Senators seem to be coming together against Saudi Arabia still “ok” arms deal – PB/TK
Senate Vote on Saudi Arms Deal Fails, But Momentum Against Saudi Alliance Growing – Ed Krayewski / June 13 2017
A vote to advance a resolution of disapproval of a $510 million U.S. deal to send precision guided weapons systems to Saudi Arabia failed in the Senate by a vote of 47-53.
The resolution received far more support than a similar resolution last year targeting a $1 billion tank deal with Saudi Arabia blocked by the Obama administration.
The vote indicates support is growing to question the foreign policy establishment status quo. This even as President Trump is abandoning the challenges of the underlying assumptions of U.S. foreign policy and the U.S.’s entangling alliances he made during his campaign.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a main sponsor of the resolution, admitted to reporters today the vote was purely symbolic, noting that that the House is unlikely to bring it up and that even if it passed Trump would veto it anyway.
“How do we figure out how to have less war?” Paul asked reporters. “That’s the big question. I’m not willing to invade Saudi Arabia to tell them what to do, but we don’t have to support them.”
Continue to reason.com article: http://reason.com/blog/2017/06/13/senate-vote-on-saudi-arms-deal-fails-but
