Rep. Gabbard Condemns US Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. PC: (4.14.17) courtesy file image.

Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaiʻi condemned the Trump Administration’s new $460 billion arms deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which includes $110 billion immediately and $350 billion over the next 10 years.

Rep. Gabbard said the country has a “devastating record of human rights violations at home and abroad, and a long history of providing support to terrorist organizations,” that she says “threaten the American people.”

According to Rep. Gabbard, Saudi Arabia is the “world’s largest sponsor and propagator of the extremist Wahhabi Salafist ideology” that she says “fuels terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda.”  Based on Saudi Arabia’s history and track record, there is a significant likelihood these weapons will be used against innocent civilians or end up in the hands of terrorist groups, Rep. Gabbard said.

In a statement issued over the weekend, Rep. Gabbard said:

“Saudi Arabia has spent hundreds of billions of dollars spreading their extreme Wahhabi Salafist ideology around the world, creating fertile ground for terrorist organizations like ISIS and al-Qaeda to recruit, while simultaneously providing direct support to terrorist groups who pose a direct threat to US interests and who are fighting to overthrow the Syrian government. The hypocrisy in the Trump administration’s actions toward Saudi Arabia began in February 2017 with the newly-appointed CIA Director Mike Pompeo presenting Saudi Crown Prince bin Nayef with the George Tenet Award in recognition of Prince bin Nayef’s ‘excellent intelligence performance, in the domain of counter-terrorism and his unbound contribution to realise world security and peace.’ This hypocrisy continues now as the Trump administration talks tough against ISIS and terrorism, while selling weapons to, supporting, and praising a country that beheads dissidents, oppresses women, persecutes religious minorities, atheists, and LGBT people, and is the greatest supporter of terror groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS in the world today. This arms deal will enable Saudi Arabia to use U.S.-made weapons in their war crimes against Yemeni civilians in a brutal civil war, and continue perpetuating human rights atrocities at home and abroad.”

Congresswoman Gabbard introduced H.R. 608, the bipartisan Stop Arming Terrorists Act, which would prohibit any Federal agency from using taxpayer dollars to provide weapons, cash, intelligence, or any support to armed militants who are allied with al-Qaeda, ISIS and other terrorist groups, and it will prohibit the US government from funneling money and weapons through other countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar who are directly or indirectly supporting terrorists.

Congresswoman Gabbard also recently sent a letter to Secretary Mattis urging an end to the United States’ military participation in Yemen’s civil war.  She said there are 19 million people in need of emergency support and said the participation has never been authorized by Congress.  She has called for a Congressional briefing on the White House’s strategy in Yemen.