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#Post#: 3714--------------------------------------------------
USA supports war on Yemen
By: Firestarter Date: February 6, 2019, 9:24 am
---------------------------------------------------------
One of the biggest supporters of the “coalition” war on Yemen
that has caused more than 400,000 dead Yemenis is the USA...
The Pentagon sent US military lawyers to train the Saudis to
ensure “[I]the legality of air strikes[/i]”:
HTML http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/air-strike-yemen-kills-30-people-170823082839979.html
Erik Prince is best known for founding Blackwater (which was
renamed to Xe Services), which had a shoot first, ask questions
later when the democracy and freedom was brought to Iraq.
These days Erik Prince is making hundreds of millions of dollars
with his new company Reflex Responses (R2) by training
mercenaries for the UAE (used in the war against Yemen).
Mr. Prince made the deal worth $529 million with Sheik Mohamed
bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and de facto
ruler of the UAE:
HTML http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/world/middleeast/15prince.html
Erik Prince contributed $250,000 to the Trump campaign and was
an unofficial adviser to Trump. Prince was repeatedly seen
visiting Trump Tower during the transition period. Prince is
also close to Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon (who
now supposedly broke up with Trump for his “criticism”).
Prince is also Betsy DeVos’s brother, Trump’s Education
Secretary.
On 11 January 2017, during the transition period, Erik Prince
met secretly in the Seychelles in the middle of the Indian Ocean
with a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This
meeting was facilitated by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh
Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who in December made a secret trip
to New York to meet Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Jared
Kushner at Trump Tower:
HTML https://www.salon.com/2017/04/05/all-the-presidents-spies-blackwater-founder-erik-prince-is-the-latest-trump-cut-out-to-parlay-with-putins-men/
(archived here:
HTML http://archive.is/u8ofA)
From February 28 till the beginning of April 2017, in the early
days of the Trump presidency. the US military carried out 70
airstrikes on Yemen, according to experts double the total for
2016.
The strikes were mostly carried out by drones and targeted:
fighters, infrastructure, fighting positions and equipment.
According to Pentagon spokesman Capt Jeff Davis:
[quote]We continue to target Al-Qaeda in Yemen, and this is done
in the interest of disrupting this terror organisation that
presents a very significant threat to the United States.
(…)
Since February 28, we’ve conducted more than 70 precision
airstrikes against AQAP militants’ infrastructure, fighting
positions and equipment.[/quote]
Davis said the strikes were targeting Al-Qaeda in the Arabian
Peninsula (AQAP), the supposed most lethal branch:
HTML https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-yemen-airstrikes-monthly-double-2016-obama-a7666676.html
Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser,
picked up the phone during a meeting with Saudi officials and
called the chief executive of Lockheed Martin, Marillyn A.
Hewson, over a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia.
In the last months of his presidency, President Obama put a hold
on precision-guided munitions for the Saudis, because they were
concerned over the bad press that they would be used to bomb
civilians in Yemen. The Trump administration has freed up those
weapons for more terror...
Lockheed Martin has a long history of bribing government
officials …
According to current and former officials this doesn’t raise
legal issues:
HTML https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/18/world/middleeast/jared-kushner-saudi-arabia-arms-deal-lockheed.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=2
In February 2018, the US announced the arms sale of some $500
million to Saudi Arabia.
The principal contractors are Lockheed Martin, Bethesda, MD,
Raytheon Company, Andover and MA.
According to the Trump administration “[I]This proposed sale
will support U.S. foreign policy and national security
objectives by helping to improve the security of a friendly
country[/I]”:
HTML http://dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/saudi-arabia-continuation-missile-system-support-services
In March 2018, the US announced it approved the sale of some
$670 million in anti-tank missiles, 6,700 missiles, spare parts
for American-made tanks and helicopters to Saudi Arabia. The
deal was announced hours after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman met Pentagon leaders to discuss the ongoing genocide.
Sweden proposed a motion at the UN Security Council to end the
fighting in Yemen.
On Friday, the US and UK blocked it. Both countries sell weapons
to Saudi Arabia and the UAE that are used against Yemen.
