John Tierney, executive director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, says, “any path seems narrow at this point” to stop Trump’s proposed sales, citing the high hurdles of passing legislation in Congress.
But Tierney, a former Massachusetts congressman, says he finds it interesting that “so far objections seem to be focused on the same reasons the Obama administration gave for suspending the sale in December 2016: significant deficiencies in Saudi Air Force’s targeting capabilities leading to endangerment of civilians when used.”
“I have yet to see any mention,” he adds, “of the incongruity between the Trump administration’s apparent swivel to full-blown endorsement of weapons increases to the Saudis while at the same time bemoaning Iran’s missile development – which arguably seeks to respond to the Saudis’ capabilities they believe threaten Iran.”
