Saudi fighter planes continue to attack neighboring Yemen in hopes of re-installing ousted Yemeni president Mansur Hadi and putting down the rebellion that forced him to depart. As usual, civilians bear the brunt of such a foreign attack. Today, the Saudi-led coalition bombed a refugee camp, killing more than 40 and wounding as many as 200.
Hadi’s ouster earlier this year came on the heels of mounting public anger over his cooperation with the US government’s five years of drone attacks on Yemen, which killed scores of civilians. Hadi, who was “elected” by an impressive 99.80% of the vote (on a single-candidate ballot) had previously overthrown long-time Yemeni ruler, Abdullah Saleh, in the “Arab Spring” uprisings of 2011.
Billed as an awakening of democratic stirrings in the Middle East, the “Arab Spring” has produced bitter fruits: Egypt is back under military dictatorship, Libya is destroyed, Syria is on fire from West-backed jihadist groups, Tunisia is unstable, and so on. Nevertheless, what was essentially a civil war between numerous Yemeni factions was internationalized when Saudi Arabia decided to begin airstrikes on the country. Without an international mandate and in the absence of an attack from Yemen, the move is without doubt illegal according to international law.
Despite not being given much of a heads-up by its Saudi “partners,” US support for the attack came early and with enthusiasm. Reported the US National Security Council spokesman as the Saudi attacks commenced:
In support of [Gulf Cooperation Council] actions to defend against Houthi violence, President Obama has authorized the provision of logistical and intelligence support to GCC-led military operations. While U.S. forces are not taking direct military action in Yemen in support of this effort, we are establishing a Joint Planning Cell with Saudi Arabia to coordinate U.S. military and intelligence support.
Despite the destruction to civilian infrastructure and increasing civilian casualties, the US has announced that it is increasing support for the Saudi-led attack on Yemen:
The U.S. military is preparing to expand its aid to Saudi Arabia in its air campaign against rebel forces in Yemen by providing more intelligence, bombs and aerial refueling missions for planes carrying out airstrikes there, American officials said Friday.
RPI Advisor Mark Almond once again points the hypocrisy and double standards of US and UK foreign policy, Tweeting today that:
When Gaddafi threatened to bomb Benghazi, Obama bombed him. When Saudi bombs Yemeni refugees, Obama provides target-intel. ‘Success story’?
With a full-scale ground invasion reportedly imminent, look for more mayhem and, most assuredly, increased US involvement. Neocons, who are desperate to scuttle any agreement with Iran and to spark a war with Russia, are likely praying to Mars for an Iranian or Russian response.
