudi murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has brought even more to the side of ending support for the conflict.

There is negotiation underway within Congress for a series of combined deals, including a non-binding resolution saying the prince is complicit in the death of Khashoggi. The Yemen War vote is just one aspect of the moves on the Saudis, with Corker promising overall, the proposals will “have teeth.”

The rest of this week is expected to involve negotiating exactly where everyone is on these various resolutions, with Corker suggesting that the Bush funeral basically meant the votes would wait until next week.

Those wishing to call their senators should do so in the next few days 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.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.