Trump administration looks to resume Saudi arms sale criticized as endangering civilians in Yemen
Source: Washington Post
By Missy Ryan and Anne Gearan March 8 at 6:05 PM
The State Department has approved a resumption of weapons sales that critics have linked to Saudi Arabias bombing of civilians in Yemen, a potential sign of reinvigorated U.S. support for the kingdoms involvement in its neighbors ongoing civil war.
The proposal from the State Department would reverse a decision made late in the Obama administration to suspend the sale of precision guided munitions to Riyadh, which leads a mostly Arab coalition conducting airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Secretary of State Rex Tillersons approval this week of the measure, which officials say needs White House backing to go into effect, provides an early indication of the new administrations more Saudi-friendly approach to the conflict in Yemen, and a sign of its more hawkish stance on Iran.
It also signals a break with an approach the previous administration hoped would limit civilian deaths in a conflict that has pushed Yemen to the brink of widespread famine, but which gulf ally Saudi Arabia has cast as a battle against the spread of Iranian influence across the Middle East.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-looks-to-resume-saudi-arms-sale-criticized-as-endangering-civilians-in-yemen/2017/03/08/a259090a-040e-11e7-b1e9-a05d3c21f7cf_story.html?utm_term=.6f4315e58253
ck4829
(35,081 posts)I think that's known as actively avoiding the consequences of your actions.
joshcryer
(62,276 posts)Of course the sales are going to continue.
LiberalLovinLug
(14,175 posts)When almost half of the stock of News Corps is owned by a prince in the Saudi Family?
hmmmm