On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed bills expressing disapproval of US arms sales to both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The bills passed 238-190, with four Republicans supporting the bills. A third vote also passed 237-190.
The House bills mirror Senate versions which were passed last month over the objection of the Trump Administration. President Trump has threatened to veto them, and Congress appears to lack the two-thirds majority needed to override such a veto.
Such a veto is likely to rile up more Congressional action, however, as President Trump’s very public desire to protect US arms sales, even after the Saudi murder of Jamal Khashoggi, has been viewed as distasteful by many.
Arms packages related to this deal are worth an estimated $8 billion. Trump Administration officials tried to spin the sales as being primarily about fighting Iran, as did Republicans who opposed the House vote.
How on earth is the Antiwar intellectual edge to provide some leadership
to this the most pressing cause of our time — if we cannot stop being so naive? How is Kashoggi murder linked to arms sales? Congress is a place with no soul whatsoever, and to keep on pretending that their displeasure is based on “distasteful” murder, or many more such equally “distasteful” murders of starved Yemeni people — cannot pass the straight face test.
Do we really have to keep on pretending that such motives run our foreign policy? Such sentiments may be useful in maintaining appearances of credibility for gullible public, but that is all.
So what are the real reasons for the argument to sell or not to sell? There are many, but can be summed up as defiance. Saudis are being obstinate. There is no anti-Iran leadership coming out of Riyadh, and it remains to be seen if Saudis can be squeezed into taking the “lead” in Iran war, just as they are saddled with Yemeni war on our behalf. MBS predecessor was sacked in the court coup for following our lead ad verbatim — started Yemen war to reinstall the “legitimate” president, while it always was the war for the control of the Arabian side of Bab Al-Mandeb straits. And still is. And we are still in control of food blockade of Yemen, we are the ones that control the trickle of UN food into the country, and turn on/off the spigot when necessary. Excuse? Bad Houthis are going to eat, not the population— as if they are not one and the same. Can it eventually dawn on us that these are the sons, brothers and fathers defending their land, literally from those trying to dominate them? Saudis were saddled with the plan, but have now clearly prevailed over UAE. We have ever since MBS took over in June 2017 propped up UAE to take over good chunk of the South, cutting out Saudis from the critical southern edge of Arabia. UAE with our private military help managed to control two key provinces there, dominate Aden and started to move up the coast to Mocha and Hodeidah. After Khashoggi murder, MBS. cleaned out intelligence branches and removed the leadership of both Yemen and Qatar policies. The first trip MBS took was to UAE. Since, UAE has stopped the anti-Saudi Yemen policy that would have allowed US to control the coast — the demonization of UAE started. Before, they could do no wrong. Now, UAE is withdrawing, and Saudi backed Hadi, a Southerner, is poised to be back, provided Saudi can cut a deal with the two provinces and Aden. British are trying to spoil the deal, as once these were British protectorates. With neither Saudis nor UAE doing our bidding — there are two schools of thought. Selling them weapons would be against Israel interests. While others, like Trump, think US must make Saudis dependent on US arms and take away excuses that would allow Saudis to buy Russian or Chinese, and keep Saudis on the hook, until another palace coup can be engineered. But the notion that a ruler can be toppled by a scandal, followed by US open displeasure and accusations— is debunked. Now, the only thing remaining is a higher level division-sawing. Among tribes or between royals and money-oligarchy. But this will take time and money, with no guarantee of success. Such are dilemmas at present. Being on the back foot in just about every country in the Middle East and much of North Africa — dilemma is sizable and to sell or not to sell — is the most short term of alm short term fixes I have seen.