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U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is intent on blocking a $ 110 billion arms sale with Saudi Arabia, which he labeled as a sponsor of terrorism during a Montana rally with Donald Trump Jr. on Saturday.
Paul, R-Ky., A member of the Foreign Relations Committee, told a crowd in Missoula that the U.S. can no longer look away from Saudi Arabia's bad behavior. Republican U.S. candidate candidate Matt Rosendale, the Hill reported.
"We have to think through this idea that is going to be blindly for Saudi Arabia. They're involved in a war in Yemen where, "Paul said.
The Saudis are the world's largest customer for U.S. military weapons and equipment, and are key in the Middle East.
Paul has repeatedly called for greater scrutiny of the U.S.-Saudi relationship after U.S.-based writer Jamal Khashoggi was killed in Saudi consulate in Turkey on Oct. 2.
He also called for cutting off military aid to the country.
The Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which requires the administration to investigate Khashoggi 's death and report back to Congress within 120 days.
Khashoggi's human rights, Khashoggi's human rights.
Paul called any sanctions slap on the wrist.
"I think sanctions are a way of pretending to do something. If you sanction the 15 thugs that the crown prince feels [the consulate in Istanbul]You're sanctioning 15 thugs and they'll just get 15 more thugs, "he said.
"I think sanctions are a way of pretending to do something. If you sanction the 15 thugs that the crown prince feels [the consulate in Istanbul], you're sanctioning 15 thugs and they'll just get 15 more thugs. "
Instead, he is pushing for a vote to block the dirty arms.
"Paul told the Hill before he went onstage at the rally. "In fact, their air force would be grounded in two or three months if they did not have spare parts."
Earlier this month President Trump defended the arms deal as an economic boost.
"In terms of the $ 110 billion – $ 110 billion – $ 110 billion – all they're going to do is give it to other countries and I think that would be very foolish of our country," he said Oct. 13.
Trump Jr. did not mention Saudi Arabia during Saturday's rally.
Rather than simply focus on Khashoggi, Paul is also criticizing Saudi Arabia's support of "violent jihad," Politico reported.
He reminded the crowd that 15 of the 19 hijackers involved in the 9/11 attacks were Saudis, and accused the kingdom of funding terrorist activities.
"Anyone remember who attacked us on 9/11?" He said. "Anybody heard of a madrassa? They have 20,000 madrassas in Pakistan funded by the Saudis that teaches hatred of Christians, hatred of Jews, hatred of Hindus, throughout the world. "
"Why do we have worldwide terrorism? The Saudis fund it, "he added.
