A bipartisan group of senators are planning the introduction of 22 “resolutions of disapproval” related to President Trump’s recently approved arms sales to Saudi Arabia, intended to cover each of the individual arms deals involved.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) said the move shows the Senate isn’t going to stand idly by “while the president erodes Congressional review and oversight of arms sales.” A number of lawmakers oppose all arms sales to the Saudis since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Three Republicans (Sens. Rand Paul, Lindsey Graham, and Todd Young) are said to be on board with the resolutions, If combined with all Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents, would make this a 50-50 split. One more Republican would mean it would pass.
President Trump sought to circumvent the Congressional opposition, by declaring a fake state of emergency that would justify bypassing the Congressional oversight of the matter.
Trump has long insisted that the arms sales to the Saudis are economically important, and has suggested he didn’t want to jeopardize them for the murder of one journalist. That didn’t sit well with some in Congress, and the attempt to bypass them entirely seems to be going over even worse.
Main reason? Threat to Israel. And getting Saudis to promise a little war with Iran. Whatever it is — it has nothing to do with high moral standards.
Trump is selling the rope to the Saudis the West in the future will hang on.
Even nuclear stuff seems to be delivered to the new American “Friend”.
In the end Russians and or Chinese will support Iran.
It’s a dirty global chess-game.
Where are the famous “Western values” in this case? Especially after Kashoggi…
It all could be easy.Make the Middle East an ABC-free zone.
But when Israel gets always extra conditions, why should the big players in this region Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and Egypt be silent and without these “toys” who are in reality a life insurance for them – and also a tool for global power.
Pakistan has already nuclear weapons.
Day will come soon, when thes countries are less buyer than weapon-producer nations.
The US is delivering since decades the rope the West will hang on.
The “demographic bomb” is already doing its Job in the West, especiallyy in Europe.
One of the things this points out again is the failure of the so called checks and balances in government.
No matter how many arms are sold to SA there will be no Trump tower in Riyadh. And Trump had better not ask for one in Mecca which would hugely embarrass the Crown Prince.
I wouldn’t put anything past MbS.
Capitalism means never having to say you’re sorry. It’s all about the benjamins, to quote a paraphrase, and who cares about some human rights violations.
Trump supporters do still remember that we live in a republic/democracy, where the head of state can’t make unilateral, nationally binding decisions based on their say-so. Didn’t we fight a whole war of independence about that?