Trump may sidestep Congress on Saudi arms deal, drawing fresh warnings from Republicans and Democrat

[lindysalsagal]

Source: WAPO

By Karoun Demirjian and Karoun Demirjian Congressional reporter focusing on national security May 23 at 5:52 PM

Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill are urging President Trump not to go over Congress’s head to complete controversial arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other countries amid concerns that he may soon use his emergency powers to sidestep lawmakers’ power to check such deals.

Lawmakers and human rights advocates are anticipating that the administration may exploit a legal window that permits the president to circumvent congressional roadblocks, or “holds,” on proposed arms sales. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has placed such a hold on a planned sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia, over concerns that the weapons may be used against civilian targets in war-torn Yemen.

Such holds are common, and Republicans and Democrats have placed them on arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Persian Gulf countries in recent years. Presidents have seldom exploited their emergency powers to work around them — and the prospect that Trump may try to blow through several objections to such arms sales has alarmed lawmakers, who are anxious to protect their authority to have a say on the executive branch’s ability to export lethal weaponry to foreign actors.

“The congressional review process exists so that the Senate can ask questions about whether a particular arms sale serves our national interests and supports our values, including human rights and civilian protections,” Menendez said in a statement Thursday, warning defense contractors that they, too, should be concerned that “the possible consequences of this will ultimately jeopardize the ability of the U.S. defense industry to export arms in a manner both expeditious and responsible.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-may-sidestep-congress-on-saudi-arms-deal-drawing-fresh-warnings-from-republicans-and-democrats/2019/05/23/ca4af24e-7d96-11e9-8ede-f4abf521ef17_story.html?utm_term=.6238c072ac2d

[SHRED]

1. He will

Count on it.

[not_the_one]

7. there are few places he can flee to

once the excrement REALLY hits the rotating air movement device.

I think he is afraid of Putin (who would kill him and not think twice about it). Kushner has been setting up the arrangements with Saudi Arabia for quite some time. Hey, turdface supported the murderer. They OWE turdface.

[lindysalsagal]

2. It's scary to imagine all the ugly deals he's desperately constructing

that future admins won't be able to resolve.

[ancianita]

3. Looks like we're being made to eat this dictatorship elephant, one bite at a time.

[Achilleaze]

4. Why do republicans prefer a DICKtatorship to freedom & democracy?

I guess they just can't handle it. Need a Daddy figure. Some super skanky shit going down with their republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief, Dirty Donny.

[Grokenstein]

5. Oooooooooo, "fresh warnings!!"

THAT'll make him think twice! Or at least once! /saaaaaaaarcasm

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Why does he have 'emergency powers'? What's the emergency facing

this country that would require the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia? Think we need to change the law or go to court to stop this s**t.

[Bayard]

8. "congressional review"

We don't need no stinkin' congressional review!

[Eugene]

9. Emergency, the autocrat's favorite excuse.

[MFGsunny]

10. Don't just hold his feet TO the fire .... time to hold them warmonger toes OVER the fire. n/t