U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense, Mike Pompeo and James Mattis, on Wednesday tried to convince the U.S. Senate that the U.S. alliance with Saudi Arabia is worth it despite the kingdom’s alleged involvement in the tragic death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and heavy civilian casualties in Yemen.

However, the statements of the two senior officials has so far seemed not enough to appease the Congress’ rage about Khashoggi’s death and the situation in Yemen.

As U.S. media reported that the Senate was to vote later Wednesday on ending U.S. assistance for the Yemen conflict, the closed-door defense of Pompeo and Mattis have widely been seen as key to bridging the gap between the Trump administration and the Congress, when senators of the two parties have grown increasingly suspicious of Saudi Arabia’s allegedly inconsistent responses to its role in Khashoggi’s death and Yemen’s casualties, and threatened to take more actions to punish Riyadh.

Pompeo reportedly said in the briefing that the Saudi crown prince had not been proved to be directly involved in the death of Khashoggi, and the war in Yemen would be “a hell of a lot worse” if the United States were not involved.

For his part, Mattis said in prepared remarks that “I must note we are seldom free to work with unblemished partners.”

“Long-standing relationships guide but do not blind us,” he said, explaining that Saudi Arabia, due to geography and the Iranian threat, is fundamental to maintaining regional and Israeli security, and to U.S. interests in Mid-East stability.

The Trump administration has also tried to play down the alleged direct involvement of Saudi crown prince in the death of Khashoggi.

Pompeo told reporters after the briefing that “I do believe I’ve read every piece of intelligence ... there is no direct reporting connecting the crown prince to the order to murder Jamal Khashoggi. And that’s all I can say in an unclassified setting.”

However, Republican Senator Bob Corker, chairing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said after the briefing, “I don’t think there’s anybody in the room that doesn’t believe he was responsible,” noting the Saudi leader is “out of control.” (Xinhua)