Four European countries to stop Saudi arms sales
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The ongoing conflict in Yemen spurred Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland to sign on to an arms embargo against Saudi Arabia, according to a new report.
The embargo has already earned the support of the European Parliament, along with Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, and Norway.
The Independent reported the countries are joining the weapons ban in response to Saudi Arabia's support of the Yemeni government, which is battling Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who control much of the country, including its capital.
The war has led to a humanitarian crisis the United Nations has described as "the worst famine in the world in 100 years," along with a death toll of at least 10,000 not withstanding deaths from the famine. Civilian targets have included schools, school buses, hospitals, food supplies, water infrastructure, and weddings.
The United States has pressed for a ceasefire and peace talks in the region, announcing this month it will stop refueling of Saudi warplanes involved in the conflict earlier. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., sponsored legislation defeated earlier this month to stop a $300 million sale of Lockheed Martin missiles and launchers to Bahrain, part of the Saudi-led coalition involved in the war.
“I think that the war in Yemen is counterproductive. I think that our involvement there is leading to more chaos, I think the Senate has abdicated their duty and their role,” said Paul.
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Another mess started and left by the Obama administration. This is what happens in a proxy war. Of course no one is talking about forcing Iran to stop backing the Houthi rebels; but unless Russia or China step Iran will not listen to anyone else. The real question is are the Saudis (our ally and #1 customer for weapons) more evil than Iran (backed by our two biggest rivals Russia and China).
It started way before the scary black man. Take a deep breath. You're safe again, there's white people back in the white house.
Saudi Arabia is slowly losing its edge in oil .The Russians are closing the gap. Further Saudi has been bankrolling its economy which is not sustainable.
Now what I don't understand is why the U.S. exports oil and then turns around and imports oil. Someone needs to explain that to me.
We should be finding ways to be more self sufficient but that's not profitable.
Pretty sure it wasn't Obama that just sold Saudi Arabia 1.4 billion dollars worth of weapons.
Pretty sure it wasn't Obama that just gave thanks to Saudi Arabia after they murdered a US resident.
Pretty sure it wasn't Obama that just said the CIA doesn't know if a crown prince ordered the murder of a US resident, (the CIA DOES know he ordered the murder).
Pretty sure it wasn't Obama that, on Thanksgiving Day, 2018, gave thanks to himself, and Saudi Arabia.
Your ODS is showing.
I'm not sure why he felt the need to bring Obama into the conversation. He made some good relevant points that could stand on their own but it was lost in his desire to point the blame at Obama.
You’re right I’m pretty sure Obama’s arms sales to the Saudi’s was closer to one hundred fifteen billion.
I’m pretty sure Khashoggi was a Saudi and not an American citizen.
Yes, Obama contributed to the problem and Bush pushed for Saudi Arabia to have nuclear weapons. Which may come to pass under this Administration.
Saudi Arabia is not an ally. They are a necessary evil. We are making deals with the devil when we should be finding ways to avoid dealing with these types of regimes.
He was a US resident. Whenever I think I've figured you out you surprise me with your callousness. Anything is acceptable as long as your stocks go up.
I am pretty sure I never claimed he was an American citizen.
So are you saying Obama and trump were both wrong or were both right?
I’m not educated on all the complexities of the deals to make an informed decision. I generally favor free trade but am opposed to the US making deals to aid other countries in warfare.
You asked for an example and I gave you one. Here's another one.
Trump and Kushner working behind the scenes to influence Turkey not to expose Saudi Arabia by offering up another US Resident, Fethullah Gulen, to cover up the Saudi Prince's involvement in Khashoggi's murder.
Let me add another faction of residents that don't have our country's best interest in mind, Trump's base.
The country needs to find ways through technology and other methods to cut out these evil regimes rather than selling our souls to the lesser evil.
Your Rights as a Permanent Resident
As a permanent resident (green card holder), you have the right to:
The United States has no law protecting Saudi’s from being killed by other Saudi’s outside of the US that I’m aware of.
BUT your earlier comment suggested they have no rights as a US Resident which is false.
One would think that as a US Resident and a representative/employee of a US company that the US President would speak out against their murder rather than work behind the scenes to cover up the Prince's culpability and even going as far as to offer up the life of a 2nd US Resident.
Butt, there are such things as international laws and world courts...
That's so fucking hilarious!
Those were the sales proposals to Saudi that Trump took credit for that his crack team negotiated....now that it comes to question it suddenly is Obama's
None of which has been delivered...
It's another deflection and whataboutism but Dean is correct, Obama did offer the largest arms deal in our history to Saudi under his Administration.
It gives me no pleasure to admit Dean is right. hahahahaha
Oh, I know he's correct about Obama making the proposal.
What's funny is that the offer that Trump held a big signing ceremony and hooplahed about how great he is to "Win" again and took all the credit for suddenly becomes Obama's bad move again. It was Obama's negotiation and proposal that Dean is referring to.
