On Wednesday, the Senate voted 54-46 in favor of ending US military involvement in Yemen, on the grounds that there was never a Congressional authorization for the US to be involved in the first place.
The warring factions within Yemen, unsurprisingly had a split reaction to the news,
and to the prospect that the United States might not continue to play a
part. The Shi’ite Houthi movement embraced the move, saying US
involvement in arming and assisting the Saudis had already prolonged the
war.
Yemen’s Saudi-backed government tried to mirror the narrative of
Senators who opposed the bill, arguing it would “embolden Iran” for the
US to exit Yemen. Iran, of course, is not directly involved in the Yemen
War.
But because the Houthis are Shi’ites, and Iran is Shi’ite, even though
they’re two distinct types of Shi’ites with little history of
interaction, the Saudis have positioned the Houthis as effectively Iran
in the narrative, both to sell the war domestically, and within the US,
where most politicians are hostile to Iran as a matter of course.
During Wednesday’s debate ahead of the Senate vote, talking points among
the opponents were generally that leaving Yemen would be bad for Israel
and good for Iran. Even if neither nation is involved in the war, it
seems even Yemen’s government is going to try to sell the myth that they
are in hopes of encouraging a veto of the Senate bill.
Yemen’s Saudi backed government has learned their talking points well. “Embolden Iran”. Nothing more needs to be said.
Just like in the USA since 9/11 – Fighting for freedom!
What is funny is that now we think 9/11 was the start.
See not a thing suprising about it. Yemen Government consists of an unelected Southerner Hadi and his supporters residing in Saudi Arabia. Hadi has loyalist tribes mostly in the Sothern region of Aden, a key port in former South Yemen.
Houthis are REAL YEMENIS with over thousand of years continuous dynastic rule over the territory before nineties known as North Yemen. Look up Zaidi Yemen for some real background. We call them Houthis in order to delegitimize them, and have “official” government called “Yemeni”. Houthi is just the name of a region and tribe that lives there.
Now why would “Houthis” support the resolution and Hadi government reject it? Nothing new. Houthis would like a deal with Hadi and Saudis withouth US interference. Hadi and Saudis know that US would not allow them the freedom to do that, and US mercenaries are still inbedded with UAE troups that control most of the South — except some secessionists in bith Al-Mahra and Hadhramut.
US has turned against Saudis ever since June 2017, and the Palace coup. It propped UAE, and was pushing Hadi tribes and political supporters out, including by assasinations. Saudis were looking at being pushed out of Bab al Mandeb control of Arabian shores. That changed again after Kashoggi murder. MbS came on the top internally and the first trip was UAE. Letting UAE know that Saudi Arabia is back, and not rivetted internally. UAE has bedn backing of. MbS will not let Trump back out, and Trump does not want to back out. Suits Saudis just fine. US attempt at brokering Hodeidah deal in Sweden is pretty much dead, and the stalemate continues. US will not lift blockade to let other countries bring humanitarian aid. Nothing new. All Congress is doing is geandstanding to show displeasure at MbS to force Saudis to accept US end-game for Yemen — north and south — and the resulting control of Bab al Mandeb. The only difference is — Trump wants to cutb deal with Saudis, Cingress wants to show Saudis that US can unilaterally impose the deal and cut them out. Houthis are being cynical as US would never back away from the South-West of Arabian penninsula unless forced to cut a deal.
Houthis believe that it is America that is killing their children, not Saudis. And are welcoming US professed withdrawal from Yenen war — even though Congress has specifically authorized STAYING in the war, just kind of not helping Saudis. The reality is, with Saudis internal consolidation and support from two other Red Sea countries, Sudan and Egypt — the war tide is turning. UAE no longer doing US bidding as Saudis can hurt them now, the stalemate has spread all the way to the South, where US thought it had an upper hand. Congress is just wenting frustration, pirtraying Trump as weak on Saudis. But Trump must trade something for letting Saudis have a free hand in any part of Yemen. This something may be Iran, or stop supporting Sudan, or being tougher on Egypt (loans), be for real on Qatar, put money back into Islamic Salafists and insurgency. Restire funding to Syrian High Negotiations Committee, stop the creeping gold Yuan transactions for Chinese purchase of oil. List is long. Yes, and add to this over 40 deals with Russia, a new Russian weapons factory in Saudi Arabia, a rummored deal for nuclear electric power plant.
Or put it this way — who in the region would now support US goals in settling Yemen wars — all of then, from Hodeidah to Al-Mukkala? Not anyone. Remains Saudi Arabia to cut a deal with. But Saudis are not offering much. For US a winn may be nothing mire then maintaining goid trading relations with Saudis. Congress wants more, and is ready to start sanctioning.
In Sweden, Hadi government delegation and Houthi delegation embraced warmly. Who is the enemy then? Look up Houthi web site — Saba-net. Bu-line says:”US killing Yemeni children”.
“But because the Houthis are Shi’ites, and Iran is Shi’ite, even though they’re two distinct types of Shi’ites with little history of interaction, the Saudis have positioned the Houthis as effectively Iran in the narrative, both to sell the war domestically, and within the US, where most politicians are hostile to Iran as a matter of course.”
This is a little thing called bigotry, and from the same snowflakes bellyaching about hypothetical antisemitism. Hypocrisy, thy name is Washington.