Update (Saturday, Jan. 20, 10:45 am): US Central Command reported conducting an additional round of air strikes in Yemen on Saturday.
A Pentagon official explained that the US government does not believe it is at war in Yemen. On Friday, the US bombed the Middle East country for the sixth time in just eight days. President Joe Biden admitted the bombing was not curbing Houthi attacks on shipping but vowed the US would continue striking the country.
US officials speaking with the Associated Press said F-18s conducted the sixth round of strikes in Yemen. The US claimed it hit anti-ship missiles. An official from the ruling Houthi government explained that US air raids took place in Hodeida.
Last Thursday, the US and UK fired hundreds of bombs and missiles against dozens of targets in Yemen. Since then, the White House has authorized near-daily strikes in Yemen.
The Biden administration claims it needs to conduct the operations against the Houthis because the group has barred Israeli-linked shipping from transiting the Red Sea until Tel Aviv ends its military operations in Gaza.
In response to the American strikes, the Yemeni people have rallied around the Houthis, and the group has stepped up strikes on American-linked shipping in the Red Sea. US Central Command posted on X that the Houthis attacked an American-owned tanker Thursday night with anti-ship missiles. CENTCOM said there was no damage to the ship or injuries to the crew.
In comments to the media on Thursday, Biden admitted that bombing Yemen was not making the region safe for shipping; however, he added that the bombing will continue. “Well, when you say ‘working’ — are they stopping the Houthis? No. Are they going to continue? Yes,” he said.
Following Biden’s remarks, a Pentagon official explained that Washington does not believe the US is at war in Yemen. “We don’t think that we are at war. We don’t want to see a regional war,” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said. “The Houthis are the ones that continue to launch cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles at innocent mariners, at commercial vessels that are just transiting an area that sees, you know, 10 to 15 percent of world’s commerce.”
The Houthis maintain that they will not end their attacks on US and Israeli shipping until Tel Aviv relents in Gaza. The group says it allows shipping for other countries to continue through the Red Sea.
Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com, news editor of the Libertarian Institute, and co-host of Conflicts of Interest.
the Houthis because the group has barred Israeli-linked shipping from transiting the Red Sea
huh. i didn’t realize they were actually in charge of the Red Sea.
They are now.
Yup.
And why shouldn’t they be? The Bab al-Mandeb straight is their territorial waters.
Definitely Houthis have more right to control Red Sea than US, Israel and NATO. Besides, their sanctions against Israel are much more legal than silly counterproductive US/NATO sanctions against Russia.
“their sanctions” Firing missiles is not sanctioning.
Those who are violating the regime of sanctions should be punished. Otherwise no sanctions can work.
Right. To the US it’s the red, white and blue sea. Just like the rest of the planet.
Similarly, the Houthis have attacked and continue attacking international and US ships but they are NOT at war.
Who knew?
The Houthis have been at war for while or have you forgotten the U.S. sponsored war in Yemen?
Oh so why the bitch!ng? let them get their war.
The point is that the American power structure, and useful idiots like yourself, refuse to acknowledge that the war was started by the U.S. government and their proxies.
The war was not started by the USA. But of course you will believe anything that is Anti-American or Anti-Israel.
The USA instigated the war after 911 when it started “low intensity” operations in Yemen. It then escalated into all out war in 2014 using its proxy Saudi Arabia with which it provided diplomatic cover, weapons, targeting data, and S.F. operators acting as “advisors.” Facts aren’t anti-American you stupid neocon shit rag.
If you stop that headline quote at the word think you get a clearer insight into what drives US foreign and military policy.
We’re never at war. Even when we’re at war, directly or by proxy. When was the last time war was declared?
On December 8, 1941, Congress approved President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s request for a declaration of war on Japan with only one dissenter. The declaration of war with Japan (S.J.Res. 116) became the template for the resolution for the declaration of war with Germany, S.J.Res. 119. On December 11, 1941, Congress approved a resolution declaring war with Germany. The Senate unanimously approved the resolution, 88-0.
Thereafter, all “wars” by the United States have been and presently are UnConstitutional and “Wars” of Aggression under International Law.
Perhaps, most importantly, since December 11, 1941 the United States has waged “Wars of Aggression” without any reasonable, logical or common sense basis.
“Exceptionalism” and World Hegemon are the objective, empirical and real bases.
dennis hanna
Who decented?
Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana, a dedicated pacifist and the first woman elected to Congress, cast the only vote against the declaration of war.
