In 2015, Saudi Arabia began a brutal air and ground campaign aimed at dislodging the Houthi rebels from their control of a large part of Yemen. Since that time, the Saudis’ main focus has been an indiscriminate bombing campaign that has led to the deaths of 10,000 civilians, with 40,000 injured, and caused the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
The destruction of critical infrastructure and waterways has led to the worst cholera outbreak in modern times. 2.5 million Yemenis have been internally displaced, in a nation of 27 million, nearly ten percent of all people.
Suffice to say, it’s been a goddamn horror show. The whole thing is a s***storm. It’s a brutal and unwarranted, asymmetrical application of modern military power against a much less technologically sophisticated Houthi force. Civilians are the ones caught in the middle as the main victims.
At this point you might ask, what does this have to do with Donald Trump? The answer is, a lot. The Trump Administration, through the Pentagon, has been supplying the Saudis with billions of dollars in arms, as well as military support, such as air-to-air refueling, intelligence assessment and general military advice. Moreover, there have been claims by human rights groups that Saudi Arabia has been using US-made cluster bombs on Yemeni civilians. So there’s that.
All in all, Trump is knee deep, guilty and complicit in this bloody war, this blight upon humanity that grinds on into its fourth year now.
The war has gone virtually unnoticed by the mainstream media and the public in America, overshadowed by the direct US engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan. But Congress, at least, has recently taken notice.
There is now a bipartisan effort in on Capitol Hill to halt the Trump Administration’s support for the Saudis’ brutal war. The crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, is coming to Washington this week to meet with President Trump, and Congress is trying to deny further funding to the Trump Administration for the Saudi war before he meets with the crown prince.
Lawmakers want to pass a resolution to prevent giving a “blank check” to Trump on Saudi Arabia. In response to this, Trump Administration and Pentagon officials converged on Capitol Hill this week to lobby for the aid to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is currently flying at least 200 air missions each day, and is seeking to buy more precision guided missiles from the US. In 2017, the US sold $610 million in weapons to the Saudis.
But Trump has famously promised Saudi Arabia an aid package worth $110 billion, which is absolutely astronomical. It would be unprecedented in terms of US military aid to one country, at least going back to the Marshall Plan following World War II, after adjusting for inflation. And the Marshall Plan was to rebuild all of Europe. This is to bomb civilians and spread cholera in Yemen. It’s shameful, just shameful, pure and simple.
I for one hope that Congress shows some resolve, and passes a resolution blocking the aid to the Saudis. I hope it doesn’t get bullied by the Pentagon, and by arms manufacturers such as Raytheon, into granting that “blank check.”
Because what Saudi Arabia is doing to Yemeni civilians is absolutely unforgivable, unconscionable, and sinful. Trump is enabling it to happen, so he’s as guilty as they are. Let’s not give this gangster the check he wants. Better yet, let’s give him a check that bounces. That should be something he’s familiar with.
