OMNI
YEMEN WATCH,
MAY 25, 2019
Compiled by
Dick Bennett for a Culture of Peace, Justice, and Ecology
Contents
War Makers: War Profiteers, Kane
Related:
Stop War with Iran, Chomsky
War Power USA Gov: Congress v.
Executive, Miles, WWW
Bernie Sanders v. Trump’s Yemen Veto
[What can you do?]
MSNBC Underreports Yemen War
Examples of Public Struggle to End
the War
Genocide Scholars, Sam Totten
WWW and Letters to Congress
Revelation 3:16:
These selections are in reverse chronological order.
IN THESE TIMES
25 May 2019: WAR PROFITEERS
And how the U.S. could stop weapon sales if it wanted to. BY ALEX KANE
[What can you do?
Disseminate the names of the profiteers.
Consider and then take your next step.
–D]
Related (US imperialism and alliances with Saudi Arabia and
Israel)
[Shi’a Iran is helping the Shi’a Houthi rebels in Yemen. The US is arming the Sunni Saudi invasion of
Yemen. US supports Israel in ceaseless
hostility toward Iran, now threatening war while blaming Iran. –D]
Led by John Bolton, the Trump administration is pursuing
catastrophe to protect U.S. dominance.
BY NOAM CHOMSKY
Stuart Eizenstat has worked as a powerful political advisor, as
well as a corporate lobbyist for the oil and arms industries. BY NAOMI LACHANCE
Glorifying serial killer-type behavior most service members
would find appalling is a strange way to honor them. BY PETER CERTO
CONGRESS EXERTS ITS WAR POWERS,
TRUMP VETOES
BREAKING: Yemen vote
BREAKING: Yemen vote
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1:39
PM (2 hours ago)
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Dear Dick,
Minutes ago, the Senate
failed to override Trump’s veto of the Yemen war powers resolution. It’s
sad and it’s frustrating — but it’s not unexpected.
We
were told this was politically impossible; that we could never win. But that
didn’t stop us from trying, and this result won’t and MUST NOT stop us
now. Because this isn’t some political game.
A
just-released UN report says 230,000 Yemenis will die by the end of year as a
result of this war — as a result of our bombs, and our intelligence gathering,
and our previous in-flight refueling of Saudi and Emirati war planes. [1]
Millions
of lives literally hang on our ability to get Congress to reclaim its rightful
role reigning in a war-mongering President and help end this war. So
no, we’re not stopping. We’re in this to cut off bombs and all military
assistance the coalition relies on for good — and we need your help for the
next steps of this fight.
So
here’s the plan [political action—D]:
· Take the bombs away: pressure Congress to
ban the sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates;
· Stop the logistical
support: work
with pro-peace allies in the House to end U.S. support of refueling,
intelligence sharing, targeting, and other forms of logistical assistance;
· Cut the financial lifeline: defund all forms of
U.S. military assistance to the coalition countries in Yemen through must-pass
legislation like the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
Win
Without War has led the fight to end U.S. support for the Saudi and Emirati-led
coalition’s brutal war in Yemen from the very beginning. We are more committed
than ever, and will use every advocacy, media, influencer, and policy tool
we’ve got. But we need your help.
Can
you donate $15 to help Win Without War block U.S. bombs, missiles and
war-fighting support for this brutal Saudi and Emirati war? MORE
Thank you for working for peace, Stephen,
Kate, Erica, and the Win Without War team[1] Middle East Eye, "Yemen death toll to surpass 230,000
by end of 2019: UN report"
[People ask me, what can I do? No single message, person, local peace
organization, or state-wide, or regional, or national can encompass our
thoroughly militarized nation around for peace. For example, WWW does not include support
for political representatives who are committed to peace, and they do exist. But in other messages WWW does. Be in touch with these peace makers, support
them. Working together
politically—exerting our separate powers cooperatively and politically—as WWW
calls for us to do, we can win. Whether
we are children or octogenarians, passion for peace makers and abhorrence of
war makers will give us the strength and wisdom. Know and name the peace makers and the war
makers, and join with others in celebration and denunciation. I googled Democratic candidates for peace and the first item reveals “Gabbard says her central
issue is “war and peace.” Be acquainted with
all. See
More
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[ Two glimpses of the
political struggle to stop the genocide, here illustrated by global professoriate
and local citizens. A bipartisan
Congress did pass the War Powers Resolution.
Note Sam Totten’s important role, UAF Prof. Emer. and genocide
scholar. Sam lives in Rogers. Congress
under the War Powers Act voted to cut off all aid to SA. Trump vetoed it; Congress failed to
override. We can do many things right
now to keep the pressure on. Just
pause and think. –D]
[Read
the following letter first. --D] SIGN ON LETTER -
CONGRESS re HUMANITARIAN CRISIS YEMEN
Dear Sam,
Thanks for organizing this sign-on letter. When was it sent
out to members of the Senate and the House?
Thank you for taking out the words "ethnic
cleansing."
