Trump’s ‘Emergency’ Arms Sales
By: Terry Schwadron
Tags: Republicans, Trump, Foreign Policy, Saudi Arabia, Congress

Terry H. Schwadron

June 17, 2019

Amid our overwhelming piles of partisan politics, here comes an issue in which senators from both parties seem to be ready to stand against Donald Trump — approval of “emergency” arms sales to Saudi Arabia to pursue the war in Yemen.

When the issue arises as soon as this week, you might raise both eyebrows to note that a number of Senate Republicans will be crossing over to stand with Democrats on opposing the sales.

The Senate actually is voting on a set of 22 resolutions of disapproval for the sales, a vote to block each of the sales of different weapons groups. Weirdly, of course, this issue is arising as tensions in the region are on high alert as the result of another attack on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, an attack that the United States says was ordered by Iran. In return, Iran not only denies it, but now is threatening to start processing uranium again.

Basically, the reasons are two: Senators in both parties are upset with Saudi Arabia, especially since last year’s murder in Turkey of American journalist Jamal Khashoggi allegedly at the order of Saudi prince Muhammad Bin Salman, and enough senators are offended by Trump’s declaration of “emergency” conditions to try to bypass normal congressional reviews for the sales.

Opponents need the 47 Democratic votes plus four Republicans for a necessary simple majority. They should have that and more: Republican Senators Rand Paulof Kentucky, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Todd Young of Indiana and Mike Lee of Utah have indicated they will co-sponsor the opposition bill, and others are expected to follow.

Indeed, issue in the end may come down to whether enough Republicans will stand with the opposition to withstand a certain Trump veto of the measures.

Overall, this vote is looking to parallel an earlier note of Senate approbation for Trump policy-making. The Senate voted to halt U.S. support for Saudi war-making in Yemen, only to draw a presidential veto; the Senate lacked the 67 votes needed to override the veto.

Trump has invoked an emergency provision under the Arms Export Control Act to push through the sales without a congressional review period. Because lawmakers are challenging the sales under the same law, they need only a simple majority to send the resolutions to the president, according to The Hill.com.

This move to block the sales reflects growing frustration on Capitol Hill about the U.S.-Saudi relationship and would come after two other votes fell short in recent years to block arms deals with Saudi Arabia. One, in 2016, got support from only 27 senators; in June 2017, a second won backing from 47 senators. Since then, U.S.-Saudi relations have soured further amid growing concerns about Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the years-long Yemen civil war and the Khashoggi killing with no apparent U.S. response.

The 22 weapons sales would also send weapons to the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, including precision-guided bombs, Patriot missiles, mortar rounds, drones, fighter jet parts and other military support. The Trump administration cited a heightened threat from Iran as its justification for invoking the emergency sales.

In remarks for a House committee hearing, R. Clarke Cooper, the assistant secretary of State for political-military affairs, said, “These sales and the associated emergency certification are intended to address the military need of our partners in the face of an urgent regional threat posed by Iran; promote the vitality of our bilateral relationships by reassuring our partners; and preserve strategic advantage against near-peer competitors.”

Among the Republican senators, the measure is drawing favorable comments, but few commitments yet from Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Steve Daines of Montana, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Jerry Moran of Kansas, who had voted with Democrats on the earlier measure to end support for the Saudi military campaign in Yemen. Republicans Marco Rubio of Florida, Cory Gardner of Colorado, and Mitt Romney of Utah, said they were more upset by the “emergency” procedures being declared more than by the arms sales themselves.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated that the mathematics of the earlier vote on ending support for the Yemen campaign might hold again. Failure to overcome the veto allowed the support to continue.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a major sponsor, said opposition would face a battle in overcoming the expected veto.

Still, the issue shows that beneath all the partisan overlay, there is some kind of conscience breathing among Senate Republicans.

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