10/19/2018
Multiple lawmakers are threatening to punish Saudi Arabia over the disappearance of a Washington Post journalist. Fox’s Chad Pergram has more in today’s “Speaker’s Lobby.”
I’m Chad Pergram with the Speaker’s Lobby.
Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle want to do something about Saudi Arabia and the death of Jamal Khashoggi. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says quote.” I can’t imagine there will be no response.” He adds there have often been what the Kentucky Republican termed as “strains” in the American-Saudi relationship for a while now. McConnell asserted that the U.S. deals with the Saudis because of aligned interests in the area. Calling it a quote, “pragmatic relationship.”
But what exactly can Congress do to the Saudis? And what is it willing to do? Democratic Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy declared that quote. “murder is murder.” Leahy says that the U-S shouldn’t “bow and scrape” just to curry favor with the Saudis. And Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois says the U-S shouldn’t “pull punches” with Saudi Arabia.
But that’s the problem. There’s concern that the Saudis could destabilize the region. If the U.S. pushes too hard. halts arms sales or restricts diplomatic ties with the kingdom. That could inflame Saudi Arabia. And in the words of one source in a worst case scenario, prompt another 9-11.
That’s why other Congressional sources tell Fox, there may be a lot of noise about Saudi Arabia. But perhaps very few consequences.
With the Speaker’s Lobby, Chad Pergram. Fox News
Follow Chad Pergram on Twitter: @ChadPergram
