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Rand Paul, Two Dem Sens Move to Block Trump Saudi Arms Sale

Rand Paul, Two Dem Sens Move to Block Trump Saudi Arms Sale
Sen. Rand Paul (AP)

Thursday, 25 May 2017 04:54 PM EDT

Three senators are renewing a push to block President Donald Trump's $110 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, citing the risk of worsening the conflict in Yemen.

Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Al Franken, D-Minn., introduced a joint resolution of disapproval Thursday on a part of the deal recently signed by the president during his visit in Riyadh.

A similar push from the three same three senators, along with Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, was rejected last September.

In the new resolution, the senators seek to block the proposed sale of equipment and weapons systems used by the Royal Saudi Air Force – Murphy said it would only apply to a "fraction" of the $110 billion sale – because they believe the arms will only worsen the war in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition supporting the ousted government, The Hill reported.

Murphy warned the ongoing conflict, and the U.S. support for Saudi Arabia, is leading to Yemenis "being radicalized against the United States."

"The war inside Yemen is a national security nightmare for the United States," he said, per The Hill. "[These weapons] will be used to increase the humanitarian catastrophe that exists on the ground in Yemen."

Paul added a debate on the resolution of disapproval would allow Congress to "have an overall discussion about the Middle East."

But Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, predicted the resolution would again fall short – and said he has seen "no indication of purposeful civilian casualties" by Saudi Arabia, The Hill reported.

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Three senators are renewing a push to block President Donald Trump's $110 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, citing the risk of worsening the conflict in Yemen.
senators, arms, sale, Saudi Arabia
261
2017-54-25
Thursday, 25 May 2017 04:54 PM
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