Although the White House had urged a "no" vote, American senators voted 63-37
Wednesday to consider ending Washington’s support for the Saudi-led aggression
on Yemen.
The exact same measure failed on the chamber’s floor in a 55 to 44 vote in
March.
Co-sponsored by Senators Bernie Sanders, Mike Lee and Chris Murphy, the bill
would oblige Trump to cease support for the Saudi-led coalition via invoking the
War Powers Resolution of 1973 (WPR).
A similar measure has to be taken in the House, where some Republican have shown
opposition.
In a rare classified briefing ahead of the Senate vote, Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis addressed the senators, yet failed to
sway the undecided votes necessary to halt the measure, which is against Trump’s
interests.
A similar measure has to be taken in the House, where some Republican have shown
opposition.
In a rare classified briefing ahead of the Senate vote, Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis addressed the senators, yet failed to
sway the undecided votes necessary to halt the measure, which is against Trump’s
interests.
The White House released a statement, warning that such a measure "would harm
bilateral relationships in the region and negatively impact the ability of the
United States to prevent the spread of violent extremist organizations."
It further suggested that the president might veto such resolution.
"His advisors would recommend that he veto the joint resolution.”
Meanwhile, pressure was mounting on the Trump administration over supporting the
kingdom in the wake of Khashoggi’s murder.
Trump has thrown his support behind Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who
reportedly ordered the assassination of the dissident journalist and Washington
Post columnist at the Saudi consulate in Turkey last month.
The CIA has provided the administration with a tape of Khashoggi’s murder, which
Trump has refused to listen to.
The Saudi-led war on Yemen has also led to a humanitarian crisis in the
impoverished country. The UN has already said that a record 22.2 million Yemenis
are in dire need of food, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger.
According to the world body, Yemen is suffering from the most severe famine in
more than 100 years.
I’ve been at this for 3 years, and I am blown away by this.
By a big bipartisan margin, 63-37, the Senate just voted, for the first time, to
move forward with a debate on ending American involvement in the Yemen war.
The new measure at Congress would harm ties between Trump and the Saudi de facto
leader as the two are preparing to take part at the G20 gathering in Buenos
Aires from November 30 and December 1.
Source:PressTV