Three US senators have called on the Pentagon to disclose its
role in the ongoing military operation on Hodeidah, which has
left millions of Yemenis at risk of starvation.
Bernie Sanders, Mike Lee and Chris Murphy called on Defense
Secretary James Mattis: [quote]We call on you to immediately
disclose the full extent of the US military role in the
Saudi-led war against Yemen’s Houthis, including the use of
special operations forces; disclose any role that the Pentagon
is currently performing, has been asked to perform, or is
considering performing regarding an attack on the port of
Hudaydah.[/quote]
HTML http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/06/16/565161/USsauid-ArabiaYemenHudaydah
See a malnourished Yemeni child on a hospital bed in Hodeidah, 3
November 2018.
[IMG]
HTML https://cdn.presstv.com/photo/20181121/7ee29d9a-6a18-4def-bc36-e6819c5c889c.jpg[/img]
#Post#: 3763--------------------------------------------------
UK supports war on Yemen
By: Firestarter Date: February 8, 2019, 11:28 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The Saudi Air Force is trained by the British Government to
assist in the atrocities in Yemen.
Defence Minister Michael Fallon, who was forced to resign on 1
November month over some sexual harassment scandal, said the
Royal Saudi Air Force was helped to “[I]improve their targeting
processes[/I]” and compliance with “[I]international law[/I]”.
Fallon wrote: [quote]As part of our ongoing defence engagement
with Saudi Arabia, the UK has provided training to the Royal
Saudi Air Force (RSAF) both in the UK and in Saudi Arabia,
including international targeting courses for RSAF personnel, to
improve their targeting processes and to support International
Humanitarian Law (IHL) compliance.[/quote]
PM Theresa May has defended selling arms to Saudi Arabia by
insisting those “[I]keep people on the streets of Britain
safe[/I]”:
HTML http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/saudi-arabia-yemen-conflict-bombing-latest-uk-training-pilots-alleged-war-crimes-a7375551.html
British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon answered questions
about Britain selling arms to Saudi Arabia that are used against
Yemen with: [quote]The government’s view is absolutely clear,
that what Saudi Arabia is entitled to do is to defend itself
from these attacks across its own border. It’s had—its cities in
the south of Saudi Arabia have been shelled by the Houthis. It’s
perfectly entitled to defend itself. And it’s also leading the
coalition to restore the legitimate government of Yemen.[/quote]
In January 2016, Saudi Arabian foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir
had a meeting with British ministers and US secretary of state,
John Kerry. After this meeting Jubeir told reporters not to
worry about violations of international humanitarian law,
because British and American military officials are in the
command and control centre for Saudi airstrikes on Yemen.
Jubeir said that Saudi Arabia’s partners are satisfied with the
protection of civilians. He used comments by British minister
Philip Hammond, who the same week told parliament that British
officers are working with the Saudi military to make sure they
don’t violate international humanitarian law.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence: British forces are in
the operation room to provide training and advice “on best
practice targeting techniques to help ensure continued
compliance with international humanitarian law”.
This really confirms that the attacks on Yemen are according to
the master plan of these psychopaths...
The Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) has started legal
proceedings against the UK Department for Business, Innovation
and Skills, which has approved export licences for the weapon
sales to Saudi Arabia, accusing it of failing to prevent
violations of international humanitarian law.
Britain has sold some £5.6bn in arms exports over the last 5
years:
HTML https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/15/british-us-military-in-command-room-saudi-strikes-yemen
When the UK secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox
was having doubts about authorising export licences for arms to
Saudi Arabia. On 8 November 2016, UK foreign secretary Boris
Johnson (who was in the infamous Bullingdon club with Nat
Rothschild and David Cameron) sent Fox a letter: [quote]I am
aware you have deferred a decision on four export licence
applications to supply the Royal Saudi Air Force with equipment
which could be used in the conflict in Yemen (...) The issue is
extremely finely balanced, but I judge at present the Saudis
appear committed both to improving processes and to taking
action to address failures/individual incidents (...) the clear
risk threshold for refusal … has not yet been reached.[/quote]
After this letter Fox swiftly approved the arms sales to Saudi
Arabia:
HTML https://www.rt.com/uk/376974-boris-johnson-saudi-weapons/
The following picture shows that Saudi troops are given
instructions by a British Army trainer, with the light blue map,
as he explains a possible attacking strategy.
