Sens. Rand Paul, Bernie Sanders, and Mike Lee issue joint resolution to put Yemeni people before profits

The Washington Examiner ^ | Nov 26 | by Christopher Tremoglie

[RandFan]

Last week, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul decided to take a stand against Saudi Arabia. He was joined by Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Mike Lee of Utah. Together, they issued a joint resolution of disapproval to block proposed U.S. arms sales to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

According to the press release, this weapons sale to Saudi Arabia included 280 air-to-air missiles and 596 missile launchers. Other sophisticated weapons were included, as well as associated training and support. The entire cost was estimated to be approximately $650 billion.

The three senators were not pleased at all, not in the slightest.

“As the Saudi government continues to wage its devastating war in Yemen and repress its own people, we should not be rewarding them with more arms sales,” Sen. Sanders said in the press release.

“The war in Yemen is a humanitarian tragedy, and U.S. participation in this war remains undeclared by Congress. The administration’s proposed arms sale to Saudi Arabia contradicts the President’s own stated policy. I am proud to once again stand with my colleagues and push back on unconstitutional support of this war,” said Sen. Lee.

Sen. Rand Paul had an especially scathing rebuke of the deal.

“A message needs to be sent to Saudi Arabia that we don’t approve of their war with Yemen,” Sen. Paul said. “By participating in this sale, we would not only be rewarding reprehensible behavior, but also exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in Yemen. I urge Congress and the Biden Administration to consider the possible consequences of this sale that could accelerate an arms race in the Middle East and jeopardize the security of our military technologies.”

[reg45]

Yemen is just a proxy for Iran. The Saudi’s are fighting against the Iranian Shiiites.

[Neanderthal]

"The entire cost was estimated to be approximately $650 billion."

That amount seems way too high. $650 million would be a more reasonable amount.

[RandFan]

Yes it looks like a typo :) Well spotted.

[nathanbedford]

When Churchill was criticized for cozying up to Stalin in the wake of Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union he defended his actions saying with words to the effect, "if Hitler had invaded Hell I would least make a friendly reference to the devil in the House of Commons." The old formula applies: the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

I understand that Iran, on the threshold of getting the bomb that can be attached to ICBMs with which it is amply equipped, has been supporting the war in Yemen which is an attack on the back door of Shiite Iran's Sunni enemy Saudi Arabia. When Iran gets that bomb we will be lucky if the damage is limited to merely inciting a nuclear arms race in the Gulf. Worst case, atomic war.

Before Trump left office he was making Nobel Prize worthy treaties in the Gulf thus safeguarding Israel and making peace rather than war or nuclear war, more likely. By reversing Trump's policy hindering if not preventing Iran getting the bomb, Biden's bumbling has put Saudi Arabia, Israel and the whole of the Gulf in jeopardy. It threatens our relationship with Saudi Arabia at a time when Biden's other ongoing policy blunder, choking down our domestic oil production, forced him to go hat in hand to the Saudis begging them to increase oil production.

Biden's left hand does not know what his far left hand is doing but I suspect the Saudi's, the Israelis and the Gulf states very well do understand what is about to befall them.

Sale of arms is not the same as putting boots on the ground, even conceding the danger of mission creep. I believe these two Republican senators, whom I admire, have got it wrong on Yemen and, astonishingly, Biden actually got it right.

[zeestephen]

American taxpayers just donated $80 billion of military equipment to the Muslim fanatics in Afghanistan.

So, what does Rand Paul decide to rage about? A $650 million sale of military equipment to Saudi Arabia and $1 billion of military aid to Israel, which is the only country in the world that would actually fight to defend the USA.

I do not get it, Rand.

Destabilize Saudi Arabia? Weaken Israel?

What exactly is your train wreck vision of the Middle East and south central Asia supposed look like when you are finished, Rand?