Photo Credit: (c) 2016 Harold Michael Harvey
The Green Party, sensing that Jill Stein has positioned herself to be a serious contender for the presidency, has issued a statement demanding that the “U. S. cut aid to the Saudis,” said Robin Laverne Wilson, the Green Party nominee for the U. S. Senate seat currently held by Charles Ellis “Chuck” Schumer (D, New York). Wilson said, “the U. S. should use intense diplomatic pressure to halt the Saudis’ war in Yemen.”
According to Wilson, “Saudi Arabia is using weapons purchased from the U. S. in a campaign of indiscriminate killing in Yemen, with mass civilian casualties, including children, and attacks on medical facilities.”
She said that, “The Green Party demands a halt in aid to Saudi Arabia until the war on Yemen ceases and the Saudis stop arming violent movements in the Middle East and observe human rights in their own country.”
Last week, during a press conference at the National Press Club, Green Party Presidential candidate, Jill Stein, cited administration resources that said the U. S. recently announced a $1.15 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia and that in the eight years of the Obama administration, the U. S. has sold arms to the Saudis amounting to $110 billion. Stein joins a growing list of Green Party candidates around the country who are calling for an end to the sale of arms to the Saudis.
Myles Hoenig, Green candidate for the U. S. House in Maryland’s 7th District said, “The U. S. covets control over the world’s access to the Arabian oil spigot. We need a complete reversal of the current doctrine of petroleum politics and endless war that’s driving the climate crisis, conflict in the Middle East, and disregard for civilian lives…”
According to Matt Funiciello, Green candidate for the U. S. House, New York, District 21, “Reckless alliances and military aid deals for countries like Saudi Arabia, along with U. S.-led warfare in Iraq, Libya, and other countries, have only strengthened violent extremist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIL., exacerbated the refugee crisis, and created greater instability throughout the region.”
In the past, critics have charged that the Green Party did not have “down ballot” candidates (candidates on the ballot seeking offices other than the office of President), even arguing that the Greens should build the party from the ground up and not the top down. This week’s show of muscle from the Greens proves they have “down ballot” candidates ready to assist Dr. Stein should she become the next president of the United States.
The Green Party demand that the U. S. end aid to the Saudis is in keeping with the party’s motto of “planet, people and peace before profit.”
Harold Michael Harvey is an American novelist and essayist, the author of Paper puzzle and Justice in the Round; and the host of Beyond the Law with Harold Michael Harvey. He can be contacted at haroldmichaelharvey.com.