America at War, Again

by Stephen Lendman

War is America's national pastime, not baseball. It's a longstanding sick addiction.

The business of America is waging permanent wars against one nation after another.

Nonexistent enemies are created. They're attacked, ravaged, destroyed, controlled and plundered.

They're ruled by US-installed puppets. Their people are ruthlessly exploited.

Governance of, by and for everyone equitably is strictly forbidden. Freedom is a four-letter word.

Longstanding US policy represents a shocking contempt for rule of law principles, democratic values, peace and stability.

War on humanity is the American way. Make no mistake. Yemen is Obama's war.

US predator drones murdered hundreds of Yemenis for years. In February 2012, Washington installed puppet president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

Houthi rebels ousted him. He fled to Saudi Arabia.

Its Washington ambassador Adel al Jubeir said "lengthy (US/Riyadh) consultations" went on for months. They proceeded Saudi-led air strikes.

When Hadi fled Aden on Wednesday, Washington ordered war - using regional proxies to do its dirty work.

On Wednesday night, Saudi-led Gulf state warplanes began bombing Sanaa and other Houthi-held areas.

Attacks continued overnight Thursday. So-called Operation Decisive Storm involves air and possible naval and ground incursions.

On March 26, AP said once airstrikes weakened Houthi positions, "ground invasion is planned by Egyptian, Saudi and other forces."

"The assault will come from Saudi Arabia and by landings on Yemen's coasts along the Red and Arabian seas, according to three Egyptian military and security officials."

"Three to five Egyptian troop carriers are stationed offshore, they said, although the number of troops was not specified, and the timing of the operation was not given."

"The aim is not to occupy Yemen but to weaken the Houthis and their allies until they enter negotiations for power-sharing, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about the plans with the press."

Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi addressed Yemenis on national television.

He vowed "to confront the criminal, unjust and unjustified aggression."

He blamed Washington, Saudi Arabia and Israel. "Yemenis won't accept such humiliation," he said.

He called enemies attacking Yemen "stupid (and) evil."

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri said Cairo is "prepared for participation with naval, air and ground forces if necessary."

Houthi forces reportedly attacked Saudi positions along their shared border.

Obama bears full responsibility for what's ongoing - besides other direct and proxy wars he's waging.

A Russian Foreign Ministry statement said:

"Moscow is extremely concerned over the latest developments in the friendly Republic of Yemen, the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of which we have always and consistently supported."

"We consider it very important that all the parties involved in the Yemeni conflict and their external allies immediately cease any forms of warfare and give up attempts to achieve their goals through military force."

"We are convinced that the deep-running contradictions in Yemen can be resolved only on the basis of a broad national dialogue."

"Russia, for its part, will step efforts towards promoting peaceful solutions to the conflict in Yemen both in its contacts with the parties involved in the Yemeni events, and at the United Nations."

Vladimir Putin called for an "immediate cessation of military activities" and increased efforts to resolve things peacefully.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said Yemen's conflict means greater regional destabilization.

Interviewed on Arabic language al-Alam news, he called for "an immediate stop to the Saudi military operation…"

He said Iran "will spare no effort to contain the crisis…"

Beijing condemned Saudi-led aggression. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying urged all parties to "quickly resolve the dispute through political dialogue, solve the current crisis and restore domestic stability and normality to Yemen at an early date."

Hezbollah called on Saudi-led forces to immediately and unconditionally halt hostilities.

Saying they "lack wisdom and legal and legitimate justification…They endanger the entire region."

"We see that this aggression secures American interests and offers a great favor for the Zionist enemy."

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) urged all parties to protect civilians and medical facilities, as well as fully comply with Geneva Convention provisions.

Fars News reported Yemeni Ansarullah Spokesman Zeifollah al-Shami saying:

"We know that the Saudi aggression and airstrikes have taken place at the order of Israel and the US."

He urged Yemenis to unite against aggression.

"God willingly, the crushing response to the aggressions of the Saudi enemy will come coming days," he said.

Yemeni al-Massira television reported civilian areas bombed, killing and injuring dozens.

It bears repeating. Washington bears full responsibility for what's ongoing. It's directing and controlling Saudi-led aggression.

It's providing intelligence and logistical support.

Yemen is strategically important. It's near the Horn of Africa.

It's on Saudi Arabia's southern border, the Red Sea, its Bab el-Mandeb strait chokepoint through which at estimated 3.3 million of barrels of oil pass daily, and Gulf of Aden connection to the Indian Ocean.

Reports indicate Egyptian forces seized control of the strait to keep oil flowing through it uninterrupted.

US CENTCOM commander General Lloyd Austin said US regional forces will insure Mandeb and Hormuz straits stay open.

Riyadh declared Yemeni air space a no-fly zone to halt advancing Houthi forces. How effective it is remains to be seen.

On Thursday, tens of thousands of Yemenis rallied in central Sanaa against US-directed/Saudi-led air strikes. They vowed to respond.

Houthi Political Council member Ali al Kohom said "(w)e will react against Saudi oppression in all ways we are capable."

"Yemeni blood is not cheap. Saudi has announced war in Yemen."

Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said "Yemeni people are prepared to face this aggression without any foreign interference."

If Saudi-led forces invade Yemen, regional war may follow.

How much more bloodshed is too much before world outrage says no more? America's rage for war risks ending life on earth.

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.

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