I love how these references are coming up, and how Absurd it is to go against Saudi on this because Iran and their terrorist ways...
They seem to ignore the fact that Saudi is the only country that financed the most effective and deadly terrorist attacks in US history...
So you endorse the murder of a human being, so you can save .02 cents a gallon at the pump? Gee, and here I thought trump was all about American values. Who knew that American values included endorsing murder to save a buck or two.
On this, I will agree.
Wally - this was a US Resident who was lured to his death. Yes, technically he is not a US Citizen but as Frost pointed out there are international laws that the US could have solicited.
What is wrong with Trump's base that there is no humanity or decency. This is why there is so much objection to Trump and why so many despise his base. There is no line he won't cross and no horrible act his base won't defend.
Gee It didn't seem to bother people when Obama was groveling at the feet of the Saudi King.
Didn't the great Neighborhood organizer threaten congress he would veto if they allowed victims to sue Saudi Arabia for 9/11?
It's funny how people ignored the facts back then and now it is the end of the world...
Wasn't that after Bush gave him one (or maybe another in a different location) lip lock kissing of the king?
It's the only way they can defend trump....deflection.
Because it didn't happen.
When did trump say that? And would you rather have a neighborhood DISORGANIZER?
I am pretty sure you are ignoring the fact that Obama supported an Iranian backed Houthi government in a fight against ISIS/ISIL after their coup; which stabilized their position. Also, gave them political backing from the US. Pretty sure you can see why the Saudis are upset with that.
It wasn't Trump that caused the instability in Yemen; but the left is sure as hell trying to blame him for it.
Your choices are either the Saudis (our ally) expanding their power based; or the Iranian backed Houthi taking power in Yemen, and pissing off one of the better allies in the area that supplies the US oil.
Since you (multiple comments from the left) can't seem to answer a simple question I will repeat it.
Are the Saudis (our ally) worse than the Iranians (that are backed by our two biggest adversaries in Russia and China)?
Simple enough for you?
Sorry, you don't get any other choices.
Nope, that's not what I'm doing. What I am doing is staying focused on current events.
pssssst ......here's a secret.......we can't change what's happened in the past but we can avoid the same or similar mistakes going forward. Let's focus on that.
I'm feeling pretty generous tonight so that little bit of advice is free. The next time it may cost ya something.
This doesn't seem like much of a solution to a very complex situation. Al-Qaeda and ISIS have been part of this fight for a while now. All this will do is make life easier for them and any other Iran-backed groups. There is a huge humanitarian crisis in Yemen, but weakening the stronger side seems more likely to prolong the agony than relieve it.
Yes, but America under this leadership doesn't care about murder as long as the rich keep getting richer
Well, now that Trump has decided to switch sides and join the ranks of the world's despots, the free world (what's left of it) will be looking to Germany and England for guidance. Fortunately, people in those countries are not as stupid as Americans.
This is beyond me. There is an embargo on weapons to Saudi Arabia that is supporting a legal government that is battling a rebel group that is supported by the world's greatest promoter of terrorism - Iran, so that Iran can extend its hegemony even further than Hamas and Hezbollah. And this is a good thing?
Can you break it down a little more Buzz. I think you are highlighting a good point but I'd like to hear more about your thoughts on Saudi Arabia's actions and potential actions going forward.
As I said, PJ, it's beyond me - I can't explain it any further. I was the one who asked "Is this a good thing?" because the whole thing confuses me.
This is beyond me. There is an embargo on weapons to Saudi Arabia
I could be wrong, but I believe the U.S. is by far the major supplier of weapons to Saudi Arabia. (Some other countries also supply them with weapons, but apparently that's insignificant compared to to the amount the U.S. sells them).
The U.S. is not currently embargoing weapons to the Saudis (some of those other countries, who are relatively minor suppliers are embargoing weapons sales to S.A.).
The Saudis are using U.S. supplied weapons to attack numerous civilian targets. Doing some really horrific stuff-- on a large scale. Of course it should be noted that their enemies-- the Houthis (who are supplied with weapons by Iran), are also committing atrocities as well...
Why isn't Khashoggi's religion taking up his cause?
Do you have anything that says Muslims aren't reacting to the murder?
Otoh...why aren't all Catholics or Christians for that matter rising up against the church for generations of child rape?
In some cases you'll get a similar answer..." I'm not Wahabbi" "I'm not Catholic"
Why isn't Khashoggi's religion taking up his cause?
While Saudi Arabia is a theocracy, in the case of the Khashoggi murder, religion had nothing to do with it-- it was strictly political.
Khashoggi was a journalist who was writing things that were extremely critical of the Saudi Ruler Salman. So Salman had him killed.
Sarah Connor : Yeah, right. How are you supposed to know? Fucking men like you built the hydrogen bomb. Men like you thought it up. You think you're so creative. You don't know what it's like to really create something; to create a life; to feel it growing inside you. All you know how to create is death and destruction...