Washington, D.C. — Following the attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities, Kelly Magsamen, vice president for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
The attack against Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities this weekend is a dangerous escalation that risks getting America caught in another disastrous war in the Middle East. The United States should take active diplomatic steps to reduce tensions among the countries in the region. President Trump has demonstrated bad judgment on national security once again by making reckless statements about the current situation in the Middle East and indicating that he would allow another country, Saudi Arabia, to make decisions about when the United States uses military force. Congress and the American people need to stop the Trump administration from putting America recklessly on the path to yet another Middle East war, which has not been authorized by Congress and has no international legal basis.
It’s clear that Trump’s Iran policy has been a complete failure—America’s national security is worse off after withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal, and we are now closer to war. The United States should work to avoid another unnecessary Middle East war by increasing its diplomatic outreach to key countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Trump administration must also work with the broader international community to determine considered steps to reduce tensions through smart diplomacy backed by a real strategy—not just rhetoric. The U.N. General Assembly meetings this month may offer important opportunities to open channels that reduce tensions.
Related resources:
For more information or to talk to an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected] or 202-478-6327.