The British government’s UN resolution calling for a Yemen ceasefire has been blocked by heavy lobbying from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, chief participants in the war. The resolution would’ve called for a halt to fighting in the vital aid port of Hodeidah.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was very public in his opposition to the ceasefire, with British officials saying he “threw a fit” about their proposal. The prince complained that it weakened the Saudi position on the war.
Salman’s level of influence is perhaps not what it was after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, though apparently it was still enough to convince several nations, including the US, to block the ceasefire resolution and demanding it be held off for at least a month.
The Trump Administration’s call for a ceasefire in late October seems to be losing momentum. Growing interest in showing the Saudis that, Khashoggi or no, the US still supports them, has meant that Yemen is once again a low priority.
“The prince complained that it weakened the Saudi position on the war.”
Oh, the poor darling!
The most shocking part of the story:
“The Saudis blackmailed a number of missions saying it was possible the [Saudi-backed] government of Yemen won’t turn up in Stockholm if this goes through,” one diplomat said. “The reason [the Saudis and Emiratis] are so against this resolution is they just don’t want the security council to constrain their capacity for military action. They believe they can finish off the Houthis.”
So they need the time to crush the Houthis so that only then they can “talk peace” in a dictatorial manner (I’d call that the America at War Doctrine). The onslaught must continue in the name of peace, in other words. The Saudi backed government is irrelevant to this process anyway, it’s the Saudis who make the decisions that matter. Let them not show up.
Emirates and Saudis want Yemen as a tourist destination for Westerners, they can toast champagne, soaking in the wonderful ocean views, far from Mecca and far from Riyadh.
Once again, the Houthis are on there own. Pray for their strength, only they can stop this genocide. Even the few good western leaders are cowards.
Once again; part 2, where is Olof Palme when you need him?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olof_Palme
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Olof_Palme_marching_against_the_Vietnam_War_1968.jpg
Kind of getting tired of this charade. Saudis, Saudis… Good UK is sweating to pass the cease fire resolution, but bad Saudis and UAE are stopping them! In UN? Which body EXACTLY is under control of Saudi Arabia? The optics here are all that we, the stupid buy. It takes until the middle of article to find out that US killed the move. And next time it will be US making motion, to be killed by UK, then it will be turn for France to propose or kill a motion — list track of deceptions for dumb public.
Seriously, how long will it take us the idiots to get it. This is our war. Special ops on the gtound, drones in the air, Saudi (American) planes in daily actikn. And mousy UAE has already gobbled up most of the South.
What I would like to know is exactly what did Saudi jnvestigation uncover to suddenly drop the high pitched screams asking for MbS head?
I guess the coup via high theater called Kashoggi murder, did not accoplish regime change. Not just that — but Saudis apparently got THAAD technology. Remember that not that ling time ago Turkey, a NATO member, was denied purchase of innefective Patriots. Turmey instead got three loaners that came with three sers of crew: German, Netherlands, US. And then taken back. That was before attemlted coup in Turkey. Saudis have experienced Patriot malfunctions, and are getting THAAD. What is it — I would like to know — Saudis have, to make US establishment pull back so drastically?
But Yemen is another story. There is some heavy duty bargaining going on between US and Saudis. Saudi Arabia never had a real reason to go after North Yemen. To reinstall the president Hadi US put in power after a fake election with Hadi only on the list — was the initial excuse. So, now US cannot say that it was merely a joke — and that Hadi sitting in Saudi Arabia under house arrest — is not an jnternationally recognized president! The hidden game goes on.
US can unilaterally stop the carnage uf it wants to by:
– withdrawing the naval blocade of Hoddidah
– grant safe passage to all commeecial ships by any nation bringing food, water, and medical supplies
– declare Saudi-held Hadi not president of Houthi region of North Yemen, and let Yemen run UN supervised elections.
What will Saudis do? Challenge US militarily?
And for all those zealots in US government that are banking in Saudis charging on Iran — do not count on it. MbS and Putin high five in Argentina indicates that MbS survived the challenge to his rule, and that Iran is safe. Russia will not let it fall — and MbS knows it. MbS visited Russia many times, and Saudis diversification in Russian energy and infrastructure sectors has grown.
Makes me question all I know about Yemen war.