July, 12 2022, 11:37am EDT
Statement on President Biden's Trip to Saudi Arabia
Ahead of President Biden's trip to Saudi Arabia later this week, Demand Progress Foreign Policy Campaigner Cavan Kharrazian issued the following statement:
"We are deeply concerned about Biden's planned trip to Saudi Arabia, despite his promises to make the kingdom a 'pariah' given their horrible human rights record, which includes the killing of journalists and their deadly war in Yemen.
"We are not alone in this - lawmakers have expressed similar concerns, and a new poll shows 75% of Americans do not approve of Biden's trip.
WASHINGTON
Ahead of President Biden's trip to Saudi Arabia later this week, Demand Progress Foreign Policy Campaigner Cavan Kharrazian issued the following statement:
"We are deeply concerned about Biden's planned trip to Saudi Arabia, despite his promises to make the kingdom a 'pariah' given their horrible human rights record, which includes the killing of journalists and their deadly war in Yemen.
"We are not alone in this - lawmakers have expressed similar concerns, and a new poll shows 75% of Americans do not approve of Biden's trip.
"To defend his unpopular trip, Biden recently had to publish an op-ed. The piece misses the mark in several ways. While he touts the historic absence of troops engaged in 'combat missions' in the Middle East, he fails to mention DOD personnel who are actively supporting Saudi Arabia's war on Yemen and the various US armed forces units across the region engaging in hostilities or remain in harm's way.
"Furthermore, while the temporary truce in Yemen should be applauded, it is no substitute for a lasting peace agreement and Saudi bombs could continue to drop - with US support - if and when it expires in August.
"We call on Congress to reject any deal with Saudi Arabia until they have meaningfully addressed their malign behavior, including permanently ending their war and blockade on Yemen. To this end, we call on members of Congress to immediately pass the Yemen War Powers Resolution to pull crucial US support for Saudi Arabia's offensive operations in Yemen."
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