Rand Paul Introduces Resolution to End Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia

The Saudis have deep oil reserves and as such deep pockets. They are big buyers of arms, and especially so given its recent venture into Yemen and the perceived rise of a close to nuclear Iran. We do lots of weapons business with the desert kingdom.

But the Saudis are our “frenemies” at best. We tolerate them so that the world has access to Saudi oil. The 18th Century Wahhabi regime “tolerates” us because we have the biggest guns and we offer protection of the oil reserves.

But as is widely documented, the Saudis seem all too often to drift into the “enemy” side of the “frenemy” equation with us.

(From The Libertarian Republic)

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced a joint resolution with Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Al Franken (D-MN), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) to block the $1.15 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia. The arms sales include Abrams tanks and associated major defense equipment.

“Selling $1.15 billion in tanks, guns, ammunition, and more to a country with a poor human rights record embroiled in a bitter war is a recipe for disaster and an escalation of an ongoing arms race in the region,” said Paul in a press release.

Senator Murphy said that while Saudi Arabia was an “important partner” its war in Yemen has become a disaster.

Thousands of civilians are being killed, and terrorist groups inside the country, like al Qaeda and ISIS, are getting stronger.

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