{"id":58812,"date":"2019-09-27T17:03:38","date_gmt":"2019-09-27T17:03:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/09\/27\/troop-deployment-to-saudi-arabia-raises-worries-of-looming-conflict\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:52:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:52:51","slug":"troop-deployment-to-saudi-arabia-raises-worries-of-looming-conflict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/09\/27\/troop-deployment-to-saudi-arabia-raises-worries-of-looming-conflict\/","title":{"rendered":"Troop deployment to Saudi Arabia raises worries of looming conflict"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While Congress has most of its attention on Ukraine and the impeachment investigation against President Donald Trump, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee wants lawmakers to keep a closer eye on Saudi Arabia<\/a> and U.S. military forces headed there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rep. Adam Smith<\/a>, D-Wash., on Thursday blasted the Trump administration\u2019s decision to deploy American troops and equipment to the region in response to Iranian aggression<\/a>, saying officials are \u201csetting the conditions for further escalation\u201d rather than working towards diplomatic solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom the beginning I have been deeply concerned about the administration\u2019s so-called maximum pressure campaign and its lack of a cogent strategy,\u201d Smith said in a statement Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFollowing this most recent announcement from the Pentagon, we will have more assets in the region than at the start of the Trump Administration \u2014 an action that is inconsistent with the National Defense Strategy and could lead to further escalation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t