Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Condemns New U.S. Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia

[Brian4Liberty]

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Condemns New U.S. Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia (https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-condemns-new-us-arms-sale-saudi-arabia)
May 20, 2017
Press Release


Washington, DC—Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) today condemned the Trump Administration’s new $460 billion arms deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—$110 billion immediately and $350 billion over the next 10 years—a country with a devastating record of human rights violations at home and abroad, and a long history of providing support to terrorist organizations that threaten the American people.

Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest sponsor and propagator of the extremist Wahhabi Salafist ideology that fuels terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda. Based on Saudi Arabia’s history and track record, there is a significant likelihood these weapons will be used against innocent civilians or end up in the hands of terrorist groups.

“Saudi Arabia has spent hundreds of billions of dollars spreading their extreme Wahhabi Salafist ideology around the world, creating fertile ground for terrorist organizations like ISIS and al-Qaeda to recruit, while simultaneously providing direct support to terrorist groups who pose a direct threat to US interests and who are fighting to overthrow the Syrian government. The hypocrisy in the Trump administration’s actions toward Saudi Arabia began in February 2017 with the newly-appointed CIA Director Mike Pompeo presenting Saudi Crown Prince bin Nayef with the George Tenet Award in recognition of Prince bin Nayef’s ‘excellent intelligence performance, in the domain of counter-terrorism and his unbound contribution to realise world security and peace.’

This hypocrisy continues now as the Trump administration talks tough against ISIS and terrorism, while selling weapons to, supporting, and praising a country that beheads dissidents, oppresses women, persecutes religious minorities, atheists, and LGBT people, and is the greatest supporter of terror groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS in the world today. This arms deal will enable Saudi Arabia to use U.S.-made weapons in their war crimes against Yemeni civilians in a brutal civil war, and continue perpetuating human rights atrocities at home and abroad,” said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

Background: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has introduced H.R. 608, the bipartisan Stop Arming Terrorists Act, which would prohibit any Federal agency from using taxpayer dollars to provide weapons, cash, intelligence, or any support to armed militants who are allied with al-Qaeda, ISIS and other terrorist groups, and it will prohibit the U.S. government from funneling money and weapons through other countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar who are directly or indirectly supporting terrorists. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard also recently sent a letter to Secretary Mattis urging an end to the United States’ military participation in Yemen’s civil war, where 19 million people need emergency support and which has never been authorized by Congress, and calling for a Congressional briefing on the White House’s strategy in Yemen.
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https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-condemns-new-us-arms-sale-saudi-arabia

[Brian4Liberty]

Congress Considers Bill to “Stop Arming Terrorists” (https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/foreign-policy/item/25588-stop-arming-terrorists-act-would-end-u-s-funding-for-terror)
Written by Alex Newman


A bipartisan bill to prohibit U.S. taxpayer funding and arming of terrorist groups and their associates is making progress in Congress, most recently having a companion bill introduced in the Senate by popular liberty-minded U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.). The legislation, originally sponsored in the House by Democrat Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, takes aim at lawless U.S. government “regime change” schemes overseas that often involve providing money, weapons, training, and other support to savage terror organizations. High-profile voices on both sides of the aisle have joined forces to get the bill passed into law. Of course, aiding designated terror groups is already a serious crime, but for whatever reasons, the laws have not been enforced against federal officials.

In particular, the new legislation, known as H.R. 608 in the House, bans the provision of any assistance by the federal government to al-Qaeda, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, and the Islamic State, sometimes known as ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh. The “Stop Arming Terrorists Act,” as it is being dubbed, would also prohibit official U.S. aid to any individual or group affiliated with, associated with, or cooperating with any of the proscribed terror organizations. Finally, the legislation bans any funds to state sponsors of those groups, which would ensnare a number of ostensible U.S. government “allies.” The director of national intelligence would be in charge of making the determinations, in consultation with the appropriate congressional committees. Providing anything from cash and weapons to training and intelligence would be prohibited under the bill.

Senator Paul, a leading constitutionalist and non-interventionist in Congress, introduced the “Stop Arming Terrorists Act” last week in the Senate as S. 532. “One of the unintended consequences of nation-building and open-ended intervention is American funds and weapons benefiting those who hate us,” Senator Paul said in a statement announcing that the companion legislation to the House measure had been filed. “This legislation will strengthen our foreign policy, enhance our national security, and safeguard our resources.” Like his father, retired Congressman and GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul, Senator Paul has been a longtime critic of the U.S. government's illegal policies arming terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda.
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Top U.S. intelligence officials later confirmed publicly that, despite being advised not to by military officials, Obama deliberately aided terrorists under the guise of helping “moderate” jihadists overthrow Assad.
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For Representative Gabbard and the group of bipartisan lawmakers joining her effort to end U.S. taxpayer support for terror groups, it is time to ensure that no more American wealth goes to support the savagery of terrorists wreaking havoc across the Middle East. “The fact that American taxpayer dollars are being used to strengthen the very terrorist groups we should be focused on defeating should alarm every Member of Congress and every American,” she said. “We call on our colleagues and the Administration to join us in passing this legislation.” So far, a solid group of lawmakers including constitutionalists such as Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Ted Yoho of Florida, along with a number of progressives, have joined forces with Gabbard to support the legislation.
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More: https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/foreign-policy/item/25588-stop-arming-terrorists-act-would-end-u-s-funding-for-terror

[shakey1]

Too bad H.R. 608 will not likely be considered... neocons have 'em outnumbered.

