US-Created Violence and Chaos in
Yemen
By Stephen Lendman
March 26, 2015 "ICH"
-
Yemen is one of many examples of what
happens following lawless US
intervention.
Obama waged drone war on Yemen
throughout his tenure - indiscriminately
killing many hundreds of defenseless
victims, mostly civilians.
Like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya and
Palestine, Yemen is a cauldron of
violence and instability threatening to
spin entirely out-of-control.
In
January, Houthi forces ousted US-backed
Ab-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's regime. They
took over the presidential palace.
They extended control to other parts of
the country. Last year, Obama
ludicrously touted Yemen as a success
story.
Saying US strategy "of taking out
terrorists who threaten us, while
supporting partners on the front lines,
is one that we have successfully pursued
in Yemen and Somalia for years."
US
interventionist strategy created
violence, instability and chaos in both
countries - much like virtually
elsewhere else Washington intervenes
lawlessly.
Houthis control the capital Sanaa, Taiz
(Yemen's 3rd largest city), other areas,
and head toward seizing Aden.
In
February, Hadi fled there from Sanaa.
Declared himself still president.
Reports now indicate he fled the country
after Houthi forces approached Aden.
They seized al-Annad air base near Lahij
- about 60 km from Aden. Hadi
established it as a temporary capital.
US
personnel were evacuated from the
country. Witnesses saw a convoy of
presidential vehicles leaving Hadi's
residence on a hill overlooking the
Arabian Sea.
Reports indicate he fled by boat as
Houthis advanced. AP said he left with
aides around 3:30PM local time Wednesday
- in two vessels under heavy security.
His destination wasn't disclosed. He's
scheduled to attend an Arab summit this
weekend in Egypt.
AP
reported Houthis "closing in on Aden…(T)he
city's fall appears imminent" as of
midday Wednesday.
Yemen heads toward exploding in
full-blown civil war. Involving IS
fighters for good measure - US proxies
used to help Washington regain control.
If
things turn out like Afghanistan, Iraq,
Libya and Syria, years of fighting may
follow on top of what's already
happened.
Hadi asked UN officials to authorize
foreign military intervention.
Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal
warned Riyadh may take "necessary
measures" if Houthis don't resolve
things peacefully - with no further
elaboration. More on this below.
Hadi's Gulf State allies evacuated their
Aden-based diplomatic personnel. Earlier
they relocated them from Sanaa.
Houthis occupied Yemen's capital last
August. Seizing the presidential palace
in January forced Hadi's resignation.
Houthi leader Abdel Malik al Houthi
leader's cousin Mohammed Ali al Houthi
was declared new president.
Hadi was placed under house arrest. He
escaped, fled to Aden, organized
supportive military forces, and now
apparently fled Yemen altogether.
The Houthi Supreme Revolutionary
Committee called on security forces and
civilians to fight what it called
"terrorist forces across the country."
Obama bears full responsibility for
Yemeni chaos. Drone warfare followed his
December 2009 missile attack on Al Majan
village.
It
killed dozens of civilians, including
women and children.
UN
special advisor on Yemen Jamal Benomar
addressed an emergency Security Council
session on Yemen via video conference.
Things are headed for a "rapid downward
spiral," he said.
"Emotions are running extremely high
and, unless solutions can be found, the
country will fall into further violent
confrontations."
"Events in Yemen are leading the country
away from political settlement and to
the edge of civil war."
Humanitarian crisis conditions affect
over 60% of the population. UN sources
call Yemen "a patchwork of simmering
feuds."
On
March 20, suicide bombers targeted Sanaa
mosques during Friday prayers - killing
at least 126, injuring scores more.
Yemen grows increasingly violent and
chaotic. A meaningless Security Council
statement said:
"(T)he
solution to the situation in Yemen is
through a peaceful, inclusive, orderly
and Yemeni-led political transition
process that meets the legitimate
demands and aspirations of the Yemeni
people for peaceful change and
meaningful political, economic and
social reform."
Violence continues unabated. Last
weekend, Saudi and other Gulf states
issued a statement backing Hadi's
regime.
They announced their willingness to use
"all efforts" to defend it.
Saudi Arabia deployed heavy weapons
along its border with Yemen. A porous
1,800 km border separates the two
countries.
Conditions remain chaotic. Houthis claim
they seized Aden. Reuters said Hadi's
defense minister was arrested.
So
far, Saudi forces haven't moved cross
border. Air strikes may be planned -
maybe joint ones with Washington.
Hadi wants Security Council
authorization for force - "to provide
immediate support for the legitimate
authority by all means and measures to
protect Yemen and deter the Houthi
aggression," he said.
Yemeni military officials calling
themselves the Higher Committee to
Preserve the Armed Forces and Security
reject foreign intervention, saying:
"We express our total and utter
rejection of any external interference
in Yemeni affairs under any pretext and
in any form and from any side."
"All members of the armed forces and
security and all the sons of the proud
people of Yemen with all its components
will confront with all their strength
and heroism any attempt to harm the pure
soil of the homeland, its independence
or its sovereignty or to threaten its
unity and territorial integrity."
Last month, Houthi leader Abdel Malik al
Houthi accused Saudi Arabia of wanting
Yemen divided along sectarian lines,
saying:
"Our elder sister, the Saudi kingdom,
doesn't respect the Yemenis and wants to
impose here in Yemen the sequence of
events and divisions that happened in
Libya."
Whether Saudi forces intend attacking
Yemen remains to be seen. What Obama has
in mind matters most.
He's engulfed large parts of the region
in conflict and chaos. Maybe he'll
compound it by greater intervention in
Yemen.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can
be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His
new book as editor and contributor is
titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive
for Hegemony Risks WW III."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Visit his blog site at
sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to
cutting-edge discussions with
distinguished guests on the Progressive
Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio
Network. It airs three times weekly:
live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus
two prerecorded archived programs.
