Murphy Presses State Department On Holding UAE Accountable For Illegal Weapons Transfers, Egypt For Human Rights Abuses

Press Release

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Thursday pressed U.S. State Department Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on U.S. policy in a changing Middle East. Murphy specifically pressed Ambassador Hale about actions--or lack thereof--the Trump administration has taken against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the illegal transfer of U.S. weapons to militia groups and what the administration is doing to hold Egypt accountable following American citizen Mustafa Kassem's death in an Egyptian prison.

"Part of the reason we are so weak right now, in and around the Middle East, is because our allies and our adversaries, you know, generally don't believe that there's much consequence for taking action against the United States or taking action in contravention of U.S. interests. The obviously most high profile example is the dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi. There were no consequences of any serious nature against Saudi Arabia for that brutal murder," said Murphy.

On the illegal transfer of U.S. weapons from the UAE to neighboring countries, Murphy asked: "UAE admitted about a year and a half ago to taking U.S. weapons and transferring them to very dangerous Salafist militias that have interests on the ground in Yemen. This wasn't just reported, this was admitted to by UAE. And for a year and a half, this committee has been told that it has been under investigation. And so my question is what specific steps have been taken to hold UAE accountable for the illegal transfer of U.S. weapons to militia groups on the ground in the region?"

Murphy, on what the U.S. has done to hold the Egyptian government accountable for the death of American citizen Mustafa Kassem: "[Mustafa Kassem's] death was entirely preventable. He had submitted the paperwork to renounce his citizenship so that he could be released to the United States. On February 26, Assistant Secretary Schenker said that the State Department's deliberations about what actions to take in consequence were a "work in progress.' And so let me ask you, can you provide us an update? Has there been any public action? And I think public action is important, because if the world doesn't see us engaging in accountability, then it's hard for it to have an effect."

Full transcript of Murphy's question and answer with the Amb. Hale is below:

MURPHY: "Thank you Mr. Chairman. Thank you to both of you for your service.

"I understand that when administration officials come before this committee or any committee, they try to put the best possible spin on the effect of their policies. Obama administration officials did it, we have come to expect it. But there are some times in which the case just doesn't pass the straight-faced test. And I will say this argument that Iran is on the run, that they have less influence in the region because of our maximum pressure campaign, just does not pass the straight-faced test.

"They have closer relations with the Houthis than they did four years ago. They have closer relations with the Qataris than they did four years ago. Their proxy in Syria is closer to command over the majority of the country than four years ago. This narrative about Iraq is just not true. I mean, it is true that rocket attacks have increased from the first half of this year to the first half of last year, and I don't know that there's any expert that would tell you that Iran has less influence in Iraq than they did at the end of the Obama administration. And so, I think it is important for us all to be sober and realistic, because you can't make good policy if you don't understand the consequences of your actions.

"That's a statement and here are my two questions both for you, Ambassador Hale, I think we also have an accountability crisis in the region. Part of the reason we are so weak right now, in and around the Middle East, is because our allies and our adversaries, you know, generally don't believe that there's much consequence for taking action against the United States or taking action in contravention of U.S. interests. The obviously most high profile example is the dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi. There were no consequences of any serious nature against Saudi Arabia for that brutal murder.

"But the region is populated with other instances in which U.S. law has been violated, and there seemingly has been no accountability. Which is just an invitation for our so called allies in the region to continue to treat us shabbily, and I think it has consequences for the next administration as well. And so, Ambassador Hale, let me pose two examples for you, and ask for an update on whether there has been any accountability.

"The first is in UAE, we've talked about the potential pending sale, I've asked this question several times. But UAE admitted about a year and a half ago to taking U.S. weapons and transferring them to very dangerous Salafist militias that have interests on the ground in Yemen. This wasn't just reported, this was admitted to by UAE. And for a year and a half, this committee has been told that it has been under investigation. And so my question is what specific steps have been taken to hold UAE accountable for the illegal transfer of U.S. weapons to militia groups on the ground in the region?

"And second, in Egypt on July 13, American citizen Mustafa Kassem died in an Egyptian prison. His death was entirely preventable. He had submitted the paperwork to renounce his citizenship so that he could be released to the United States. On February 26, Assistant Secretary Schenker said that the State Department's deliberations about what actions to take in consequence were a "work in progress.' And so let me ask you, can you provide us an update? Has there been any public action? And I think public action is important, because if the world doesn't see us engaging in accountability, then it's hard for it to have an effect. Has there been any public accountability measures taken for the transfer of weapons in UAE, or the killing of Mustafa Kassem in an Egyptian prison?"

AMB. HALE: "I'd be happy to get you a full answer in writing to your two questions. What I have to say this morning is that we have had very serious conversations with both of those governments about those activities. In the case of the Emirates, I'm confident that the Emiratis understand exactly what is permitted and what is not, and how serious these allegations are about what happened and that there can be nothing like that again, because it's jeopardizing our ability to meet their legitimate security needs. In the case of Egypt, again, we have a confidential dialogue with the Egyptians. I emphasize confidential because I think we're more likely to get results in terms of protecting American citizens, relatives of American citizens who are subject to arbitrary arrest and detention and other forms of mistreatment there. And we have had some success in getting them released, but we will continue to have those conversations with the Egyptians and spell out how unacceptable this kind of abusive behavior is."
MURPHY: "Mr. Chairman, the Saudis, as a consequence of killing Jamal Khashoggi, got a smiling photo op with Secretary Pompeo. Apparently, from what we're hearing today, the Emiratis and the Egyptians have gotten stern, private conversations. That is not a recipe to send a message to the rest of the region in the world, to obey U.S. law, and to treat U.S. citizens well, and to act in accordance with our interests. I think this is part and parcel of the reason why America is getting very little from our allies. Our interests are not advancing in the region because nobody believes they will be held accountable if their policies run cross current to the United States."

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