President Trump’s hope to circumvent Senate oversight with an emergency
declaration on arms sales to Saudi Arabia appears to have backfired. If
anything, this effort seems to have drawn even more attention to the
planned sales, and fueled even more Senate objections.
Now, in addition to 22 resolutions objecting to the sales, the Senate is introducing a new bill on Monday aimed to force a vote
on all security aid to Saudi Arabia, including arms sales, and
conditioning them on a Congressional review of Saudi human rights
issues.
Trump aimed to bypass oversight on $8.1 billion in sales, knowing they
would face objections, by claiming an “emergency” that meant it couldn’t
wait for Congress to vote. Since the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi
by the Saudi government, there has been discomfort with arms sales to
the Saudis. Trump has objected to this additional resistance, arguing
that the sales are worth a lot of money.
That, and Trump’s cynical attempts to skirt oversight, are fueling bipartisan opposition,
with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Todd Young
(R-IN) all squarely on the side of blocking the arms sales now. Graham
has predicted more support is coming, and with broad support on the
other side of the aisle it wouldn’t take a lot more backing to stop the
deals.
This new bill on oversight of the Saudis, if passed in the Senate, would
move on to the House, where passage would be all but assured. This is
likely to mean another Trump veto on the Saudis’ behalf,
Other potential obstacle is the Senate leadership, which has often tried
to spare Trump from embarrassing vetoes with dubious interpretations of
the rules. Though legally a resolution of disapproval under the Arms
Export Control Act is privileged, and therefore the Senators can insist
on getting a vote, this has never previously been attempted after a
president claimed a state of emergency, and its likely at least some
leaders will argue that the emergency somehow changes things.
This is a risky proposition though, since even the declaration of
emergency was wildly controversial. Trump argued Iran, in and of itself,
amounts to an emergency situation, even though it is not readily
apparent that anything with respect to Iran has changed, and the Saudi
arms are for attacking Yemen, not Iran.
Here is an article that looks at which Saudi human rights violations are totally ignored by Washington:
https://viableopposition.blogspot.com/2019/05/global-human-rights-abuses-how.html
In the case of Saudi Arabia, it certainly appears that Washington is able to turn a blind eye as long as the Saudi royal family is willing to invest billions of dollars in the United States military-industrial complex.
This is really interesting. Who is this Senate trying to impress? Or Congress? That they REALLY care about the fate of one journalist? Or human rights in Saudi Arabia? If so, no need to look any further then Israel for the depravity of human behavior.
I cannot think of another reason then a growing concern for Saudi loyalty. In fact, an alarm. But the needs of weapons makers and those worrying about future safety of Israel are diverging. What is it in Saudi behavior that is causing such a fear? Kingdom’s growing ties to Russia. Since MBS took over, King established with Russia an investment vehicle, a forum for economic, scientific and technical cooperation, that just met for the sixth time since establishment by the end of 2017. This one produced a deal on Saudi investment in LNG plant in Russia, investments in agriculture, etc. Russian small arms manufacturing plant already opened in Saudi Arabia. Talk of a nuclear power plant prompted Trump to offer a consulting firm/business integrator to explore Saudi needs, and hopefully steer them away from Russia. At least delay by studies, expertise and potential to earn good consulting money. Saudis do not mind buying time with money. But there is a growing alarm over US weapons. That is for sure. Meaning that there is a growing suspicion that Saudis cannot be trusted. And I am 100% sure this has nothing to do with Yemeni children.
I’m sure that it was some Never-Trumpers who started pushing back at first, but then other Congresspeople of different stripes – antiwar, human rights, constitutionalists – noticed the egregious and blatant end-around and were drawn into a loose coalition against Saudi arms sales, for their own different reasons.
I am sure there are people in this coalition who are there for any number of reasons you mentioned. But I would not go as far as human rights, as I do not know one such creature in Congress. Interests are what counts, and to stand up to Rayeathon, requires much more of a substantial reason then constitutionalism.
And there is one powerful interest that US public still supports, and that is security of Israel. Saudi Arabia that is no longer fully under US control is a clear danger to Israel — especially armed with US weapons. What if Saudis follow Turkey and India and procure S-400 defense system? What if Saudis procure Russian or Chinese nuclear power plant?
The real test is Iran. Let us see if Israel can find a way to nudge Saudis into war. At present, looks unlikely. But a week can be a lifetime in politics.
“Since the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudi government, there has been discomfort with arms sales to the Saudis”
Because the mass starvation of children just wasn’t quite enough.
85,000+ kids<1 WaPo journalist
Imperial math is some sick sh*t.
“because a man was cut up with a butcher knife we have decided to reconsider selling satellite guided missiles.”
Congress coming together…. To do something right? There’s gotta be a catch.