That will matter when the Saudis turn around and start buying bombs like the BETAB-500 and FAB-500 that the Russians have been using to smash Syria apart. It will mean Yemeni civilians will face greater vulnerability. We should be pushing the Saudis to be more judicious over Yemen. But the irony here of politicians saying they want to save civilian lives but achieving the opposite effect is inescapable.

Now ask yourself another question: whose interests would be served by Saudi alienation from America?

Answer: Russia, along with various Islamist terrorists.

This is no small concern. Russia’s strategic gambit in Syria has never ultimately been about saving Bashar Assad, but rather about making regional actors see Moscow as a better partner than America. Senate actions like Thursdays thus play perfectly into Russia’s hands. And while that explains Sen. Rand Paul’s, R-Ky., support for this legislation, it doesn’t account for Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Regardless, we should fear Russia’s consolidated leadership in the Middle East. Because Russia will be for the region both arsonist and and fireman, and it will sell a nice chunk of weapons in between. It will mean more disorder and more sectarian hatred. And it will mean a Saudi crown prince freed of U.S. pressure to reform his archaic society so that it doesn’t end up becoming ISIS 2.0.

Moreover, there is no question that overt rebukes to the Saudis are certain to spark Saudi reprisals: the centrality of honor and respect in Arab culture ensures it.

Senators are deluding themselves if they think any good will come of this. The opposite is true.