[Miss Annie]

She is not wrong.

[enhanced_deficit]

Wars bloodbath is unfurtunate, especially when US made bombs are used to kill civilians and children, but should we overlook that this $110 Billions sale of weapons will create well paying jobs in states with weapons making industries?

[gaazn]

Other than death and taxes, another sure thing in life is arms will be sold. Everyone knows some will get in bad hands, so they still need countries like saudi arabia to launder and funnel to. Plausible deniability

[Brian4Liberty]

Justin Amash: Why are we giving the Saudis $1 billion in weapons with zero debate?


The United States government has an unfortunate history of ill-conceived arms sales to nations around the world. But it’s our longstanding arrangement with Saudi Arabia that has become particularly troubling in recent years.

President Barack Obama’s latest announcement—that he intends to provide the Saudis with a rushed order of over one billion dollars in new weaponry—should provide the impetus Congress needs to seriously reflect on and re-evaluate the nature of our relationship with this supposed ally.

Last week, I joined a bipartisan coalition of 64 U.S. representatives in sending a letter to President Obama asking him to delay the weapons sale to Saudi Arabia. As my concerned colleagues and I note, “Amnesty International has documented at least 33 unlawful airstrikes by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition across Yemen that appear to have deliberately targeted civilians and civilian facilities, such as hospitals, schools, markets, and places of worship. These attacks may amount to war crimes.”

Despite the seriousness of this allegation, the Obama administration is attempting to push through another weapons sale in a long line of many—this time with a price tag of $1.15 billion. By law, Congress may block any such transfer within 30 days of being notified, but this notification came on August 8—and congressional business was not scheduled to resume until September 6.

That leaves a mere two days for Congress to debate and potentially vote on the sale—a tall order in the House of Representatives and an impossibility in the Senate. While it’s true that the United States has regularly supplied Saudi Arabia with weapons with little fanfare since at least the 1970s, it’s long past time to reconsider this arrangement.
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More: http://rare.us/rare-politics/issues/foreign-policy/justin-amash-why-are-we-giving-the-saudis-1-billion-in-weapons-with-zero-debate/

[phill4paul]

Tulsi and Rand have agreement on many issues. Aggressive foreign involvement, warrant-less surveillance, opposition to TPP. She is a Democrat and a Bernie supporter so there are plenty of areas in which they are miles apart on. However, it would be interesting to see Rand and her and anyone that can work across the aisle actively playing each other up. I think in 2020 Amerikans are going to go for a candidate/s that actively work with the opposing party because they are tired of divisiveness, either that or the whole house burns down because of it. At some point I am hoping for divisiveness fatigue by the saner elements in both parties. It's not a huge amount of hope, but......

[AZJoe]

Following the deal to arm the Saudi Regime with $350 billion of weapons, US armaments stocks reach all time highs (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/todays-charts-defense-stocks-hit-time-highs-blackstone-gains-20b-deal-saudi-arabia-national-oilwell-varco-new-venture-162248424.html), with Lockheed Martin announced the biggest winner.

[phill4paul]

Following the deal to arm the Saudi Regime with $350 billion of weapons, US armaments stocks reach all time highs (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/todays-charts-defense-stocks-hit-time-highs-blackstone-gains-20b-deal-saudi-arabia-national-oilwell-varco-new-venture-162248424.html), with Lockheed Martin announced the biggest winner.

I can't imagine why that would happen.

[TheCount]

Justin Amash: Why are we giving the Saudis $1 billion in weapons with zero debate?

Of the 64 reps who opposed $1 billion in arms by Obama, how many will oppose $460 billion by Trump?

I'll guess less than half.

[AZJoe]

Tulsi is on Fire!

866438687126638592

866354077231448064

866339491094691840

866051825581137953

[phill4paul]

Of the 64 reps who opposed $1 billion in arms by Obama, how many will oppose $460 billion by Trump?

I'll guess less than half.

Therefore, by their votes, ye shall know them.

[merkelstan]

It's good of Tulsi to do this, on the other hand material support for terrorists is already a crmiinal offense. It's just that the law doesn't really apply to govt. employees.

So I guess Tulsi's logic is "let's make it MORE ILLEGAL" - ok whatever - lol!

Edit: And then we can post pictures of congresscritters with the title "Voted against the Stop Funding Terrorists Act" - which will be funny for a long time.

[Occam's Banana]

then we can post pictures of congresscritters with the title "Voted against the Stop Funding Terrorists Act" http://i.imgur.com/dFOLogu.jpg

[merkelstan]

http://i.imgur.com/dFOLogu.jpg

Yeah you saw the pic of him meeting al-nusra (and possibly isis) in syria? I mean. .

That wasn't a scandal?