Two Democratic and two Republican senators are taking the lead in an attempt to kill a $1.5 billion military aid package for Saudi Arabia. Democrats Al Franken (D-Mn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Ct.) have joined with Republicans Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Ut.) to take the effort to derail the Obama administration’s plans to send Abrams tanks and sophisticated equipment to Riyadh a notch higher after a letter signed by 67 senators apparently had no impact on the president’s plans. The new initiative will be a joint resolution that will have considerable value in making clear the strength of opposition to the sale that represents a rare point of agreement between the parties at a time they are barely speaking to each other. The quartet of senators maintains that a vote on the deal can be forced per the Arms Export Control Act of 1976. Citing the poor Saudi human rights record, Sen. Paul called the proposed sale “a recipe for disaster” and escalation of the arms race in the region. Notice was made of the Saudi air campaign in Yemen, ostensibly against the Shiite Houthis, proxies of Iran, Sen. Murphy commenting that, “Thousands of civilians are being killed, and terrorist groups inside the country, like Al-Qa’ida and ISIS, are getting stronger.”
Meanwhile, a new military aid package to Israel worth about $3.8 billion annually is expected to be signed “within days,” according to the US ambassador to Israel. The amount is the most the US has ever given to another country, but despite its size the deal is a double-edged sword for Israel. President Obama steadfastly insisted that the agreement remove what has been the economic lifeline for Israel’s defense industry – the ability to spend up to 40% of the aid money in Israel while the rest must be spent in the US. Within six years, 100% will have to be spent in the US causing fear that the Israeli defense providers will be decimated. The provision has been one of the primary reasons the Netanyahu government has held-off signing the pact as it considered waiting to negotiate with Obama’s successor.