Posted on 03/21/2017 12:09:18 PM PDT by Lorianne
The Saudi-led—and U.S.-backed—war in Yemen turns two on March 26. The war, initially dubbed “Operation Decisive Storm,” and now more ironically called “Operation Restoring Hope,” has failed to achieve any of its aims. Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who Saudi Arabia erroneously claims are Iranian proxies, have retained control of northwest Yemen and Yemen’s unpopular government remains in exile. Saudi planes—which are dependent on mid-air refueling capabilities provided by the U.S.—have targeted bridges, roads, factories, hospitals, farms, and even funerals. Unexploded cluster munitions used by Saudi Arabia litter some of Yemen’s most productive agricultural land where they will kill and maim for years to come. More than 10,000 people—mainly civilians—have died in the war. Thousands—possibly tens of thousands—more will die from starvation and disease in the months to come.
Despite spending billions of dollars on the latest weaponry—in 2016, Saudi Arabia had the third largest military budget in the world—it is unable to defeat a poor but determined foe. The Kingdom’s defense budget has ballooned since the revolutions that swept through the Middle East in 2011. It has lavished money on its air force and army, the Royal Saudi Land Forces and the Saudi National Guard. The spending spree has been a gift to U.S.- and British-based arms manufacturers.
For most of the last eight years, the U.S. Congress and the Obama administration have readily approved lucrative arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Toward the end of the Obama administration, a temporary halt was placed on the sale of precision guided munitions to Saudi Arabia. However, the Trump administration, via the State Department, has indicated that it will resume arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
(Excerpt) Read more at theamericanconservative.com ...
Hmmmm sounds familiar
Its a Saudi Arabia Sunni vs Yemen Shiite war, which we should avoid getting into. -Tom
Take heart, fight to the very last Muslim.
I couldn’t care less what sect of Islam runs Yemen. And Saudi Arabia is probably only second to North Korea in its abuse of human rights and sponsorship of terrorism.
So of course, we assist them.
Agreed for the most part. But AQAP is Sunni, as are ISIS and various other terrorists groups. We are allies with their sponsors, Saudi Arabia.
Actually it is an Iranian and therefore Russian backed war in a country which the USSR helped screw up in the first place back in the Cold War.
And the war really is not about religion so much as it is about the location and how it relates to sea lanes.
Thanks, Bush. Ahole.
They were already impoverished and already prone to instability due to phenomenal population growth, poor agricultural output, and the same drug that keeps the Somalis screwed up. These young drug addicts are perfect suicide bomber material for Hezbollah as well as AQAP and ISIS for as long as there's no viable government capable of containing both.
empowering al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and now threatens the broader region with increased instability.
We knew that when Obama started undermining their government some years ago and started currying favor with Iran. The situation's not going to be better with Hezbollah "empowered and threatening the broader region with increased stability," particularly if Iran ends up in complete control of both sides of the straight.
I don’t really care how many Yemenis the Saudis (or their mercs) kill, and I don’t care how many Saudis the Yemenis kill, but could we please opt out of participation in that clustereff?
According to many here on FR, we have to be involved in every internecine Islamic squabble on the planet or else we risk another 9/11.
An acquaintance was on the border 25 or so years ago as a U.S. Advisor to the King’s Royal Armored Car Regiment or some such. He picked up a few scars in an engagement with a Yemeni T-72, IIRC. The Yemeni crew didn’t make it home.
The point being, saying this is turning 2 isn’t taking the long view of things. They’ve had issues forever.
Yes, as have most places in the Islamic world.
Conflict is centuries old.
If Iraq or Afghanistan had a net positive effect, I might agree with them.
But, after trillions of dollars and thousands of casualties, everything we’ve touched in the last 15 years in the ME has turned to crap. So, it is time to reconsider our means and methods.
It could be that the best option is stay out, but, if some group is stupid enough to poke us, arrange for an extinction level event for anyone foolish enough to harbor the offenders.
From gCaptain: Saudi Arabia Asks U.N. to Supervise Yemen Port
Yes Capt. but you know our gub mint kisses them Saudi royals rear ends.
Oil, ya know.
Muslims killing other muslims is what I call win/win.
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