McConnell urges opposition to bill ending US support for Saudi war

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Wednesday that the Senate should reject an effort to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen and instead back a resolution to name Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “responsible” for journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s slaying.

McConnell, speaking from the Senate floor, said members have “legitimate concerns” about Yemen and share “grave concerns” about Khashoggi’s death.

{mosads}”[But] we also want to preserve the 70-year partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia and we want to ensure it continues to serve American interests and stabilizes a dangerous and critical region,” McConnell said.

He added that the “challenging circumstances” require “prudence and precision.”

“The Sanders-Lee resolution is neither precise enough or prudent enough,” McConnell said, referring to the measure, authored by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah).

The Senate is expected to hold a vote on Wednesday afternoon to take up the resolution, which would require Trump to withdraw any troops in or “affecting” Yemen within 30 days. The Senate voted 63-37 late last month to move the issue from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the full Senate, despite most Republicans opposing the measure.

Because the resolution is being brought up under the War Powers Act, it only needs a simple majority to pass the Senate, which both supporters and opponents expect it will have.

But McConnell argued that senators should instead support a forthcoming resolution from Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). Corker told reporters that his resolution “holds [the crown prince] responsible for the killing.”

“There’s a better option at hand. Legislation introduced by Chairman Corker does a good job capturing bipartisan concerns about the war in Yemen and the behavior of Saudi partners more broadly without triggering an extended debate over war powers while we hasten to finish all our other work,” McConnell said.

“It’s a superior road to the outcome that most senators want. So I urge every member to vote against considering the Sanders-Lee resolution later today and join me in supporting Chairman Corker’s responsible alternative,” he continued.