Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters18 Maj 2016

How One Senator is Trying to Change the US-Saudi Relationship

Senator Chris Murphy wants to change a bedrock relationship in US foreign policy.

In April this year he introduced legislation to restrict arms sales to Saudi Arabia over that country's conduct in the war in Yemen. The Saudi-led air campaign is both causing inordinate civilian casualties in Yemen and not doing much to counter the active ISIS or Al Qaeda branches in the country. Senator Murphy discusses how this legislation hopes to reign in Saudi Arabia's military campaign, which in the view of Senator Murphy is becoming increasingly inimical to American interests.

Our discussion of Yemen leads to an extended conversation about the US-Saudi alliance, the terms of which Murphy is very transparently trying to change from his perch in the Senate. We recorded this conversation before the US Senate voted, unanimously, on May 17th, to enable the family members of 9-11 victims to possibly sue the kingdom of Saudi Arabia for any potential liability they may hold--a move which was opposed by the White House. But I do think this conversation helps set the context for that vote. Senator Murphy is a Connecticut Democrat on the progressive end of the spectrum, who has launched a website, chanceforpeace.org in which he's attempting to fundamentally shift the terms of the national security conversation in DC. The Saudi arms sales legislation seems to be one manifestation of his foreign policy vision. Foreign policy watchers will be interested in hearing Senator Murphy's critique of US middle east policy. And for international relations students out there, this conversation offers a fascinating insight into how individual legislatures can influence US foreign policy.

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(1188)

Here's What Will Drive the Agenda at the UN This Week | With Elizabeth Cousens

UN week is here. Hundreds of presidents and prime ministers are headed to New York this week for the annual opening of the United Nations General Assembly. The presence of so many world leaders all in...

21 Sep 20min

My UNGA Plans (And Your General Assembly Cheat Sheet)

Mark here! I just wanted to talk directly to you about my comings and going this UNGA and preview for you my plans for covering the UN. Some relevent links: 50 % discounted subsciption to support th...

17 Sep 10min

Haiti Is Getting More Dangerous. The U.S. Is Sending People Back Anyway.

Haiti's security crisis is deepening as armed gangs expand their control over territory and daily life, while a new UN-backed Gang Suppression Force begins to deploy amid major questions about whether...

14 Sep 28min

Why Yemen is Becoming the Iran War's Next Front

The Iran war is spilling over into Yemen. And now, the country is on the verge of a full-blown civil war that could drag in Saudi Arabia, Iran — and potentially the United States. Over the last severa...

8 Sep 25min

Zambia's Fraught Election and the Global Race for Copper

Zambia's election is raising fresh questions about the country's democratic trajectory — even as its vast copper reserves make it increasingly important to the global economy and to strategic competit...

3 Sep 24min

Why Oman Could Be Crucial to Ending the Iran War

Oman has long played one of the Middle East's most unusual diplomatic roles: maintaining close ties with rivals and quietly creating space for enemies to talk. Secret U.S.-Iran negotiations in Muscat ...

31 Aug 26min

Did Russia Just Cross a New Line in AI Warfare?

Last month, a Russian drone flew toward a gas station in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia. It crashed into a wall and exploded, killing three civilians. What made this strike different — and potenti...

28 Aug 37min

A Shakeup in the Race for UN Secretary-General | To Save Us From Hell

The United Nations is in the midst of selecting its next Secretary-General — and the race to succeed António Guterres just got more interesting. Last week, the Security Council held a straw poll to te...

27 Aug 29min