Despite mentions of "ethnic cleansing" in opinions
of the ICTY, there is no treaty outlawing it. The ICC Rome Statute does
outlaw Genocide and forced displacement. Those are the criminal acts that
Milosevic tried to use the euphemism
" ethnic cleansing" to replace. The term should be expunged from
the vocabulary of human rights. It is the equivalent of Judenfrei .
Unacceptable euphemisms intended to cover up the horror of genocide.
As by now you know, an immediate ceasefire isn't an unrealistic
goal. It has now been agreed to by both the Houthi and the Saudi supported
government, in talks convened by the UN Secretary General. We have been
working behind the scenes with a lot of other organizations to get this. Now
we will see if the ceasefire is honored. With the US still backing the
Saudis, I am skeptical. But if it holds, there will be no need to have a
ceasefire every three months.
Glad you added the language urging a cut off of all aid and
arms sales to " the murderous Saudi monarchy." As you also now
know, every member the US Senate but one condemned the murder ordered by MBS.
The US Senate also
voted to cut off all aid and arms sales to the Saudis. It passed with
nearly enough votes to override a veto, but Paul Ryan won't bring it up for a vote in the House in this
Congress. After the new House takes power, we will be working with the same
coalition to get that use of the War Powers Act to end aid and arms sales to
the Saudis, and will get it repassed by the Senate. Then it is sure to wind
up in the courts.
I have been battling viral pneumonia for the last four weeks.
Ironically, I came down with it the same day I got my pneumococal pneumonia
vaccination. Go figure.
Greg Stanton
Genocide Watch
George Mason University
1405 Cola Drive
McLean, VA 22101-3103
Work E-mail: gregoryhstanton@gmail.com
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LAST
CALL: SIGN ON LETTER TO CONGRESS RE YEMEN
DEAR
ALL,
IF YOU ARE WILLING TO SIGN ON TO THIS
LETTER, THEN PLEASE SEND ME: YOUR NAME, POSITION, AFFILIATION, KEY WORK ON
GENOCIDE, AND EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU ARE WILLING TO INCLUDE IT.
TIME
IS OF ESSENCE AS THE YEMEN ISSUE IS UP FOR A VOTE THIS WEEK.
MANY THANKS,
SAM
December
4, 2018
To:
Members of The United States Congress
From:
Scholars and Activists from Across the Globe in the Fields of International
Human Rights, Crimes Against Humanity, and Genocide
Topic:
The Humanitarian Disaster in Yemen
UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres has deemed Yemen the world’s gravest
humanitarian crisis, noting that some 22 million people are in dire need of
food, water and medicine, as well as protection. Concomitantly, six
internationally renowned humanitarian organizations, all working in Yemen,
believe that 11 million people now face starvation. The latter is due
to a manmade famine.
Eleven
million. That is nearly twice as many people who perished in the Holocaust.
Eleven times as many as were killed in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
War
in Yemen erupted in early 2015 when Houthi rebels (a Shia group) captured
Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, after overthrowing the U.S.-backed government of
President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
In
October, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child reported that at
least 1,248 children have been killed since the start of the war.
Save the Children report that an average of 130 children are dying
every single day from starvation and disease.
While
the United States Government has a responsibility for what is taking place in
Yemen, it is far from alone. Yemeni Government troops and the Houthi
rebels share the greatest responsibility. In addition, Saudi Arabia and Iran
are fighting a proxy war there, with the Saudis supporting the former
government with systematic aerial bombardment of civilian targets such as
schools and hospitals, while Iran supports the Houthi rebels. The United Arab
Emirates, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, Kuwait and Bahrain back the Saudis
in their anti-Shi’a coalition. ISIS and al Qeada have also seized the
opportunity to attack Shia mosques, bombing Sana'a and Aden.
Meanwhile,
millions of civilians are caught in the middle of this sectarian conflict,
subjected to what reputable human rights groups describe as war crimes. Both
the Obama and Trump administrations are implicated: they have supplied
weapons and diplomatic cover for the Saudi-led military action in which
non-combatants are paying an enormous price.
Until
very recently, the United States supported the Saudi aerial attacks by
providing for mid-air refueling of Saudi planes. Those aerial attacks
are said to be responsible for 35,000 civilian casualties. It appears
that the Saudi warplanes have deliberately targeted civilians in their homes
and schools, on their farms and buses, in their businesses (including petrol
stations). Farms have been bombed, prices for food in suqs have
soared as a result of the war, and the Saudi’s, with the complicity of the
United States, have virtually blocked food from entering all but one of the
main ports in Yemen. They have also systematically prevented movement between
the ports and cities, towns and villages where the people are suffering
severe malnutrition to outright starvation. A host of other actors on the
ground have killed humanitarian aid personnel and erected barricades along
the roads.
