. >> host: gerald feierstein talking about the disappearance of journalist jamal khashoggi. republicans 202748 2001. independence 202748 8002. you mentioned a minute ago that one of the options is to suspend arms tales. why do we sell only arms to the saudi arabia. >> the united states and saudi arabia have had close security relationships going all the way back to the immediate post-world war ii era. the united states has basically help saudi arabia build its entire military and security infrastructure. it's heavily dependent on us arms, us security, architecture. and this has been a tradition of going back because we recognize that the us and saudi arabia share important objectives, not only in the region but globally. we share a desire to ensure a stable energy market or the world. we share a commitment to security, regional security, global security. we've worked together on these issues for decades. afghanistan in the 1980s, looking course at the iraqi invasion of kuwait in 1991. the united states and saudi arabia have worked better for all those years on security and a

host: gerald feierstein with us taking your calls, talking about u.s.-saudi relations, disappearance of journalist jamal khashoggi. if you want to join the conversation, give us a call. republicans, (202) 748-8000. democrats, (202) 748-8001. independents, (202) 748-8002. you mentioned one of the options is to suspend arms sales. why do we sell so many are to saudi arabia? guest: the united states and saudi arabia have had a close arms and security relationship going back to the immediate post-world war ii era. the united states has basically helped saudi arabia build its entire military and security infrastructure. it is heavily dependent on u.s. arms, u.s. security, architecture. and this has been a tradition that has gone back, because we recognize that the u.s. and saudi arabia share important objectives, not only in the region but globally. we share a desire to ensure a stable energy market for the world. we share a commitment to security, regional security, global security. we have worked together on these issues for decades. look at afghanistan in

gerald feierstein with us for the next 15 minutes taking your calls on u.s.saudi relations on this investigation that continues into the disappearance, the presumed to a journalist jamal khashoggi. democrat, good morning. >> turned on your television. >> okay, okay. [inaudible] so that democracy and don't forget today is the international day for the a ratification. for three years to adapt the poorest country has been rocked wracked by a bloody war. the saudi unit cooler is killing 113 children a day. the humanitarian crisis is considered the worst in the world. thiswo political consideration shouldn't forget what is being done. we shouldn't support saudi's and i'd be so happy to know your comments another caller's comments. thank you. >> the situation in yemen is a disaster. there's no question about it. it i isn't humanitarian catastrophe for the many people. they support the efforts of the united nations ever particularly special envoy to try and find a initical solution to you defining what the humanitarian crisis. try to get the economy going again so y

applause] the mac >> coming up later today on c-span2, president trump to retired marine -- >> gerald feierstein's director for the center for the incident

gerald feierstein was ambassador to yemen under obama and we don't have an ambassador to saudi arabia right now. that's one of the things that's not exactly greasing the wheels of the process here. so first big question, and i start with you, ambassador jordan. does this feel right to you what's happening with saudi arabia? that all of a sudden this explosion of activity and all these people around the crown had something to do with it but not mbs himself? >> chris, this can't feel right to any right-thinking individual. it's complete nonsense. you'd have to believe in the easter bunny to believe this story that they're concocting. >> the easter bunny is true and as my kids are watching now, they can all attest, but we do have concerns about this story, and let's talk about why, okay? because they've asked for another month and the administration says here in the united states, take your time. take your time. the president has said maybe it was rogue actors. and king salman says it wasn't him. why doesn't it smell right to you, ambassador jordan? >> well, if you look at the pattern of

enand gerald feierstein, ar fellow and director of the center for gulf affairs at the erddle east institute. feierstein is a caiplomat and served as the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs at the state department. welcome to you both. >> thank you. >> schifrin: the president said mohammed bill salman has denied any involvement and gave an interview where he cricid criticism of saudi arabia. n saw pompeo smiling with mohammad bin sald pompeo has released this statement, "my assessment from these meetinger is that is a serious commitment to determine all the facts and ensure accountability, including accountability for saudi arabia's senior leaders or senior officials." david rothkopf, are the saudi denials and the saudi promise to investigate credible? >> well, of course not.th the saudis areones who have been accused of perpetrating this crime. and it seems likely that a crime of this nature would be approved the highest level. so essentially what pompeo is doing is poviding cover fr the saudis to say, yes, we will have a credible investigation of ourselve