US must 'eliminate military assistance to Saudi Arabia' after OPEC move: Dem lawmakers

[StormKing]

Source: Raw Story / Common Dreams

Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday called for an end to U.S. military aid to Saudi Arabia after the kingdom and other major oil-producing nations agreed to slash output by two million barrels a day, a move that could significantly drive up gas prices worldwide as a global recession looms.


Sanders was one of several members of the U.S. Democratic caucus who responded with outrage to OPEC and Russia's decision, which is set to take effect in November as the midterm elections kick off.

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) announced Wednesday that he will be reintroducing legislation instructing U.S. officials to "initiate dispute proceedings" against OPEC members at the World Trade Organization for violating the body's price-manipulation rules.

More at link




Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/saudi-arabia-opec/

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Wow! This is huge I hope they do it!

[gab13by13]

1. So are Manchin and Sinema on board?

Or do they need 60 votes? I believe they need 60 votes, so....

[FoxNewsSucks]

18. It's so depressing to realize what could have been done

in the last two years if those turncoats hadn't sided with republicons against Democrats so often.

We'll probably never get the chance to see either. Since they blocked voting protections fascist rule is probably inevitable.

[onecaliberal]

26. The two senators from OPEC will not vote for it.

[Lovie777]

2. Are the Republicans on board? .......

Personally I would say NOPE, but alas will still blame Biden for high gas.

[Samrob]

3. I agree, but the US MIC will not like that.

I once thought if we did that, the Saudis would just get their weapons from Russia. But then Ukraine happened and we all are seeing what kind of quality the Russians put out.

A lot of support went to helping the royals keep their feet on the necks of the people who wanted more freedoms. Now they have just enough "freedom" that the potential for overthrowing the royals is practically nil.

The only thing we can do to help ourselves is to become energy independent. It's a nasty trade off but it looks like it's either "drill baby drill" or work much harder at clean energy alternatives (but others will not stop polluting while we do). A totally affordable electric car would go a long, long way to being able to ignore the petroleum tyrants at home and abroad.

[nattyice]

5. Weapons from Russia? Like jets with GPS units duct-taped inside the cockpits?

[NickB79]

8. China may step in instead

[atreides1]

24. Well...

If China is getting serious about invading Taiwan...they won't be selling any military equipment to anyone!

[FoxNewsSucks]

15. We don't need to drill anything.

Just stop exporting our oil. Stop exporting our refined products.

That along with an increased shift to renewables would solve the problem.

[jaxexpat]

23. Energy independence should be a done deal.

We've got tidal oceans on two large borders.

[JohnSJ]

25. Exactly. These reactionary actions are not wise. Boy am I glad Biden is President

[marble falls]

4. Well aren't we afraid the Russians will step in with modern weapons ....... Ohhhhhhhh ...

... Not a smart move from the Saudis, all things, like Ukraine, considered.

[twodogsbarking]

6. Think of the weapons manufacturers. The Reps are.

[womanofthehills]

47. It's all about the weapons manufacturers

Saudi Arabia is America's No. 1 weapons customer
Old article from 2017

The U.S. remains the world's largest weapons exporter, a position it has held since the late 1990s. Our biggest customer? Saudi Arabia.

That business reality came to the forefront this week in President Donald Trump's refusal to crack down on the kingdom whose royal rulers have been accused of murdering a Saudi-born, U.S.-based dissident journalist who disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

The U.S. sold a total of $55.6 billion of weapons worldwide in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 — up 33 percent from the previous fiscal year, and a near record. In 2017, the U.S. cleared some $18 billion in new Saudi arms deals. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/saudi-arabia-is-the-top-buyer-of-u-s-weapons/

[twodogsbarking]

48. Oh yeah.

[Farmer-Rick]

7. Making the US oil dependent was a great scheme

It brought a lot of scoundrels, criminals and psychopaths a lot of money.

I wonder how in the world we could undo it?

[twodogsbarking]

9. This may explain....

[link:

|

[Mysterian]

14. Traitorous republicans and oil bosses back-stabbed Jimmy Carter

for trying to make us independent of the evil kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

[Turbineguy]

10. Raising the price of gas gives

Americans a chance to fuck themselves by voting for republicans and helps Putin as well.

[bluedigger]

11. Nice air force you got there, Saudis.

Be a real shame if we had to raise the price of stembolts you need to keep it flying, but we need to protect the stability of the arms market, don't you know...

[orangecrush]

33. This

[Bmoboy]

12. rock and a hard place

Isn't reduction of the burning of fossil fuels a good thing?

