The House is expected to vote Thursday on two amendments (#28 and #30) to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that call for the end or limitation of US support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
One amendment, sponsored by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), calls for the termination of all US logistical support for the coalition.
The Khanna amendment would terminate “US military logistical support, and the transfer of spare parts to Saudi warplanes conducting aerial strikes against the Houthis in Yemen and permanently ends intelligence sharing that enables offensive strikes and any US effort to command, coordinate, participate in the movement of, or accompany Saudi or United Arab Emirates-led coalition forces in the war in Yemen.”
The other amendment, sponsored by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), calls for the suspension of the US servicing of Saudi warplanes that are responsible for civilian casualties in Yemen, although the wording leaves room for exceptions.
The Meeks amendment would require “the suspension of US sustainment and maintenance support to Saudi air force units responsible for airstrikes resulting in civilian casualties in Yemen with certain exemptions for territorial self-defense, counterterrorism operations, and defense of US government facilities or personnel.”
Click here to find your representative by zip code and call them to urge for a vote in support of these amendments to finally put an end to the vicious war against the people of Yemen.
President Biden vowed in February to end support for Saudi Arabia’s “offensive” operations in Yemen. But it was revealed in April that the Pentagon is still servicing Saudi warplanes that are bombing Yemen. Without this support, Riyadh’s air force would quickly be grounded.
Last week, the State Department approved a $500 million contract to service Saudi helicopters, including Apache and Black Hawk attack helicopters, a sign that the Biden administration will not end support for the Saudi air force unless pressured by Congress.
Besides the military support, the US has given the Saudis political cover to continue enforcing the blockade on Yemen. Conditions caused by the blockade and air campaign have caused widespread disease and mass starvation in the country. In February, the UN warned that 400,000 Yemeni children under the age of five will die of starvation in 2021 alone if conditions don’t change, which means hundreds of thousands of children could have already died this year.
The Yemen amendments have a good chance of succeeding, as similar efforts have passed through Congress in the past. In 2019, the House and Senate passed a War Powers Resolution that would have ended US support for the war in Yemen, but the bill was vetoed by President Trump.
The House is also expected to vote on an amendment sponsored by Rep. Jamal Bowman (D-NY) that would prohibit a US military presence in Syria without the approval of Congress.
End it! Don’t mend it!
These proposed pieces of legislation clearly show the state of relationship not just with KSA, but also UAE.
First version, stop supporting everyone. A punitive approach, as both countries are now behind the scenes working with Iran. And Qatar, UAE and Saudis are the best of buddies, as a very relaxed picture of three royals in shorts and t-shirts, surfaced from their confab at Saudi Red Sea resort.
But Baghdad has seen most action. As multitudes are talking to multitudes — Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Qatar, UAE, Egypt and Jordan. Whatever it is — US does not like it. Thus — punish both participants.
The other version is more sophisticated. Create illusion that US is sensitive to public outcry over the fate of Yemen. In fact, public does not care.
There are just too many outrages our priestly classes in media and think-tankery wants us to digest.
But politicians love the appearance of doing something good. So their munificence can be praised. However, by having a clause that allows everything — provides justification for hanging out there, waiting for a ripe plum to fall into our lap.
So, if Saudis get hurt by a pinprick or a bludgeon, this will be for us to know. It keeps our claws firmly planted into Yemen, without being blamed for anything. Waiting for the plum.
I recommend the following. All American assets — land, sea or air — to be removed from Yemen area as well as adjoining EEZ waters. No collaboration with anyone in the region to affect Yemen status. That means END all participation and leadership in BLOCKADE, participation and leadership in OCCUPYING Red Sea ISLANDS and establishing military assets there, and END supplying any party in the conflict with AMERICAN PRIVATE ARMIES.
NO MORE influence peddling in order to strong arm clans in the South to reject settlement proposals we do not like.
US still controls African side of Bab Al-Mandeb. That ought be ENOUGH. No need to wrest the control of Yemeni SIDE and threaten KSA, Sudan and Egypt with the political toll booth controlling all Asian trade to/from Europe through Red Sea.
This ambition of ours has cost too many lives. You can bet that Saudis will NOT quit the sea-saw of threatening Sana’a with accepting “united” Yemen — for as long as US has pretensions on controlling the South.
Once we man up and stop hiding behind UAE and rearranging furniture in the South — abandon idea of controlling the South, the end game can happen, only then.
Both North and South can then emerge as independent states, with REGIONAL blessing and support. No Western meddling.
If only UK could also decamp from Oman, and stop interfering in what were once British created Sultanates. Those days are over.
WoW… Quite a list seemingly difficult issues. The British certainly seem to have hooks in half the world. But these declining powers seem to believe they can outwit and arm twist their way through victorious. It’s their default setting. They are not keeping up with the carrots that China offers. Washington is bombing and China is building. This submarine program is just another bombing mission and it isn’t going to help anyone but the U.S. and Australia. Just another example of how these countries are willing to throw billions, nay trillions down the rathole of ever stronger arm twisting while the teaming masses are starving. Power, power….POWER. It’s what they know. Innovation, innovation, innovation is the future. One small technological innovation could, can turn these aforementioned pie in the shy sub panacea into slow sitting ducks just waiting for their hit in the fist few minutes of any war with the innovative East.
We should have backed Yemen against the Saudis instead of the other way around…
The war would have been over by lunchtime and we would be paying a nickel a gallon at the pump.
We shouldn’t have backed either.
The Meeks amendment would require “the suspension of US sustainment and maintenance support to Saudi air force units responsible for airstrikes resulting in civilian casualties in Yemen with certain exemptions for territorial self-defense, counterterrorism operations, and defense of US government facilities or personnel.”
“with certain exemptions” No. That’s Biden’s plan and it’s just a continuation of the status quo. And get out of the region and you won’t have to worry about defending “US government facilities”.
Done, sent the following letter to my do-nothing Congressclown, with this article attached. Suffice it to say, I have zero respect for Hank Johnson or his staff.
In case your staff doesn’t bother to inform you of upcoming votes on amendments to the NDAA, or to wake you in time for those votes, here are some details from Dave DeCamp at Antiwar.com. Please support the Khanna Amendment to terminate “US military logistical support, and the transfer of spare parts to Saudi warplanes conducting aerial strikes against the Houthis in Yemen and permanently ends intelligence sharing that enables offensive strikes and any US effort to command, coordinate, participate in the movement of, or accompany Saudi or United Arab Emirates-led coalition forces in the war in Yemen”, as well as the Meeks Amendment that requires “the suspension of US sustainment and maintenance support to Saudi air force units responsible for airstrikes resulting in civilian casualties in Yemen with certain exemptions for territorial self-defense, counter-terrorism operations, and defense of US government facilities or personnel.”
I also ask you to support the Bowman Amendment that would prohibit a US military presence in Syria without the approval of Congress.
Thanks in advance, and curses in advance if you fail to do the right thing,
Rev. Michael Hall
Clarkston, GA