Houthis’ Peace Offering in Yemen Likely to Fail
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
US-launched aggression in Yemen won’t end as long as Washington under Republicans and undemocratic Dems want it continued endlessly.
It’s not for the Saudis or UAE to decide. Decisions on all active war theaters are made in Washington – not in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, or anywhere else.
Permanent war for unchallenged global dominance is longstanding US policy, serving the nation’s military, industrial, security, media complex, including Wall Street.
It’s why endless wars rage in multiple theaters with no prospect for resolution. Bipartisan House and Senate members overwhelmingly support them.
Last week, House Republicans blocked a resolution to end war in Yemen by halting US military support for Saudi Arabia and the UAE. When Dems control the House in January, they’ll act the same way.
Endless wars and chaos serve Washington’s bipartisan imperial agenda. Resolving them defeats it.
On Sunday, Supreme Houthi Revolutionary Committee head Mohammed Ali al-Houthi announced a halt in missile and drone strikes on Saudi and UAE targets.
It’s a peace offering attempt to end years of war, causing the world’s gravest humanitarian crisis, likely taking the lives of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis – from war, untreated diseases, mass starvation, and overall deprivation.
An official Houthi statement said the following:
“After our contacts with the UN envoy and his request to stop drone and missile strikes…we announce our initiative…to halt missile and drone strikes on the countries of aggression,” adding:
“If the coalition of aggression wants peace, we are ready to freeze and stop military operations on all fronts.”
“We declare our initiative to call on…the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their Yemeni allies…to stop (their) aggression and blockade…and come to a fair peace.”
The Houthis responded to a request by UN special envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths. Britain reportedly drafted a Security Council resolution for ceasefire and conflict resolution.
All previous peace initiatives in Yemen failed because the US rejected them. Is this time different?
Are Republicans and Dems shifting from supporting endless war in Yemen to promoting resolution? Is conflict in the country and its objectives different from other ongoing US wars of aggression?
Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) reportedly “threw a fit” when told about the planned UK resolution.
Theresa May’s Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt discussed it with MBS in Riyadh, an initiative he opposes, reportedly believing it weakens his position, benefitting Houthi fighters.
Hunt was quoted saying “(t)his is what Western powers think, and this is what you need to do. What is your plan to stop this?”
He left Riyadh promising to change the resolution according to Saudi wishes, a revised one introduced on Monday.
The State Department and Saudi embassy in Washington haven’t responded to requests for comment.
Longstanding US/UK policy toward Yemen supports endless war, not resolving it. Even if a Security Council ceasefire resolution is adopted, war won’t end.
Unanimously adopted SC Res. 2254 (December 2015), calling for ceasefire and diplomatic settlement of conflict in Syria failed.
So did unanimously adopted SC Res. 2401 (February 2018), calling on “all parties (to) cease hostilities without delay and engage immediately to ensure full and comprehensive implementation of this demand by all parties, for a durable humanitarian pause for at least 30 consecutive days throughout Syria.”
These resolutions, along with Russian-led good faith peace initiatives in Geneva, Astana, and Sochi haven’t ended years of war in Syria – because Washington and its imperial partners want it waged endlessly for regime change.
The same goes in Yemen. The US wants pro-Western puppet ruler Abdrabbuh-Rabbu Mansour Hadi restored power serving its interests.
As long as that objective remains unachieved, endless war will rage – perhaps with short-term pauses like what’s possible from the joint US/UK draft resolution.
Washington has final say on what goes on in the country – not other Security Council members, the UN, the Saudis or UAE.
That’s why war will likely continue endlessly, the horrendous human toll of no consequence for US policymakers.
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