<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5"><div dir="ltr"><div><div data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><a href="http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/09/07/senators-to-introduce-measure-opposing-1b-arms-sale-to-saudis/" target="_blank">http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/<wbr>09/07/senators-to-introduce-me<wbr>asure-opposing-1b-arms-sale-to<wbr>-saudis/</a><br></div></div></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><br></div><div>Senators to Introduce Measure Opposing $1B Arms Sale to Saudis</div><div>BY JOHN HUDSON</div><div>SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 - 4:54 PM</div></div><div><p style="margin:30px auto 25px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:2.05rem;font-family:tiempos,georgia,serif;font-size:17px;vertical-align:baseline;width:615.047px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">A bipartisan push against a $1.15 billion arms deal to Saudi Arabia is gaining steam in protest of Riyadh’s bombing campaign in Yemen — but remains split on whether to oppose the sale or block it outright.</p><p style="margin:0px auto 25px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:2.05rem;font-family:tiempos,georgia,serif;font-size:17px;vertical-align:baseline;width:615.047px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Multiple congressional aides tell <span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(235,20,20)">Foreign Policy</span> that Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut are preparing legislation, to be filed this week, opposing the U.S. package of tanks, ammunition, and machine guns to Saudi Arabia.</p></div><div><br></div><div><p style="margin:0px auto 25px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:2.05rem;font-family:tiempos,georgia,serif;font-size:17px;vertical-align:baseline;width:615.047px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">It follows a letter last week from more than 60 House lawmakers who sought to delay the arms sale after a series of Saudi-led airstrikes reportedly killed civilian targets in</span> <span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">August</span><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:700;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">.</span></p><p style="margin:0px auto 25px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:2.05rem;font-family:tiempos,georgia,serif;font-size:17px;vertical-align:baseline;width:615.047px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:1.5;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"> </span><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:1.5;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu of California, who helped lead the House’s letter campaign, </span><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:1.5;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">praised his Senate colleagues for “taking action” against the arms sale. </span><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:1.5;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">“Once the public learns the facts of the Saudi military’s atrocities in Yemen, they will call for this arms sale to be rejected and for the U.S. to withdraw its support of the Saudis in this conflict,” he told <span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(235,20,20)">FP</span> on Wednesday. </span></p><p style="margin:0px auto 25px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:2.05rem;font-family:tiempos,georgia,serif;font-size:17px;vertical-align:baseline;width:615.047px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Spokespeople for Paul and Murphy declined comment.</p><p style="margin:0px auto 25px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:2.05rem;font-family:tiempos,georgia,serif;font-size:17px;vertical-align:baseline;width:615.047px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">The measure is expected to take the form of a non-binding resolution of disapproval that would receive a floor vote in about two weeks. But the two senators are also considering binding legislation that would block the proposed sale if they sense that the measure would pass, according to congressional aides.</span></p><p style="margin:0px auto 25px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:2.05rem;font-family:tiempos,georgia,serif;font-size:17px;vertical-align:baseline;width:615.047px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">The 18-month conflict in Yemen has killed at least 6,000 people and displaced 2.5 million more as Saudi Arabia and its Sunni-majority allies battle Houthi rebels for control of the country. The chaotic fighting has also allowed Islamist militants to deepen their foothold in Yemen; meanwhile, Houthi rebels have </span><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi-idUSKCN0Y021U" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:1.5;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(235,20,20);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">fired</a><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"> missiles into Saudi Arabia.</span></p><p style="margin:0px auto 25px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:2.05rem;font-family:tiempos,georgia,serif;font-size:17px;vertical-align:baseline;width:615.047px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">The White House did not respond to multiple requests for comment. A State Department official declined to say if the Obama administration would cede to congressional demands and delay the proposed sale.</p><p style="margin:0px auto 25px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:2.05rem;font-family:tiempos,georgia,serif;font-size:17px;vertical-align:baseline;width:615.047px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">However, the official said State is reviewing last week’s letter, which cited August reports of a Saudi </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/yemen-school-airstrike_us_57b1938fe4b007c36e4f2f67" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(235,20,20);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">airstrike</a><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"> on a school in Yemen that killed 10 children and another </span><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-idUSKCN10Q1E0" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(235,20,20);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">strike</a><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"> that hit a Médecins Sans Frontières hospital and killed 11 people.</span></p><p style="margin:0px auto 25px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:2.05rem;font-family:tiempos,georgia,serif;font-size:17px;vertical-align:baseline;width:615.047px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">Generally, Congress has 30 days to block the sale of similar military packages of this type, meaning the clock technically could run out as soon as Thursday, as House parliamentarians believe. But Senate experts say the 30 calendar-day deadline does not apply to the upper chamber because it was adjourned for the summer recess.</span></p><p style="margin:0px auto 25px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:2.05rem;font-family:tiempos,georgia,serif;font-size:17px;vertical-align:baseline;width:615.047px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">The House letter sent to the White House earlier this month explicitly complained about the timing issue and congressional staff in both parties remain incensed.</p><p style="margin:0px auto 25px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:2.05rem;font-family:tiempos,georgia,serif;font-size:17px;vertical-align:baseline;width:615.047px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">“Whether or not it was done intentionally, the administration is setting a dangerous precedent by starting the 30-day review clock while Congress is adjourned for the summer recess,” a Democratic congressional aide told <span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(235,20,20)">FP</span>.</p><p style="margin:0px auto 25px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:2.05rem;font-family:tiempos,georgia,serif;font-size:17px;vertical-align:baseline;width:615.047px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">The U.S. officially backs the Saudi-led coalition against the Shiite Houthi forces in Yemen. U.N.-sponsored talks aimed at finding a political resolution to the conflict imploded last month and Saudi-led forces resumed their bombing campaign.</p><p style="margin:0px auto 25px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:2.05rem;font-family:tiempos,georgia,serif;font-size:17px;vertical-align:baseline;width:615.047px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">The relief group Médecins Sans Frontières </span><a href="http://www.voanews.com/a/doctors-without-borders-pull-staff-after-yemen-hospital-bombing/3470756.html" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(235,20,20);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">announced</a><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"> last month they were pulling out of six hospitals in northern Yemen because of the</span><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"> “indiscriminate bombings and unreliable reassurances” from Riyadh and its Arab allies.</span></p></div><div>===</div><span><font color="#888888"><div><br></div><div><div><div dir="ltr">Robert Naiman<br>Policy Director<br>Just Foreign Policy<br><a href="http://www.justforeignpolicy.org" target="_blank">www.justforeignpolicy.org</a><br><a href="mailto:naiman@justforeignpolicy.org" target="_blank">naiman@justforeignpolicy.org</a><br><div><span style="text-align:left"><a href="tel:%28202%29%20448-2898%20x1" value="+12024482898" target="_blank">(202) 448-2898 x1</a></span><br></div><div><span style="text-align:left"><br></span></div><div><span style="text-align:left"><br></span></div></div></div></div>
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