The struggle to end U.S. support for the war in Yemen has run into another
obstacle. This time it's partisanship. But it isn't Republican opposition
blocking Joe Biden's promise to end U.S. participation in the world's worst
humanitarian catastrophe. It's the president's own hesitancy to keep his
word paired with the unwillingness of Democrats in Congress to cross a
president from their own party.
On February 4th, in his first major foreign policy address as president,
Biden said, "we are ending all American support for offensive operations in
the war in Yemen, including relevant arms sales." In the next breath,
however, the president said, "We're going to continue to support and help
Saudi Arabia defend its sovereignty and its territorial integrity and its
people."
Seeking clarification, a congressional letter led by Representatives Peter
DeFazio, Debbie Dingell, and Ro Khanna (and signed by 41 of their
colleagues) was sent to the president on February 25th, asking key
questions. What's the definition of offensive operations? What is the
difference between offensive and defensive weapons? What about the blockade?
They requested an answer to their questions by March 25th, the 6th
anniversary of the war in Yemen. They received a non-answer, two months
late.
Text, letter
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[Source: theintercept.com]
Another opportunity for answers came at a hearing on April 21st where
Special Envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking, Biden's diplomatic point man on the
crisis, took questions from Congress. Asked by Rep. Ted Lieu whether the
United States was still supporting Saudi Arabia's offensive operations in
Yemen, Lenderking couldn't-or wouldn't-answer. He said, "I'm not totally in
that information loop, congressman, so I can't really speak to that."
A person in a suit and tie
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Tim Lenderking [Source: hispantv.com]
Letters led by Elizabeth Warren in the Senate and Ted Deutch in the House
have encouraged the Biden's administration to use their leverage to get
Saudi Arabia to stop its blockade on Yemen. But U.S. Special Envoy
Lenderking has denied the existence of a blockade to CNN investigative
reporter Nima Elbagir, a claim she called, "just not true." In fact, the
Friends Committee on National Legislation reports that "No U.S. official in
the new administration had explicitly publicly acknowledged the
six-year-old, Saudi-imposed blockade-much less criticized it."
President Biden was clear on the campaign trail: He said that if he were
elected president he would make Saudi Arabia, "pay the price, and make them
in fact the pariah that they are." Despite the promise of his February 4th
announcement, he simply hasn't done it. And Congress has not held him to his
word.
During Trump's tenure, bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate voted
to end U.S. participation in the Saudi war on Yemen. Every Democratic member
of Congress voted for a War Powers Resolution stating that U.S.
participation in the war is not authorized and must be ended. President
Trump vetoed that legislation.
On January 25th of this year, Representative Ro Khanna spoke at the World
Says No to War in Yemen International Day of Action, which Massachusetts
Peace Action helped to organize. He said, "Senator Sanders and I will be
advocating and introducing again a War Powers Resolution to stop any
logistical support, any intelligence support, and military support, to the
Saudis in their campaign in Yemen. That has to take place." What is he
waiting for?
The U.S. continues to provide logistical support that keeps the Saudi Royal
Air Force in the sky, bombing Yemen. The Special Envoy to Yemen can't answer
basic questions about whether the U.S. still supports Saudi Arabia in Yemen.
He denies the existence of the blockade, a tactic that employs starvation as
a weapon.
Members of congress who championed ending the war in Yemen through
privileged War Powers Resolutions, like Congressman Ro Khanna, Senators
Bernie Sanders, Mike Lee, and Chris Murphy, aren't being consistent now that
Biden is President.
We must pressure them. One courageous member of Congress can force the
entire legislative branch to go on record. It's difficult to criticize your
allies, but thousands of lives are at stake. The UN World Food Program says
that, "around 400,000 children may die in Yemen this year without urgent
intervention. That is roughly one child every 75 seconds." They can't wait
any longer. Neither can we.