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The House Finally Acts on Yemen The House Finally Acts on Yemen
(3 days later)
Congress has long ignored its constitutional war-making responsibilities, evading difficult questions about military engagement and effectively giving presidents a blank check to decide when and how the military should be involved in hostilities.Congress has long ignored its constitutional war-making responsibilities, evading difficult questions about military engagement and effectively giving presidents a blank check to decide when and how the military should be involved in hostilities.
That the House finally took up that duty on Wednesday and voted to end military support for Saudi Arabia in the catastrophic civil war in Yemen is a measure of growing bipartisan disgust with the Saudi regime and revulsion at the horrors of that war.That the House finally took up that duty on Wednesday and voted to end military support for Saudi Arabia in the catastrophic civil war in Yemen is a measure of growing bipartisan disgust with the Saudi regime and revulsion at the horrors of that war.
The Republican-led Senate enacted similar legislation in December, but the measure was blocked in the House, before it passed from Republican to Democratic hands last month.The Republican-led Senate enacted similar legislation in December, but the measure was blocked in the House, before it passed from Republican to Democratic hands last month.
The Senate needs to approve the measure again, confirming its vote in December, to deliver a stunning rebuke to a president unyielding in his defense of Saudi Arabia, even after Saudi operatives murdered the Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in October.The Senate needs to approve the measure again, confirming its vote in December, to deliver a stunning rebuke to a president unyielding in his defense of Saudi Arabia, even after Saudi operatives murdered the Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in October.
Despite a cease-fire agreed in December around the port of Hudaydah, a lifeline for humanitarian aid and site of one of the fiercest battles, Yemeni civilians continue to be killed in the fighting and millions more face a devastating famine. Despite a cease-fire agreed to in December around the port of Hudaydah, a lifeline for humanitarian aid and site of one of the fiercest battles, Yemeni civilians continue to be killed in the fighting and millions more face a devastating famine.
Congress passed the War Powers Resolution over President Richard Nixon’s veto in 1973 because of the way presidential authority had been used to extend the Vietnam War. The measure passed by the House on Wednesday invokes that act because many lawmakers say Mr. Trump exceeded his authority by deploying American forces and weapons into the Yemen conflict without a formal declaration of war. As of the end of 2018, nearly 100 American military personnel were believed to be advising or assisting the coalition war effort, although fewer than 35 are based in Saudi Arabia. Congress passed the War Powers Resolution over President Richard Nixon’s veto in 1973 because of the way presidential authority had been used to extend the Vietnam War. The measure passed by the House on Wednesday invokes that act because many lawmakers say President Trump exceeded his authority by deploying American forces and weapons into the Yemen conflict without a formal declaration of war. As of the end of 2018, nearly 100 American military personnel were believed to be advising or assisting the coalition war effort, although fewer than 35 are based in Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Trump has threatened to veto the bill if it is passed by the Senate, arguing that the support provided to the Saudis has been limited and the congressional resolution would undermine the president’s constitutional powers. An override would be difficult, but congressional action could still pressure the administration to pull back support for the Saudi campaign and bring hope to long-suffering Yemenis that their agony could soon end.Mr. Trump has threatened to veto the bill if it is passed by the Senate, arguing that the support provided to the Saudis has been limited and the congressional resolution would undermine the president’s constitutional powers. An override would be difficult, but congressional action could still pressure the administration to pull back support for the Saudi campaign and bring hope to long-suffering Yemenis that their agony could soon end.
The civil war has metastasized since 2015, when Saudi Arabia and its Sunni Arab allies in the Persian Gulf intervened against Houthi rebels, Shiites backed by Iran.The civil war has metastasized since 2015, when Saudi Arabia and its Sunni Arab allies in the Persian Gulf intervened against Houthi rebels, Shiites backed by Iran.
As the fighting, and Saudi bombing, intensified, thousands of children have starved to death, thousands more civilians have been killed in the fighting, 14 million are on the brink of famine and more than a million suffer from cholera.As the fighting, and Saudi bombing, intensified, thousands of children have starved to death, thousands more civilians have been killed in the fighting, 14 million are on the brink of famine and more than a million suffer from cholera.
Under Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been implicated in Mr. Khashoggi’s brutal murder, the coalition has imposed periodic blockades that are intended to penalize the Houthis but end up harming civilians most of all. Under Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been implicated in Mr. Khashoggi’s brutal murder, the coalition has imposed periodic blockades that are intended to penalize the Houthis, but end up harming civilians most of all.
Although the Houthis have also been accused of atrocities, the United Nations and human rights groups have mostly blamed the Saudis for the suffering.Although the Houthis have also been accused of atrocities, the United Nations and human rights groups have mostly blamed the Saudis for the suffering.
Since the Obama administration, the United States has provided the Saudis with vital operational, logistical and intelligence support, which the legislation would halt. The bill would also prohibit the resumption of midair refueling of coalition planes, which the Pentagon ended in November.Since the Obama administration, the United States has provided the Saudis with vital operational, logistical and intelligence support, which the legislation would halt. The bill would also prohibit the resumption of midair refueling of coalition planes, which the Pentagon ended in November.
Unfortunately, the measure also includes an amendment that would permit continued intelligence sharing between the United States and the coalition for targeting purposes.Unfortunately, the measure also includes an amendment that would permit continued intelligence sharing between the United States and the coalition for targeting purposes.
And the United States, Britain and France are still selling weapons and parts to Saudi Arabia. Congress should move to end those sales, as well as the provision of crucial maintenance services by American mechanics. The United States has already contributed too much to the slaughter in Yemen.And the United States, Britain and France are still selling weapons and parts to Saudi Arabia. Congress should move to end those sales, as well as the provision of crucial maintenance services by American mechanics. The United States has already contributed too much to the slaughter in Yemen.
Beyond the alarm over Yemen’s suffering, the legislative pushback is also a response to Mr. Trump’s failure to hold the crown prince, architect of the Yemen war, accountable for Mr. Khashoggi’s killing. Last week, the White House ignored a legally mandated deadline to report whether it believed the C.I.A. conclusion, that the murder was ordered by the prince, who has shown a determination to use the cruelest measures to crush his critics. He and Mr. Trump seem content to have Saudi Arabia be an international pariah.Beyond the alarm over Yemen’s suffering, the legislative pushback is also a response to Mr. Trump’s failure to hold the crown prince, architect of the Yemen war, accountable for Mr. Khashoggi’s killing. Last week, the White House ignored a legally mandated deadline to report whether it believed the C.I.A. conclusion, that the murder was ordered by the prince, who has shown a determination to use the cruelest measures to crush his critics. He and Mr. Trump seem content to have Saudi Arabia be an international pariah.
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