Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran thinks murder should have consequences. Why dont his colleagues?
Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran did the right thing again. Hes flying solo in that regard, as fellow Senate Republicans from Kansas and Missouri refuse to respond to Saudi Arabias role in the bombing of Yemeni civilians and in the assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi with anything but faux frowns and real arms contracts.
Unlike Missouri Senators Josh Hawley and Roy Blunt and Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, Moran voted on Thursday to block President Donald Trump from using emergency authority to sell arms to the Saudis.
Sure, these resolutions will be vetoed by the president, who as we careen toward war continues to take his cues on Iran in part from his son-in-laws buddy, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Yes, even though a U.N. report documents credible evidence that it was the crown prince, as the CIA has said with high confidence, who ordered Khashoggi hacked to death for criticizing him in print. Whats the buzz of a bone-saw between friends?
Trump is also taking cues on Iran from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a hawkish Kansan who in a time-honored pre-war move is trying to tie Iran to Al Qaeda. One recurring refrain in Trumps 2016 campaign speeches that made sense was his argument against waging endless wars we didnt need to be in. Now, though, his advisers seem to have talked him out onto a ledge and left him there, woozy and babbling about being cocked and loaded.
All of this only makes Morans willingness to stand up for the separation of powers and for democratic values more commendable and the calculus of his colleagues more chicken-hearted.
Congress has an important role in the oversight and approval of arms sales to foreign countries, Moran said in a statement. Todays vote was to retain that power by preventing the bypassing of Congress, and ensure that partners who receive American weapons will respect American interests.
Hes been consistent, also opposing arms sales to Bahrain and voting for a resolution against Trumps plan to use emergency powers to build a wall on the border with Mexico.
I believe the use of emergency powers in this circumstance violates the Constitution, Moran said at the time.
Some people only talk about the Constitution, while others vote to defend it.
The Kansas City Star