As individuals who worked on the behalf of supporting basic
international human rights throughout our adult lives, who have conducted
research into crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide, and who,
unlike those who conveniently disregard such crimes while they are being
committed (and then have the gall to purportedly apologize that they and
their governments were uninformed, had their hands tied or simply didn’t care
at the time) have advocated for early prevention and, if needed, early
intervention, to stave off such crimes. And we are doing so once again.
In that regard, we respectfully make the following
recommendations:
The U.S. must demand and
supervise an immediate ceasefire, enabling the unimpeded delivery of
humanitarian supplies to all communities, with aid convoys protected by UN
peacekeepers with a Chapter 7 mandate.
The U.S. Government must
press the UN Security Council to immediately begin a fresh diplomatic effort
to bring the Yemen war to an end.
The U.S. Government must
press for a temporary ceasefire every three months in order to distribute
humanitarian supplies, and a no fly-zone during the periods of the ceasefire.
These
are short-term measures, but urgently needed ones.
Given the urgency of this situation, we look forward to your
prompt response.
Most sincerely,
|
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Dr. Samuel Totten, Professor Emeritus, University of Arkansas,
Fayetteville; Author of Genocide by Attrition, samstertotten@gmail.com
. . . . .
WIN WITHOUT WAR LEADING THE GRASSROOTS APPEAL
From: Amy Frame
<info@winwithoutwar.org>Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2017 3:38 PM
To: Gerald H. Sloan
Subject: Blood on our hands
Gerald,
Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen has caused the world’s worst
humanitarian catastrophe and we have an unprecedented chance to do something.
The ongoing Saudi-led war in Yemen has killed thousands, forced
millions to flee their homes, resulted in the world’s worst cholera outbreak,
and left 7 million people at risk of starvation. American made bombs -
dropped by American made planes and refueled by American military forces
- have been used by the Saudis and their allies to destroy crops, cut
off access to ports, and wreak havoc on the people of Yemen. This war
depends on American support, and now we have to chance to shut that down.
Earlier today, a bipartisan group in Congress introduced
legislation that would immediately halt American support for the Saudi-led
coalition. Under the War Powers Resolution, this important legislation is
guaranteed a vote, which means in the next few weeks, the House of
Representatives will finally debate and vote on this completely unauthorized
war.
Congress has never authorized America’s involvement in this war in
Yemen, yet
America’s support has helped fuel the conflict and its horrific war crimes.
With our support, the Saudis have bombed schools and hospitals and killed
families sleeping in their homes and shopping in the market. American planes
continue refueling the Saudi coalition planes dropping those very bombs.
This unauthorized war is also making our country less safe by the
day. Violent extremists like Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula have been
feeding off the chaos in Yemen to grow their ranks, while America’s involvement
in the war has fueled anti-American sentiment throughout Yemen and beyond.
This war needs to end and it needs to end now. Every expert agrees
that the war in Yemen will only be resolved through a political settlement, but
that settlement simply won’t happen as long as the American military continues
to support the Saudi-led coalition in its quest to ‘win’ an unwinnable war on
the battlefield, no matter the cost of human suffering.
Make no mistake, the blood from this deadly war is on our hands.
That’s why it is up to us to finally take a stand. Lots of Members of Congress
didn’t want to have this vote. They don’t want to confront America’s role in
fueling this war. But that’s where we come in. We have been bringing our voices
into the halls of Congress for 15 years, and it's time to do that once again to
make them finally end the horrors in Yemen. Please act today to stop fueling
war in Yemen.
Thank you for working for peace,
Amy, Ben, Erica, and the Win
Without War team
Send a Letter to Congress: No weapons to Saudi Arabia! No attack on https://actionnetwork.org/letters/send-a-letter-to-congress-no-attack-on-hodeida-no-we
Send a Letter to Congress: No weapons to Saudi Arabia! No attack on https://actionnetwork.org/letters/send-a-letter-to-congress-no-attack-on-hodeida-no-we
Win Without
War is a project of the Center for International Policy.
2000 M Street NW, Suite 720, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 232-3317 | info@winwithoutwar.org
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(202) 232-3317 | info@winwithoutwar.org
Revelation 3:16, “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will
vomit you out of my mouth.” If you are
an Arkansas Christian fundamentalist and believe in peace, you must be
trembling every day. On the other hand,
many others eschew heat because that’s the temperature of our war makers like
John Bolton and other warriors, and because we have chosen to live a rational
life. Yet those same people also know
their heart and mind should be stirred out of their chilled inertness if
justice and peace are to be achieved.
They might remember that Dante placed the lukewarm and the opportunists
outside Hell, so morally repulsive they are.
What should we do about our war on Yemen? Just vow to be true to your best principles,
and tepidness, halfheartedness, apathy will vanish. In case you need a little help, genocide
scholars, organizations like Win Without War and Quakers, and many in OMNI
light the way.
Last week OMNI
inaugurated a series of lectures about the Middle East by Mounir Farah. Contact me to lead or help create a group
for political action to end US aggressions there.
END YEMEN WATCH MAY 25, 2019
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