[IMG]
HTML http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/25/22/46B1407100000578-0-image-m-12_1511648824840.jpg[/img]
Every hour, 27 children are diagnosed as acutely malnourished:
that’s 600 more starving children every single day.
[B]UNICEF predicts that 150,000 children could die by the end of
2017. An estimated one million children are facing starvation as
a result of the war against Yemen.[/B]
Fuel shortages mean at least 7 cities have no clean water and
sanitation.
In November 2018, some pictures were posted on Facebook that
were swiftly removed…
As part of Operation Crossways up to 50 UK military personnel
have been teaching Saudi soldiers to improve their mass
murdering skills:
HTML http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5117571/Britains-secret-role-Saudi-Arabias-dirty-war.html
(archived here:
HTML http://archive.is/ENNSZ)
Hundreds of millions worth of pounds British missiles and bombs
have been “secretly” sold to Saudi Arabia to use against Yemen
under the system of Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs). In
2015, coincidentally when the full-blown war against Yemen
started, OIELs were greatly encouraged.
OIELs allow an unlimited number of sales over a fixed period,
typically between 3 and 5 years without the obligation to
publish the total value of the licence after it expires. OIELs
are used to mask the true extent of British arms exports to the
Saudis (and the UAE?).
The UK government insists that it operates one of the most
robust arms export control regimes in the world with all export
licence applications assessed on a case-by-case basis against
the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.
It is estimated that for the last 5 years, Britain has
“secretly” sold some 100 British-made Storm Shadow missiles
worth £80 million, 2,400 Paveway IV bombs worth £150 million,
and 1,000 Brimstone missiles worth £100 million to Saudi Arabia.
Andrew Smith of the Campaign Against Arms Trade explained:
[quote]Open licences remove the need for the seller to obtain
prior approval for each export. It’s an opaque system which has
been used to shift extremely sensitive weaponry to the Saudi
regime.
By the government’s own admission it is trying to encourage more
companies to use this type of licence.
If permission is not needed before a specific export of missiles
or bombs takes place, then how can it claim to operate a
case-by-case system?[/quote]
HTML https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/23/uk-hides-arms-trade-saudi-arabia--yemen
(archived here:
HTML http://archive.is/Xbizp)
Military sales from the UK to Saudi Arabia increased by two
thirds in 2017 compared to 2016 - an increase of more than £450
million.
In 2016, Britain, issued 103 licences for military exports to
Saudi Arabia, worth £679 million.
In 2017, Britain, issued 126 licences for military exports to
Saudi Arabia, worth £1.129 billion.
The real figure is probably much higher as the number of
"secretive" open licences more than doubled in 12 months, from
21 to 44 in 2017.
Open licences, OIELs, allow an unlimited number of items to be
exported for 5 years, making it impossible to know how much arms
are sent to Saudi Arabia.
The number of open licences for weapons to Saudi Arabia has
increased significantly since Queen Elizabeth selected Theresa
May for Prime Minister.
Andrew Smith, commented: [quote]Thousands of people have been
killed and vital infrastructure has been destroyed all across
Yemen. But that hasn't stopped the arms sales.
These figures reveal that as the situation has got worse the
arms sales have increased.[/quote]
Also see the (first) video at the link:
HTML https://news.sky.com/story/uk-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-rose-by-two-thirds-in-2017-11528624
According to the UK government they cannot control, or even
know, how the recipients of UK weapons (including Saudi Arabia)
will use them. They only assess the risk of their misuse prior
to authorising or denying the sale.
On 10 July 2017, the UK High Court ruled that the UK’s supplies
of military aircraft, munitions and other military equipment
used by Saudi Arabia during the genocide of Yemen were lawful
under UK export control law, despite that law’s prohibition
“[I]if there is a clear risk that the items might be used in the
commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian
law[/I]”.
