Democratic Congressmember Ro Khanna says Saudi Arabia ought to face penalties for its choice to chop oil output by 2 million barrels a day as a part of the OPEC+ cartel, elevating gasoline costs in the USA simply earlier than the midterm elections the place cost-of-living points are anticipated to be a significant factor. He additionally discusses the Saudi-led warfare in Yemen, describing it as “one of many largest humanitarian crises on this planet” that have to be delivered to an finish. Khanna just lately co-authored laws calling on the USA to cease arms transfers to Saudi Arabia.
TRANSCRIPT
This can be a rush transcript. Copy might not be in its last kind.
AMY GOODMAN: I wished to ask in regards to the U.S.-Saudi relations. You latterly co-authored laws with Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal calling on the U.S. to cease arms transfers to Saudi in response to the Kingdom’s choice to chop two million barrels a day of oil manufacturing on the OPEC+ assembly, thereby elevating the worth of gasoline to Russia’s benefit. In a chunk for Politico that you just co-authored with Senator Blumenthal, you wrote, “Merely put, America shouldn’t be offering such limitless management of strategic protection methods to an obvious ally of our best enemy — nuclear bomb extortionist Vladimir Putin.” You additionally tweeted, “Their brutal warfare in Yemen and their fleecing of American customers on the pump will need to have penalties.” Discuss what you’re demanding and the way a lot assist you’ve for this at this level and what’s occurring in Yemen.
REP. RO KHANNA: As , for nearly six years in Congress, I together with Bernie Sanders have been working to attempt to carry the warfare in Yemen to a detailed. It is likely one of the largest humanitarian crises on this planet, just like the barbarism of Putin in Ukraine. It has not gotten as a lot consideration. We had a ceasefire. Now that ceasefire apparently could also be falling aside. Happily, the USA, because of our passing of the Warfare Powers Decision and this president’s motion, is not refueling the Saudi planes that have been bombing Yemen. However we nonetheless present an amazing quantity of protection help to Saudi Arabia. That elevated dramatically within the Trump administration. We have now extra joint protection preparations with Saudi than most of our allies. And the Saudi planes wouldn’t fly if it weren’t for U.S. technicians.
So each of the account that they haven’t accomplished sufficient to carry the blockade, that they nonetheless aren’t abiding by all the peace agreements to carry the warfare to an finish, and on prime of that they’re slapping People within the face by reducing oil provides proper when we’ve got a disaster, Senator Blumenthal and I’ve mentioned, “Let’s a minimum of droop the weapons gross sales for a 12 months.” I imagine after the midterm elections — proper now the problem is politicized — however after the midterm election, even Republicans will be part of on this demand to carry the Saudis accountable.
AMY GOODMAN: Are you involved in regards to the variety of former navy officers as excessive up as generals which might be working for Saudi Arabia proper now as uncovered within the main piece — I feel it was in The Washington Put up?
REP. RO KHANNA: I’m. I’ve laws, truly with a Republican, Mike Gallagher, who’s a Marine from Wisconsin, saying that high-level authorities officers, whether or not they’re members of Congress, senators, generals or government department officers, shouldn’t be allowed to go work for international international locations after their public service, whether or not that’s Saudi Arabia or whether or not that’s one other nation. That appears to me an inherent battle of curiosity and one thing that doesn’t serve our nationwide safety.
AMY GOODMAN: Earlier than we finish, I wished to speak in regards to the midterm elections subsequent week. We’re days away. Congressman Khanna, you’ve been on the marketing campaign path lending assist to Senate candidates Mandela Barnes in Wisconsin. He can be the primary Black senator to symbolize Wisconsin. And you’ve got John Fetterman in Pennsylvania who’s taking up the Trump ally Mehmet Oz. Let’s discuss that one first, Mehmet Oz. We have now a clip of him within the debate with John Fetterman. It’s fairly well-known, that clip. Mehmet Oz, when requested about abortion, that is what he mentioned.
MEHMET OZ: I need ladies, medical doctors, native political leaders letting the democracy that has all the time allowed our nation to thrive to place the very best concepts ahead so states can determine for themselves.
AMY GOODMAN: So this ought to be between a girl, her physician and native elected officers. Congressmember Khanna, what have been you saying on the marketing campaign path?
REP. RO KHANNA: What Dr. Ozsaid was not a gaff; that’s truly the Republican view. The Democrats view reproductive rights as human rights. We view this as a basic proper for ladies. The Republicans view this as a difficulty that politicians ought to determine. It’s a basic distinction. I had an important rally with John Fetterman in Pittsburgh. There was a grit that he’s displaying. He’s getting back from a well being adversity very like many individuals in Pennsylvania who’ve been knocked down and are available again. I simply noticed a ballot this morning in The New York Instances that has him up 5 factors. I feel the momentum remains to be on his facet, however we’ve got to get the turnout out. The way in which Pennsylvania goes actually might decide the management of the Senate.
AMY GOODMAN: What about Wisconsin with Mandela Barnes versus the grocery retailer magnate Ron Johnson, the present senator?
REP. RO KHANNA: Mandela is the American Dream. I used to be very proud to assist him early on within the major. He actually is the son of working-class mother and father who has risen by sheer arduous work. He believes in bringing manufacturing again to Wisconsin. He believes in standing up for the working and center class. Ron Johnson has supported insurance policies which have led to the personal fairness corporations principally bankrupting — Hufcor — led to the offshoring of producing jobs, the hollowing out of Wisconsin. It’s a transparent financial selection.
AMY GOODMAN: We have now 5 seconds. Congressmember Ro Khanna, we wish to thanks for being with us, Democratic congressmember from California. Tune in on November eighth for our three-hour election night time particular. We might be broadcasting reside beginning at 9:00 P.M. Jap; that’s 6:00 p.m. Pacific. That does it for our present. Take a look at our job listings at Democracynow.org. I’m Amy Goodman. Thanks a lot for becoming a member of us.
