Tuesday marked a significant shift away from the US government’s several years supporting the Saudi invasion of Yemen. Secretary of Defense James Mattis is now demanding an immediate ceasefire in Yemen, and peace talks within the next 30 days.
In his comments, Mattis said the US has been watching the conflict “for long enough.” That’s perhaps underselling the US involvement, which included directly arming Saudi forces and participating in parts of the war.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also demanded that the Saudis and UAE completely cease airstrikes against populated areas. This is a long time coming, as those airstrikes have killed thousands of civilians.
The goal, it seems, is to set up a “solution” to the conflict at some point in November, when all factions would meet in Sweden. The US is not saying what this “solution” would look like, but previously the peace talks have collapsed more or less immediately, based on demands that any resolution involve the total disarmament of the Houthi movement, and the Saudi-backed factions returning as unquestioned rulers of the entire country.
Jeez about friggin’ time. After how many dead? But it sounds like they’re just giving the Saudi killers more time to kill more people.
We can already see the “US solution” ie unilateral surrender of any opposition to the Saudi-supported government in Yemen.
Somehow I doubt it. Facts do not bear this out. For nearly two years Saudis were fighting one war, US another. Why dis US facilitate UAE takeover of Aden, and further South? US mercenaries wirking fkr UAE were assasinating the local leaders who were loyal to ousted Hadi. Why? If the idea is to push for his restoration, why destroy his base? He is a Southerner, being pushed on North that never elected him. Saudis have been useful idiots in the battle for Bab Al Mandeb. After the architect and supreme commander, Crosn Prince Muhammed bin Nayaf was ousted, in June 2017, Saudis had limmited choices. Force Houthis to surrender, and cut deal with them? That would not help, as US could continue naval blockade. Or continue with PR nightmare fir both Saudi Arabia and US? Hoping US would have to give up something in exchange for Saudis ending the war. US was not “just watchin”. In the absence of any real analysis of war, and US role, it is easy to say something like that, abd grt away with it. Now that US ousted Saudi supporters from the South and installed UAE, now the time came to lean on bad Saudis to “end” the war, while US is still blicking any food and medicine shippment into Hodeidah. Turkish ship tried to unliad food and medicind in one smaller port, but was chased out. Saudis cannot really do much. They will niw try to look menacing, disobedient, and see what sill US do. It is Saudis that will not accept the meet in Sweden. I am nust wondering when will the conflict come into open.
Mattis’ swan song?
I’ve always got the sense that the U.S. military knew that the war in Yemen was FUBAR but was keeping quiet about it. It’s there job to follow orders. Their only recourse would be to ‘leak’ in which case they are called traitors or to resign.
They actually did the ‘subtle leak’, like when they say, ‘despite how much we train them the Saudis keep making the same mistake over and over again’. The dimwits in the press don’t pick up on it.
Talk, trump setting up a sales pitch…” I never wanted to be involved in these quagmires, I’m a noninterventionist “….new and improved dish soap.
That’s the only thing that has kept him in office – otherwise the militaristic Deep State, especially the liberal warmongering interventionists, would have ousted him.
If you want to keep a grip on your delusion, whatever you do, dont actually research war authorization votes in congress.
If you want to get real, go watch CNN and the liberal media and see how they are for every war, everywhere, and you get a grip.
I know, it’s disheartening, the media doesn’t authorize war, congress does. Try the Quaker site, has listings for votes by party, or, do nothing, and watch the news.
The media shapes public opinon and public opinion drives votes.
Wiki “responsibility”, your representative is responsible for his vote, not the electorate.
Historically and even now, the Liberal Interventionist Democrats have been the primary warmongers.
Deja vu
etc.
I suppose you were surprised there was a vote on Yemen. Guess what, there’s gonna be another one, initiated by those warmongering Democrats again. I’ve had this discussion several times on this site, and I have learned. Despite posting actual authorizations and party votes, the “parties are the same” people won’t absorb the arithmetic. The pity is, the Friends Committee on National Legislation is a fine, non partisan site for tracking legislation on war. They obviously spend a lot of time and money putting it together, it is a great companion site to antiwar.com. I determined that the only way people get out of their preconceptions is their own research from reputable sites. Give it a try, say hi to cnn and such, never watch em myself.
Sadly, the sorry state of affairs is that radical liberal interventionist Dems primarily support warmongering Dem Presidents and vice versa. When their party is in power, war good. When there party is not in power, war not so good. However, the MSM never changes from their “war is good” no matter who is in power.
Iraq 1, Bush 1. Iraq 2, Bush 2. Afghanistan, Bush 1. Yemen, Obama. Libya, Obama. Syria, Obama. I’d say it’s a dead heat.
Let’s see: WWI – Wilson (Dem) WWII – FDR (Dem)
Korea – Truman (Dem) Vietnam – LBJ (Dem)
First, wiki US government, see if you can understand the difference between “executive branch” and “legislative branch”, then, get back to me.
Second – if we’re going to have a conversation, get those pudgy fingers moving faster.
Don’t get mad, just do actual research.
I did – you haven’t and get civil.
Really ? Which party unanimously voted to nix the “end US military involvement in Yemen in 2017 “?
How many Americans have died in Yemen?
It took you that long to look that up?
I have to type slow, cause I got a slow reader.
How many American bombs have been dropped on Russia?
How many American bombs have been dropped on Yemen? How much intelligence was supplied by us regarding where those American bombs were dropped on Yemen? How many planes have been refueled to allow those Americans bombs to be dropped on Yemen?
How many Democrats applauded Trump when he said “Wouldn’t it be better to get along with Russia?”
How many Americans have died in Russia ?
How many republicans accused Obama of being soft on Russia?
You searched that long to bring up some little peripheral action in which no Americans have died and want to compare that to our real wars?
What are you some sort of Director. Get lost. When you want an intelligent exchange GET BACK WITH ME.
Face reality – look at old news clips of CNN (for example) of the bombings of Serbia and Iraq.
The timing is good, the US is catching MbS on his back foot at a time when some important people are wanting change.
RT reporting tonight of a possible palace coup with Mbs on the way out.