Two weeks ago, Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Rand Paul (R-KY), Al Franken (D-MN), and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a joint resolution of disapproval to block the sale of $1.15 billion of Abrams tanks and other military equipment to Saudi Arabia announced last month.
The senators condemned the atrocities committed by Saudi Arabia in Yemen—atrocities the US has been facilitating with military aid and intelligence sharing:
“Saudi Arabia is an important partner, but their war in Yemen, funded by the U.S., has become a disaster that is making our country less safe every day,” said Murphy. “Thousands of civilians are being killed, and terrorist groups inside the country, like al Qaeda and ISIS, are getting stronger. Until the Saudis' conduct changes, the U.S. should put a pause on further arms sales."
“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.
“The Obama Administration has recently offered over a billion dollars in weaponry to Saudi Arabia, and I think it’s in America’s best interest to call a timeout on this sale,” said Franken. “In Yemen, a Saudi coalition of fighters is unjustly killing civilians while at the same time not doing enough to address terrorism. This is dangerous for the Middle East, for our other allies, and for our nation, which is why I’m helping to introduce this bipartisan resolution.”
“Unbeknownst to many Americans, their military has been engaged in the civil war in Yemen throughout this year with very little oversight or authorization from their representatives in Congress,” said Lee. “I am cosponsoring this resolution because I believe it is our responsibility as stewards of our constituents’ interests to have a public discussion and debate on the merits - or lack thereof - of our involvement in this conflict and the broader Middle East. This presents Congress with an opportunity to prove we can do our jobs in a bipartisan manner and put the safety and security of the American people first. It will also allow us to work with the Saudis to recalibrate our alliance towards more productive and enduring achievements.”
According to the Yemen Data Project, a group of academics, human rights organizers, and activists, one in three Saudi air raids in Yemen hit civilian sites. Earlier this year, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation described the food situation in Yemen as “on the verge of humanitarian disaster,” with about half of the population in urgent need of assistance.
After a debate in which Lindsey Graham (R-SC) shamefully and shamelessly invoked the Holocaust to justify the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the Senate voted on a motion to table the resolution.
That motion passed easily 71 to 27. 23 Democrats and 4 Republicans voted against it. 49 Republicans and 22 Democrats voted for it.
The 4 Republicans were co-sponsors Paul and Lee as well as Dean Heller (R-NV) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).
Here are the 23 Democrats who should be commended for voting NO (i.e., against tabling the resolution and--effectively—against the arms sale):
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Al Franken (D-MN)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Pat Leahy (D-VT)
Ed Markey (D-MA)
Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Harry Reid (D-NV)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Jon Tester (D-MT)
Tom Udall (D-NM)
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Those not on that list—with the exception of Tim Kaine (D-VA) and John Thune (R-SD) who were not there but would have most certainly voted for the motion—all voted YES. That includes senators who tend to take the progressive position on issues like Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). But progressivism often ends at water’s edge for many.