Following up on last week’s comments by Ban Ki-moon endorsing Yemen’s single-candidate “democracy” as a model for the entire Middle East to imitate, the UN Security Council has passed a resolution threatening “non-military sanctions” on anyone found insufficiently supportive of the new regime.
The resolution makes several references to “terrorist attacks” in the country and concerns about al-Qaeda’s influence, but makes it clear that the sanctions are not strictly targeted at terrorists but rather anyone caught “undermining” the regime.
The language largely mimics the Executive Order imposed by President Obama last month in the US, threatening official American economic sanctions against any individuals he believes are “obstructing” the new government.
US-backed Major General Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi took over as Yemen’s ruler this year in a single-candidate election. Since then, the US has increased aid to Yemen and is launching drone strikes to help them with military offensives. The US has also deployed hundreds of military “trainers” to the country.
I cannot understand why the Russians and Chinese have lent legitimacy to this government and our obviously flawed policy to uphold this regime which ran unopposed in a bogus electoral process, and now teeters precariously in the face of considerable popular opposition- unless it is just another venue where the U.S. and NATO will continue bleed itself.
Since when has the UN been given the authority to protect despotic regimes, and to sanction citizens demonstrating for its removal? It is the right of the people to decide whether the government is democratic, not the self-serving and racist gang at the UN.
Jason, the link to Seattle Times article you provide says that the resolution is proposed and is being circulated. Your article says its been passed.
Anything and everything for the theocratic despots who rule Saudi Arabia!
“…Official American economic sanctions against any individuals…”
Does anyone have an idea how the US can sanction an individual? The only thing coming to my mind is the US blowing the individual to pieces by a hell fire missile from a drone.
They could do what they did to Assange and more – close down all means of electronic commerce, credit cards frozen, bank accounts expropriated, placed on travel blacklists, passport cancelled etc, etc. If they wanted, they could raise the sex smear, maybe even the pedophile smear.
Where is Hillary the Diplomat to stand up against this abuse of power by the Government of Yemen! Where is Hillary and her eagle eye watching out for the poor demonstrators of Yemen, who are now being brutally killed. Oh why is Yemen not Syria?
There you go. These warmongers would endorse Hitler today if he came back to life.