If we’ve learned one thing in our efforts in DC since early 2016 to end the Saudi war in Yemen, it is this: it’s all about forcing votes in Congress. That is the Alpha and Omega. That is Jesus, Mary, and the Saints. That is Moses and the Prophets. It’s all about forcing votes in Congress.
Not counting the War Powers Resolution for the sake of this discussion, there are two paths to a floor vote right now in the Senate on ending the Saudi war in Yemen. One is, getting Leader Schumer and SASC Chair Reed to voluntarily agree out of the goodness of their hearts to allow a vote on the Sanders-Khanna NDAA amendment to shut down U.S. participation in the war. As recently as a month ago, the conventional wisdom in DC was that this was a long shot, and activists were preparing a new push for a new Yemen War Powers Resolution in anticipation of getting shut down on NDAA once again even though supposedly Democrats control everything now and the Democratic Platform commits Democrats to ending the Saudi war in Yemen.
The other path to the Senate floor is, introducing a Joint Resolution of Disapproval in the Senate on the Biden-Saudi Bomb Deal pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act. Such a resolution would be privileged. It would force a vote.
So here is a proposal for Team Bernie: introduce the JRD, and use it as leverage with Schumer and Reed to force an NDAA vote on Sanders-Khanna. Go to Schumer and say: “We can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way. Allow a vote on NDAA on Sanders-Khanna with a 51 vote threshold for passage, and we will back down on the JRD.”
Here’s why this would be a good deal for both sides.
From Schumer’s point of view, the JRD is more of a pain in the butt than the Sanders-Khanna amendment. It would take up more floor time. It would take up more focus, attract more media attention.
From the point of view of activists trying to end the Saudi war in Yemen, an NDAA vote with a 51 vote threshold on the Sanders-Khanna NDAA amendment would be more worthwhile than a JRD vote. The JRD vote would be flashier, attract more attention. But the Sanders-Khanna NDAA amendment is more biting. And that’s what matters more now. The flashy thing, we already did that. What matters now is how binding the legislation is, because the Biden Administration has now proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that it is absolutely determined to try to restore the Obama Administration status quo of maximum coziness with the Saudi regime to the maximum extent that they can get away with it. The Biden Administration is going to do good things on this front exactly to the extent to which they are forced to do so by Congress and not one iota more. Biden could veto a JRD. At this point, I wouldn’t put it past him. Biden is not going to veto the NDAA over Yemen, no way, no how. The NDAA is “must pass legislation.”
Introduce the JRD. Use it to force an NDAA vote on Sanders-Khanna. End the Saudi war in Yemen. “We’re putting the Band back together.”