Trump clears weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE

[sggatecl]

Defying Congress, Trump sets $8 billion-plus in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump, declaring a national emergency because of tensions with Iran, swept aside objections from Congress on Friday to complete the sale of over $8 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

The Trump administration informed congressional committees that it will go ahead with 22 military sales to the Saudis, United Arab Emirates and Jordan, infuriating lawmakers by circumventing a long-standing precedent for congressional review of major weapons sales.

Members of Congress had been blocking sales of offensive military equipment to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for months, angry about the huge civilian toll from their air campaign in Yemen, as well as human rights abuses such as the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Turkey.

Lawmakers and congressional aides warned earlier this week that Trump, frustrated with Congress holding up weapons deals including the sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia, was considering using a loophole in arms control law to go ahead by declaring a national emergency.

 

[Polish-Hammer]

How dare Trump not use Israel as an intermediary to ship weapons to the middle east.

 

[biggunsbob]

Trump is a scumbag. But that is pretty much a given. The GOP will never stand up to this criminal in the Oval Office.

 

[Michchamp]

Another one.

 

[tomdalton22]

good news for the trade deficit

 

[Michchamp]

good news for the trade deficit

the wealth from arms sales doesn't seem to get spread very far though. :-(