HOUSE BILL: September 2017 Foreign Relations Review (Passed)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

No objections here.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The amendment has been adopted.

What about the unrecognized nation of Transnistria? I think eventually we should recognize a couple of these nations. But about Spain, we needa speak out against the violence.

I agree on violence but I am cautious of us trying to put the thumb on the scale in a way that could achieve little and up alienating a European Country. It is a very difficult matter to get past when you weigh in a domestic matter pertaining to one's sovereign territory that calls for the independence of a portion thereof.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

In the next day or two I am going to gather up all the Senate amendments and offer them for simultaneous consideration. Only those objected to will be taken to a vote and those votes will occur one after another to avoid confusion.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

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[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Above are the Senate Amendments passed so far. I want honest opinions here and you can review the Senate FRR debate thread to see the discourse on these changes.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

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Status: Representatives have 24 hours to object

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Status: Vote will begin once friendly amendments have proceeded

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Status: Representatives have 24 hours to object

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

H9:02 and H9:04 have been adopted.


The reason I objected to H9:03 is because I think we should debate this matter. That is a wide stretch of countries and while many have engaged in stuff, this approach could be detrimental to our interests in the region. This is especially the case with the unsettled situation in Saudi Arabia, during the transition and I would prefer to get insight regarding the impact of this policy and whether it would push the situation in a positive or negative direction.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Amendments H9:02 and H9:04 have been adopted.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

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Status: Vote will begin soon

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Since we have had to have the members respond on H9:03, I have contacted all members directing them to do so.

[JGibson]

I agree with the following amendments regarding all of the updated statuses of the countries sans Saudi Arabia in question.

[VPH]

Absolutely disagree on making military aid to Saudi Arabia more open. Saudi Arabia has a track record of using its military to start sectarian conflict in the region and suppressing their people. Military trade with them should be restricted.

Additionally, I am slightly concerned with some of the "stan" countries receiving full openness without changing their human rights record. Lest we forget, Kazakhstan is a quite repressive dictatorship.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Absolutely disagree on making military aid to Saudi Arabia more open. Saudi Arabia has a track record of using its military to start sectarian conflict in the region and suppressing their people. Military trade with them should be restricted.

I think this is a fair point considering the President suspended all foreign aid (including military) to Saudi Arabia 2 weeks ago. We may seek to have it restored pending a satisfactory investigation but currently they are not being very cooperative.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Absolutely disagree on making military aid to Saudi Arabia more open. Saudi Arabia has a track record of using its military to start sectarian conflict in the region and suppressing their people. Military trade with them should be restricted.

Additionally, I am slightly concerned with some of the "stan" countries receiving full openness without changing their human rights record. Lest we forget, Kazakhstan is a quite repressive dictatorship.

I would note that this amending is placing tighter restrictions on them then is present in the current text of the FRR.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

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Status: A vote is now open on the above amendment, Representatives please vote Aye, Nay or abstain.

[Wikipedia delenda est]

Absolutely disagree on making military aid to Saudi Arabia more open. Saudi Arabia has a track record of using its military to start sectarian conflict in the region and suppressing their people. Military trade with them should be restricted.

Additionally, I am slightly concerned with some of the "stan" countries receiving full openness without changing their human rights record. Lest we forget, Kazakhstan is a quite repressive dictatorship.

I would note that this amending is placing tighter restrictions on them then is present in the current text of the FRR.

Yes, the Speaker is correct. I think there's been a misunderstanding. I am the author of this amendment, and I can tell you that it is increasing sanctions on Saudi Arabia and the "stan" countries, not decreasing them. So if you support such a move, then please vote for this amendment.

[JGibson]

AYE

[VPH]

Absolutely disagree on making military aid to Saudi Arabia more open. Saudi Arabia has a track record of using its military to start sectarian conflict in the region and suppressing their people. Military trade with them should be restricted.

Additionally, I am slightly concerned with some of the "stan" countries receiving full openness without changing their human rights record. Lest we forget, Kazakhstan is a quite repressive dictatorship.

I would note that this amending is placing tighter restrictions on them then is present in the current text of the FRR.

Yes, the Speaker is correct. I think there's been a misunderstanding. I am the author of this amendment, and I can tell you that it is increasing sanctions on Saudi Arabia and the "stan" countries, not decreasing them. So if you support such a move, then please vote for this amendment.

Guess I read that backwards. Fully support increasing sanctions on these nations!V I vote AYE.

[VPH]

Also, I would like to propose an amendment fully restricting military aid to Russia. American companies should not be supplying an aggressive regime hell-bent on disturbing the international order.

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[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I AM RESTARTING THIS VOTE SINCE A QUORUM WAS NOT MET

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Status: A vote is now open on the above amendment, Representatives please vote Aye, Nay or abstain.

[JGibson]

AYE

[VPH]

Aye

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

Aye

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

AYE!

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Here is my take on this and you are free to disagree with it. Iran will always be hostile to our interest, will always be in Russia's sphere and will be a thorn in our side in both Afghanistan and in the Levant. I believe in restrain, in avoiding war unless absolutely necessary, but I am also something a of a foreign policy realist. While I think we made mistakes and went too far in abandoning our principles under that banner with Kissinger and others, I must say that we are making something of a mistake in painting such a broad brush across a wide swath of countries, some of whom we may have to work with on a case by a case basis.

I am not one who sees Saudi Arabia as our friend or "ally", but I do seem them as a critical partner who is willing to oppose Russian influence in the Levant, and Iranian influence in the Arabian peninsula. We should push towards reform, we should pressure them to modernize and embrace greater human rights, and we should encourage moderate Islam. But we should be realistic, that a fast break to democracy in this region often leads to "democracy" without freedom and the election of Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, both of which are hostile to our interests.

However, I think this amendment is too much stick and not enough carrot to accomplish that objective.

NAY