Republicans and Democrats were enraged last year when the administration declared an emergency over Iran to bypass Congress and move forward with an $8 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf nations. Linick had presented preliminary findings to senior State Department officials in early March. Perhaps more significant, it would allow Raytheon to expand an already approved relationship with the Saudis to build high-tech bomb parts in Saudi Arabia. A State Department official declined to comment, citing a policy of not addressing or confirming proposed defence sales until Congress has been formally notified. Bipartisan outrage erupted in Congress last year over the United States’ relationship with Saudi Arabia after the administration’s tepid response to the death of Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post columnist and Virginia resident.

Source: bd News24 May 29, 2020 04:18 UTC