WOW!!! They’re always hammering us with “the first woman, etc. etc.” except when it’s a woman against war!? Here is what I found out about her: “Rankin, however, believed that Roosevelt deliberately provoked the Japanese to attack because he wanted to bring the U.S. into the European war against Germany; she was determined not to cooperate with the president’s plan.” Smart lady, but most importantly, more smart and honest than most representatives!
https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/jeanette-rankin-voted-against-wwii/
She was one sharp lady, and, I believe, quite correct. We instituted a blockade against Japan, and all other means of provoking Japan. Well, he got his war on two fronts, and a nice test of two different A-bombs against Japa(although Truman gave the go ahead, despite knowing they would also kill American POWs at one of the targets). The European theater? The Red Army defeated the Weirmacht.
There was no US blockade (“you can’t trade with anyone” of Japan prior to the declarations of war. There was an embargo (“you can’t trade with us”) which is an entirely different thing.
Although, admittedly, anything short of completely free and unregulated trade is pro-war.
You are correct.
Are you claiming that US wanted to go to war with Germany, so they got Japan to attack us? That makes no sense.
FDR had already declared that a state of war between the US and Germany existed by October 1941, in his Navy Day address (the “secret map” speech):
“We have wished to avoid shooting. But the shooting has started. And history has recorded who fired the first shot. In the long run, however, all that will matter is who fired the last shot. … we do not propose to take this lying down. Our determination not to take it lying down has been expressed in the orders to the American Navy to shoot on sight. Those orders stand.”
What he didn’t have was the ability to get Congress to vote a declaration of war … at least until after the Japanese attack of December 7 and Hitler’s own declaration of war on the US.
As for “getting” Japan to attack the US, I guess it’s debatable whether he was doing his damnedest to bring about that result, or whether he had an IQ of 60 and didn’t understand that his oil and steel embargo would give Japan the choice of giving up its war in China or adding the US to its enemies list. And I find it doubtful that someone with an IQ of 60 would have been elected president (at that point) three times.
I believe that tensions had been building between the US and Japan for some time, independent of the tensions in Europe.
“‘Exceptionalism’ and World Hegemon are the objective, empirical and real bases.”
Rather they are functions of Avarice & Imperial Capitalism. … only just on display at Davos.
1941?
It’s time for all nations to have all the military weapons available, so at least when there is a “war” it is a fair fight. If Israel only had stones, they would stop their Occupation of Palestine? There will never be global peace, when only a few nations have all the power and get to decide who should die.
Mommy? Why does everybody have a bomb?
Inexpensive drones and cheap missiles have changed everything. Your visions of fairness are becoming a reality. I don’t think anything short of an invasion can prevent the Houthi from closing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aiden.
Houthis have a good reason for sanctioning Zionist regime. The world looks at Houthis with admiration.
Let every country have a nuke or two. Which country would want to fire one off only to get their population incinerated? Except the crazy Zionists in Israel.
First all nations do have access to military weapons. Even Vatican City Swiss Guards have military grade sub machine guns.
Second during the Arab armies vs Israel wars of 1948, 1967 and 1973 Arabs had military weapons.
Third, in the current war in Gaza, Hamas had military weapons.
Please do tell me, how you think the weapons Hamas has, the amount of weapons Hamas has, is equal to what Israel has?
““Well, when you say ‘working’ — are they stopping the Houthis? No. Are they going to continue? Yes,”
Classic Biden. Classic US foreign policy. Classic human nature. Commit to any disaster because “we (some of us) are making money”.
They’re democra$y bombs are freeing the People of Yemen from the evil, hamas lovin’ terrorists. };-)>
American democra$y bombs have already freed millions of muslims from their suffering under anti-American dictators, but they show no gratitude.
Hooties like to microwave babies and kittens, together! I saw it on youtube.
};-)>
Well said.
I think Biden is afraid of AIPAC as the election season begins.
Both houses of Congress are afraid of AIPAC.
That may be, but he is a psychopathic warmonger and has always been.
Yes. This idea that he has to be coerced into anything is ridiculous. Even senility hasn’t damaged the warmongering part of his brain. The rest might be pudding, but the part that says keep bombing even if isn’t working is as sharp as a (coffin) nail.
Yeah, I don’t know if you said it, someone else here or on MoA, but they described it that Biden lost the ability to cover who he truly was, the faux empath act. Now it is just raw Biden, paraphrased.
Not me but well put.
I don’t believe the current coming of age generation will be so eager to participate in our non-wars.
