Foreign Policy

The Senate Does Something Useful for a Change

Written by SK Ashby

A group of senators led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-TN) say they will block arms sales to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries including Saudi Arabia until they resolve their conflict with Qatar.

"Before we provide any further clearances during the informal review period on sales of lethal military equipment to the GCC states, we need a better understanding of the path to resolve the current dispute, " Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee said Monday in a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Here's Corker's awkward statement that begins by praising Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia that enabled the isolation of Qatar.

Disingenuous appraisal aside, this is a prudent move. We probably shouldn't sell arms to countries that could decide to wage war on each other at any time, especially when over 10,000 American troops are stationed in the middle of them in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia's list of demands for Qatar are ridiculous, by the way. They're demanding that the Al Jazeera news network be shut down, among other things. This was never about terrorism. Trump allowed himself to be used as a tool.