Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I urge opposition to H.J. Res. 37, directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from the hostilities in Yemen. Actually, the U.S. is not directly engaged in any hostilities in Yemen. This is not my independent assessment, but the determination of the Department of Defense. The U.S. is currently supporting the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen by providing targeting assistance, intelligence sharing, and joint planning to defeat the Houthi rebels who are armed by Iran, with missiles that they have directed at civilian airports in Saudi Arabia. There is no doubt that the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has made terrible targeting mistakes. But what would happen if the U.S. were to pull the plug on our intelligence-sharing and targeting cooperation? {time} 1430 Would this improve the coalition's targeting or possibly make it worse, increasing the chances for collateral damage and civilian casualties? I am concerned that, if we walk away now, these terrible tragedies will simply multiply. The United States must be at the table so that we can insist on and respect international law. This does not mean that the coalition will always do the right thing, but it does mean that we will have leverage and influence to promote the right direction.…”