Dems call for arm sales freeze to Saudi Arabia

(12 Oct 2022) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington DC - 12 October 2022 1. Cutaway of Sen. RIchard Blumenthal and Rep. Ro Khanna walking in for press conference 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D) Connecticut: "One of the consequences should be a temporary halt in arm sales. This one year pause in sales of all arms, repairs, supplies, support really is in defense of our national interests and security interests." 3. Cutaway 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D) Connecticut: "The Saudis need to come to their senses. They have committed a humongous blunder very much against their own economic and security interests as well as ours. The only apparent purpose of this cut in oil supplies is to help the Russians and harm Americans. It was unprovoked and unforced, as an error." 5. Cutaway 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D) Connecticut: "And I am very hopeful that the president will act immediately, he has the power to stop these sales, and he should exercise that power, in my view. But we hope that this legislation will provide an impetus for the Saudis to reconsider this action and reverse it. There's still time. The oil supply cuts don't take effect until November, and the Saudis can act in the meantime." 7. Cutaway 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Ro Khanna, (D) California: "From my perspective, it's it's pretty simple. We have done so much for Saudi Arabia. I mean, the first President Bush basically sent troops to the Middle East to make sure Saddam Hussein didn't invade the Saudis when the troops were in Kuwait. As Senator Blumenthal said, we provide so much not just in weapons, but in defense cooperation, in joint defense initiatives to the Saudis. They get almost 73% of their arms from the United States. If it weren't for our technicians, their airplanes literally wouldn't fly." 9. Cutaway 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Ro Khanna, (D) California: "And so what galls many of us in Congress is the ingratitude. It's the ingratitude. When Americans are facing a crisis because of Putin, when we're paying more at the pump, our ally, someone who we have helped for decades, should be trying to help the American people. Instead, they're hurting the American people. And that will not stand." 11. Cutaway 12. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D) Connecticut: "They (Republicans) have been receptive, noncommittal, but favorable in their remarks that there need to be consequences. And this proposal, as Congressman Khanna said so well, is reasonable and sensible, calibrated to keep the relationship and preserve the cooperation, but restore trust and rebalance it because it has been so one sided. And I think many Republicans share that perspective." 13. Cutaway of Blumenthal and Khanna leaving room STORYLINE: Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congressman Ro Khanna have joined forces to introduce legislation that would freeze arms sales to Saudi Arabia following the Riyadh-led OPEC+ alliance moves to cut oil production. Blumenthal of Connecticut and Khanna of California introduced legislation that would immediately pause all U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia for one year. This pause would also halt sales of spare and repair parts, support services and logistical support. But it remains to be seen how far President Joe Biden is willing to go in showing his displeasure with the Saudis, a vital but complicated ally in the Middle East. Biden came into office vowing to recalibrate the U.S. relationship because of Saudi Arabia's human rights record but then paid a visit to the kingdom earlier this year Clients are reminded: Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/20fce4fcd0b94b7ea5799b49a8d03d0f