Murphy Presses Ambassador Nominees on U.S. Involvement in Saudi Arabia, Yemen

Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, pressed General John Abizaid, nominee to become U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and Ambassador Matthew Tueller, current U.S. Ambassador to Yemen and nominee to become U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, on the United States’ involvement in the Saud Arabia and Yemen. During the hearing, Murphy highlighted the need for reseting of our relationship in light of the disastrous Saudi-led war in Yemen, which Murphy has been a vocal critic of, and holding the Saudis accountable for the transfer of weapons which have ended up in the hands of terrorist. Murphy continued to press Tueller on his response that the Houthis bare no responsibility for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.