No generation for a long time has been sufficiently eager to participate in our non-wars to provide adequate troop levels to fight a near-peer adversary, or even, say, today’s Iran. Imagine what would happen if they tried to reinstitute the draft to fight on multiple fronts in the ME/Eastern Europe/East Asia.
Making the Red Sea safe for navigation is working almost as well as making the world safe for democracy.
Heckuva job, Joey!
And, “Freedom is not free!” Ugh, I got a pubic hair stuck in the back of my throat.
lol!
We need to protect freedom of navigation and free trade! Just not for Yemenis, Russians, Iranians, Palestinians, North Koreans, Venezuelans, Cubans…
We could easily do that by not funding genocide. Everybody gets shipments and people live. Win/win.
Except from China. The Chinese commit unbelievable atrocities. They sold me a fantastic refrigerator for $1000. That is so cheap. That is too cheap. We must go to war against them.
At this moment that sounds pricey, but probably more than half goes to the corpse for slapping their name on it.
And shipping. This thing is nice. It makes ice. It filters water. I tried to make one like it, but it cost me too much damn money.
Things have been expensive in this homestead. When you have to replace things while also going upstream against inflation for necessities, everything seems like a lot.
Enjoy your fridge, may it live beyond five years!
LOL. You know I was just kidding right? My fridge is a couple of years old. I’m just always amazed how people want to go to war with other people for no good reason, none whatsoever.
I think with China they will play up covid and the fentanyl “crisis”. There are already people claiming that China is supplying components to Mexico to kill us and that tiktok is an evil force ( even as it allows the US security state to censor at will)
Agreed. Don’t forget the “spy balloon”
Too logical. Also not a good means for the MIC to make major bank.
Thanks for making me smile!
It seems to me that the UK and Israel are getting a free ride from the US Navy.
Democrat or Republican, this is an impeachable offense which, if not challenged, will set a new precedent for an already out of control Executive branch. Our founding fathers are turning over in their graves.
That ship sailed long ago.
So it would seem.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said. “The Houthis are the ones that continue to launch cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles at innocent mariners, at commercial vessels that are just transiting an area that sees, you know, 10 to 15 percent of world’s commerce.”
Yes, and the Israeli’s are the ones that continue their genocidal attack that has killed 24 thousand people (low ball number) mostly innocent women and children that are just trying to live, has put 400,000 people in famine and, you know, has displaced 90% of the population.
Who posted the term, “Operation Genocide Guardian?” I want to make sure they receive the credit.
It’s a cacophonous product of diminished minds.
RBE, Was it you?
LOL Nope.
All of these people are witless robots. If we are ever attacked, I suspect we’ll be extinguished with the help of a witless crowd of people whose only discernable “talent” is giving moronic names to military operations.
The idea that the US declares war after Vietnam is the same as all these conflicts are an act of national defense. Making the military industrial complex richer and keeping the current political class in power does not constitute national defense. Keeping the Nazis in power in Ukraine because of personal interests of Biden also has nothing to do with national defense.
Money from the MIC and AIPAC (which should be registered as a foreign agent, which its predecessor should have been) controls congress, and any president. We can’t do jack but elect someone who won the carnival follies. A liar. Over and over and over.
Joe is full of more sh*t than a Christmas goose. Really…
Today’s Pentagon couldn’t find its ass in the dark.
Or the light, for that matter.
More Pentagon bullshit:
US Minuteman III missile replacement breaks $96 billion budget, triggers Pentagon review
The replacement for the ground-based U.S. nuclear arsenal anchored by the Minuteman III has officially busted through its $95.8 billion budget due to the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation, the Air Force said on Thursday.
The Air Force is notifying Congress that the program, being designed and managed by Northrop Grumman Corp, is now at least 37% over a pre-pandemic cost estimate finalized in September 2020, Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, told Reuters in an interview.
https://news.yahoo.com/us-minuteman-iii-missile-replacement-232850413.html
Ansar Allah have taken a leaf from the US/EU book and applied economic sanctions. But this time on Israel … a US vassal state. Brilliant play. And of course the US can bomb Yemen and claim at the same time that the US is not at war with Yemen. Only a fool would believe that.
And the reason an invasion of Yemen will take place, because all that bombing didn’t have a positive outcome.
“We are not at war “……just business as usual, its what we do, make munitions, create situations and use ’em up.
It worked ok until we offshored our manufacturing……
The Pentagon doesn’t think ……….. Stop right there.