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Republican senators on Sunday condemned President Donald Trump's decision to stay with Saudi Arabia even after the CIA determined that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was behind the murder of journalist Jamal Khoshoggi.
Senator Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), The president's criticism, criticized Trump's bombing statement last week for defending Saudi Arabia, calling it "very weak".
"MBS has contributed to the assassination of someone overseas and it's not the strength to sort that out," Sasse told Fox News Sunday, referring to Heir prince. "The strength is to tell the truth even when it is difficult."
Trump shocked US lawmakers and world leaders when he pledged to maintain a partnership with Saudi Arabia, despite mounting evidence that MBS had ordered the assassination of Khashoggi, a Washington editorialist Post who had criticized the Crown Prince.
The Washington Post announced earlier this month that the CIA had determined that MBS had ordered Khashoggi's assassination. The Saudi journalist was reportedly killed shortly after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month. His body was then dismembered and eliminated.
"Our intelligence agencies continue to evaluate all the information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince has learned about this tragic event – maybe he did it and maybe that He did not know it! "Said Trump in his strange statement last week, made with an exclamation. .
"The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to defend the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region," said the President, highlighting the investments Saudi in US military equipment and other contracts.
Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) said Sunday at NBC channel "Meet The Press" that he also disagreed with Trump's willingness to show the other involvement of the band. apparent involvement of MBS in the murder of Khashoggi.
"It's incompatible with the intelligence I've seen," Lee said. "The information I have seen suggests that it was ordered by the Crown Prince and is another reason why I insisted … to get us out of the fight against the war effort. Saudi Arabia in Yemen against the Houthis. "
Lee called on Congress to "take ownership" of US foreign policy and reconsider its partnership with the Middle East kingdom.
Saudi Arabia "is not an ally that deserves this type of military intervention, especially because there is no link between the security of the American people and our involvement in this war," he said. declared. "I believe that Congress is an opportunity to weigh and say," Let's stop our efforts in Yemen. "
The Senate is expected to pass a bill this week from Lee and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) That would end US involvement in the Saudi conflict in Yemen – a military campaign that created the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world and an element of current US-Saudi cooperation.
Lee also predicted that the upcoming Congress, which would include a Democratic-majority House, would likely look at Trump's "personal motives" to side with the Saudis.
"I do not know why [Trump] Stands on the side of the Saudis, but I think we can change some things to change our relationship with the Saudis – notwithstanding all his personal motives, "Lee told NBC. "I am also sure that at the next congress, people will look into the issue."
Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) did not hesitate to say that Trump had given a "pass" to the Saudis, but acknowledged that Congress should continue to review the CIA's findings on Khashoggi's death.
"I think we need to deepen the question," Ernst told CNN's "State of the Union." "We need to understand where investigations are leading us and I look forward to hearing from many of our intelligence agencies this."
"Now, Saudi Arabia is an excellent strategic partner for us," she added. "However, human rights – we are also a very strong country in terms of human rights, respect for the law and law, and if there are any clues that the prince has been involved in this murder, we must absolutely consider new measures. "
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