Posted on 03/25/2018 8:20:01 PM PDT by Mariner
Saudi Arabia's War in Yemen Has Been a Disaster
This month marks three years since the start of the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen, but that is unlikely to be an occasion for celebration in Riyadh. The war is estimated to have cost the Saudis upwards of $100 billion, eroded the international image of the kingdom and failed to achieve its objectives of eliminating Iranian influence from Yemen. At the same time, the people of Yemen have suffered immensely from the U.S.-backed Saudi campaign, which killed thousands of Yemeni civilians, destroyed the countrys infrastructure, and has led to widespread disease and hunger. With Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MbS) visit to Washington, the U.S. administration has an opportunity to bring this harmful campaign to an end.
For the Saudis, Yemen is a historical target of influence, but also a critical arena for security and stability, if only because Yemen shares a long and porous border with it and also commands the entrance to the Red Sea. For Iran, on the other hand, Yemen is a secondary arena, certainly when compared to Iraq and Syria. However, for a relatively low investment in the Houthi militia, Iran was able to exact a significant economic, military, and diplomatic price from its main regional rival.
In its campaign against the Houthis, Saudi Arabia enjoys intelligence and logistical aid from the Americans, and has the fourth largest security budget in the world as well as advanced weaponry at its disposal. Yet, the kingdom is finding it difficult to defeat a determined enemy on its doorstep. In fact, in addition to holding on to the Yemeni capital Sanaa and other key areas, the Houthis have fired over one hundred missilesallegedly manufactured in Irandeep into Saudi territory and have captured over one hundred square miles within the kingdom.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
At least until they prove they can fight and win a ground war to protect their own borders.
Otherwise any "deal" would be as short lived as the Kingdom itself.
The best thing we could do for the Saudis is to tell them to get out of the Air Conditioned Jeep and fire their rifles.
They have the very best infantry equipment available anywhere in the world.
And no will to use it.
Saudi Arabia is the #1 exporter of terrorism in the world. Noone else is even close. Bin laden, al qaeda,isis, 911, all saudi backed sunnis. Dont believe anything else.
they could hire a 50000 man mercenary army from germany and south africa.
Hire blacks and give them a license to riot. They do it here now. It’s called Pro Football.
Reportedly 7 missiles intercepted tonight in Riyadh
Very interesting to contrast this with the sunshine pumping on Thomas Wictor’s twitter
War sucks, but it is not like Saudi Arabia had any choice in this one. The Iranians goal was to use the Houthi rebels to attack Saudi Arabia. Iran is the main culprit here despite my distaste for Saudi Arabia and the past ties of their wealthy elite (members of the House of Saud) with terror groups.
...........Saudi Muslims killing Yemen Muslims..................where’s the problem..........keep it up boys...............only 1 billion to go.............
“they could hire a 50000 man mercenary army from germany and south africa.”
Well, they better hurry.
Otherwise the Shiites will own Mecca. And the entire Sunni culture will be on the verge of extinction.
OR, the big Sunni countries (Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey) will decide to war against Iran...
Can I borrow a cup of popcorn?
Hmmm, Muslims ?
When the “Crown Prince” visited the US, Trump should have had him arrested, held in the old Toombs Prison in NYC which is near the 9/11 site. Release him only when he comes up with $3 trillion in reparations. The Saudi “royals” are corrupt and vile. They fund the bizarre Wahhabi. They knew of the 9/11 plot, let it happen and never warned their “good friend” and business partner Bush or the lowlife Clintons. They can never win in Yemen.
You are exactly right. The government lie tries to switch the villon to Iran!! I know the reason. Huge money flows to ploiticians and business interests ftom The Saudis and they lie to keep their money. Our government lies about the Saudis to keep the fat cats fat. They should be hung.
America was warned about foreign entanglements. We stepped foot in the Mideast and it has cost our country greatly. I do not subscribe to Paul or Buchanan isolationism nor anti Israel rhetoric but the Mideast sucks the life out of our country and much of the foreign policy is crap benefiting others as it harms us. We now “own” the sh*t storm which is now Mideast post Iraq Invasion, overthrow of Libya and War in Syria plus other proxy adventures. The oil argument and WOT at this point is quite moot.
A guy I know was a US advisor to a Saudi armored unit probably 25-30 years ago at this point. He has literal scars from an encounter with Yemeni armor back then.
The point being, KSA fighting the Yemenis is nothing new.
ON WHAT??? ordinance isn't THAT expensive and they haven't lost any aircraft that i know of
This is a very old, very tribal fight, and it's a stretch to even pretend it's going to be able to be settled. This is, after all, the Middle East. Saudi Arabia wants out (now) but doesn't want to let the Iranians back in. In the meantime the thing drains both economies. How you'd even begin to negotiate this thing I haven't a clue.
Glad you said that. I was there 50 years ago! The SA National Guard and Army were NOTHING but fluff!
Poor SA leaders with men from Jordan.
When was the last time the Iranians actually attacked us?
Well , the last actual attack was when they siezed our embassy in 1978. They are sccused of making bombs in iraq but that is just a lie.
The attack on Riyadh by Yemen marked the 3 Year Anniversary of KSA attacking Yemen.
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