I like Biden's position in the debate on Saudi Arabia

[JonLP24]

Saudi Arabia is a big issue for me. They are bad allies & human rights violators.

[emmaverybo]

1. Strong there.

[herding cats]

2. It's just a simple fact.

I appreciate your mentioning it, but I'd side eye anyone who said otherwise. Most of us would, I suspect.

[flamingdem]

3. Joe showed he'd do us proud

around the world with that. He's ON tonight!

[SaschaHM]

4. Every time a Saudi national kills an American, he's on the first party flight home.

It's time to expel the ambassador.

[Thekaspervote]

5. Certainly he has the chops to deal with our friends and enemies abroad

[Celerity]

6. yes, and this is one thing he will have to separate himself from the Obama years on

Obama administration arms sales offers to Saudi top $115 billion: report

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-saudi-security/obama-administration-arms-sales-offers-to-saudi-top-115-billion-report-idUSKCN11D2JQ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration has offered Saudi Arabia more than $115 billion in weapons, other military equipment and training, the most of any U.S. administration in the 71-year U.S.-Saudi alliance, a report seen by Reuters has found.

The report, authored by William Hartung of the U.S.-based Center for International Policy, said the offers were made in 42 separate deals, and the majority of the equipment has yet to be delivered. Hartung told Reuters the report would be made available publicly on Sept. 8. The report said U.S. arms offers to Saudi Arabia since Obama took office in January 2009 have included everything from small arms and ammunition to tanks, attack helicopters, air-to-ground missiles, missile defense ships, and warships. Washington also provides maintenance and training to Saudi security forces.

The Center’s report is based on data from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, a Department of Defense body that provides figures on arms sales offers and Foreign Military Sales agreements. Most of the offers, which are reported to Congress, become formal agreements though some are abandoned or amended. The report did not disclose how many of the offers to Saudi Arabia were agreed.

Washington’s arms sales to Riyadh recently have come under fire from rights groups and some members of Congress are disturbed by the rising number of civilian casualties in the war in Yemen, where a coalition led by Saudi Arabia is fighting Iran-allied Houthi rebels. The conflict has killed at least 10,000 people. Last month the United Nations human rights office said that 3,799 civilians have died in the conflict, with coalition air strikes responsible for an estimated 60 percent of the deaths.

snip


Obama’s Administration Sold More Weapons Than Any Other Since World War II

Many were sold to the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/qkjmvb/obamas-administration-sold-more-weapons-than-any-other-since-world-war-ii