Bernie Sanders: Saudi Arabia 'Laughing All the Way to the Bank' while US takes on ISIS

Bernie Sanders: Saudi Arabia 'Laughing All the Way to the Bank' while US takes on ISIS

On Tuesday’s “New Day” on CNN, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a self-described socialist, criticized the United States’ so-called Arab allies in the Middle East for not being more proactive in the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Sanders said he opposed any action taken by the United States and insisted the United States would require help from those Mideast countries.

“I believe that we need serious discussion in Congress,” Sanders said, “but I will tell you something else. I voted against that resolution a couple weeks ago because I do not want to see the United States get involved in another quagmire in the Middle East. I’m sitting here wondering where Saudi Arabia is, Kuwait is, Qatar is. Saudi Arabia spends more money on defense, they are the fourth largest defense spender in the world – more than the United Kingdom, more than France. You want to see them get their hands dirty. I want to see them starting to use their air force in a significant way. I think we should be supportive. But this war will not be won by the United States alone. It will be won by people in the neighborhood — by Saudi Arabia, by Iran and those countries prepared to take on ISIS.”

Later in the segment, Sanders took another jab at Saudi Arabia, but also criticized House Speaker John Boehner for not putting an emphasis on domestic issues Sanders viewed as crucial.

“[W]hat Boehner is saying basically, people should hear carefully, perpetual warfare in the Middle East — billions and billions of dollars of American taxpayer money, the loss of lives while the royal kingdom of Saudi Arabia laughs all the way to the bank with their oil money,” Sanders added. “So this senator does not agree with that. And maybe Mr. Boehner, also before he talks about sending American kids into the Middle East might want to raise the minimum wage, might want to deal with pay equity, might want to ask his billionaire friends to start paying their fair share of taxes.”

Follow Jeff Poor on Twitter @jeff_poor

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