Eventually we will have to STOP using all fossil fuels or become extinct.

I know that "right now" is the wrong time to raise gas prices, elections and inflation and so on, but when will be the right time to save our lives?

[orangecrush]

32. Welcome to DU

A+ for subtlety.

[Mysterian]

13. Yes!

Long overdue.

[kacekwl]

16. Yes please.

[FoxNewsSucks]

17. Should have been done long ago.

Mr Bonesaw and his country are NOT our friends.

They attacked us on 9/11, and far too many of our politicians continued to kiss their ass.

[onetexan]

19. What kind of military assistance has the US been providibg the Saudis?

[FoxNewsSucks]

20. Where did their equipment come from? Who protected them from Saddam?

Who gave the Saudis god only knows what when they ordered the US off their soil because women were driving and people drinking on US bases?

Did you forget the sarcasm thingy with that question?

[Martin68]

28. Jets, anti-aircraft radar and missile systems, and other sophisticated military equipment. As

well as intelligence information.

[onetexan]

44. Thanks!

[orangecrush]

21. GOOD

Show them there's a price for kissing Putin's ass

[JohnSJ]

22. No, that wouldn't be the wisest thing to do. Short term you might feel great, but reactionary

responses like this are usually not wise.

This is why it is a good thing that Biden is in the WH. He is NOT going to cut our nose off to spite our face.

That action would play right into our adversaries hands.

but it gets the attention of everybody, just like "defund the police"

[JustAnotherGen]

31. Coming from my Congressman

With a district of long commuters, without public transportation that gets us direct to NYC or Philadelphia?

I'm good with it. It's enough.

I have called and said that in addition I would like to see a Federal Cap legislation of no more than $3 per gallon. We are the largest producer of oil and the subsidies that Oil/Gas industry get are more than enough to make up the difference on the Financial Statements of these companies.

[orangecrush]

34. Yeah, let's keep kissing their ass

It'll be easy since we're bent over from them kicking us in the crotch.

[JohnSJ]

36. That isn't what I am saying, but doing it now would only increase oil prices even higher, and

have midterm consequences

[Midnight Writer]

43. It won't pass, but it doesn't hurt to throw a "brush-back" at the plate.

Better to give them something to think about than to react with "Thank you, Sir! May I please have another?"

[Martin68]

27. Yes, stop arming the Saudis because they are damaging the war effort in Ukraine.

Where are they going to get weapons? The Russians? Nyet! The Chinese? It would be hard for Saudi Arabia to transition to Chinese weapons when they are currently armed by the US. US assistance is needed to maintain jets and other sophisticated weapons systems. Without it, their air force and anti-airforce equipment will soon be piles of junk. I get it: the Saudis (MLB, that is) feel dissed by the US and Europe, who heavily criticized them for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. But if they want to be players on the international scene, they need US military help.

[twodogsbarking]

29. Flying planes into buildings wasn't enough but don't mess with oil prices.

There is a limit.

[JustAnotherGen]

30. House Bill

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217228067


https://malinowski.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/malinowski.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/Malinowski%20OPEC%20Partnership%20Bill.pdf

Malinowski, Casten, and Wild aren't waiting around on the Senate to get anything done. Statements are nice - Bills are what matter.

[orangecrush]

35. +1000

[betsuni]

46. +1

[samsingh]

37. at least some, and switch support to Venezuela and get more oil from there

[womanofthehills]

49. Because of the sanctions against Venezuela

Venezuela needs lots of parts to repair their oil rigs to get their oil industry up to where it was. They also need to get Chevron back pumping - so it might be a while.

[Scalded Nun]

38. Also shutter our bases and end ALL aid to these murderers.

Our alliance with this evil garbage is only supported by the oil giants and the MIC...and it is all about profits.

[FredGarvin]

39. Sanders is right, as usual

Let's see how many people on both sides of the aisle line up with this demand.

My guess is that 90% of American's are on board.

No chance that this passes...

[Oneironaut]

40. The US needs nationalized oil with fixed prices, while at the same time,

pushing toward alternate sources of energy.

[dalton99a]

41. Kick

[Quanto Magnus]

42. I am in full agreement

Why do we have to pay for their price manipulation?

I get it, they want regressives in charge....

Cut them off at the knees....

Nowadays they need the equipment more than we need the oil, if the US fixes our refineries.

So glad I have an EV as my primary vehicle..

[pecosbob]

45. So raise the price for all the military hardware they receive x10.

Cite inflation as the cause.