Thanks to the terrorist UN supporting the genocide…
According to Minister for the Armed Forces, Mike Penning, on 15
September 2016: [quote]There are around 100 military personnel
based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including at the Defence
section within the British Embassy Riyadh; providing mentoring
and advice to the Saudi Arabian National Guard, as part of the
British Military Mission to the Saudi Arabian National Guard;
personnel working on the Saudi Arabia National Guard
Communications Project… and personnel working on the Ministry of
Defence Saudi armed forces Projects, supporting the United
Kingdom’s commitment to the defence of Saudi Arabia through the
supply of modern military aircraft, naval vessels, weapons and
associated support services to the Saudi armed forces.[/quote]
I wouldn’t dare to call those “[I]100 military personnel[/I]” an
explicit lie, but akin to “bending” the truth…
There are around 7000 “civil” employees (both UK nationals and
non-UK nationals) working for UK contractors in Saudi Arabia to
train, install, maintain and help operate UK-supplied aircraft
and other military equipment, including the Tornado IDS
fighter-bombers and Typhoon fighters – almost 50% of combat
aircraft force of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF).
Many of the UK “civilians” assisting the RSAF in genocide are
former UK Royal Air Force, UK Army, Royal Australian Air Force
and other ex-military personnel, doing essentially the same in
Saudi Arabia as they did in military service.
One employee described his work for the RSAF: [quote]Our
contracts said we were trainers, we weren’t supposed to be
necessarily operational. But we became operational. When they
started bombing Yemen, a big question came up because we were
still doing a lot of the work, when all of a sudden someone must
have asked questions and went to both governments… and we were
pulled back, not to do any of the physical [work], we could
assist but we weren’t to do any of the physical work because we
weren’t really supposed to be involved in that conflict
(…)
The theory was we weren’t supposed to do the job, the way it was
sort of structured… it was easier to get us to do the job… so we
ended up doing a lot of roles that we weren’t necessarily
contracted to do…
[Interviewer: “And what was the work?”]
Well, putting weapons on aircraft, and getting aircraft prepped
to go and bomb Yemen.[/quote]
So when UK ministers tell the deaf, dumb and blind Parliament
that “[I]UK personnel[/I]” are “[I]not involved in carrying out
strikes or selecting targets [in Yemen] and are not involved in
the Saudi targeting process[/I]”; this isn’t an explicit lie,
but another case of “bending” the truth…
There are actually “secret” government-to-government agreements
that show that the UK-Saudi agreement includes a blanket
commitment for UK personnel to remain available in Saudi Arabia
for “arming and support” of UK-supplied weapons, not depending
on the conflict’s lawfulness. Under these agreements, the
‘hardware’ is part of the deal. Much of what is supplied is:
in-person services.
Between 1986 and 1989, the UK supplied 500 BL-755 cluster bombs
to Saudi Arabia. In December 2016, after repeated UK and Saudi
government denials, both governments finally admitted that RSAF
had dropped these cluster bombs in the current genocide of
Yemen.
Some UK employees have claimed that they protested against
financial corruption within their programme.
Shortly after an employee raised these concerns with the UK MOD,
the (expatriate) CEO of the UK contractor which employed them,
threatened the employee with arrest and imprisonment by the
Saudi police on grounds of theft of the evidence of this
corruption.
More examples of “bending” the truth, by crooked UK
politricksters...
Minister of State, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, on 15 November 2017:
[quote]The UK is not directly involved with the Saudi-led
coalition.[/quote]
Minister of State for Defence Procurement, Philip Dunne, on 24
May 2016: [quote]I can categorically reassure the honourable
Lady and this House that no British planes have been involved in
this coalition effort at all, let alone in dropping cluster
munitions — that is the potential allegation.
(…)
There is no British involvement in the coalition in targeting or
weaponising aircraft to undertake missions.[/quote]
More in the report “[I]UK Personnel Supporting the Saudi Armed
Forces – Risk, Knowledge and Accountability[/I]” (217):
HTML http://www.mikelewisresearch.com/RSAFfinal.pdf
Since the UK-led “coalition” bombardment of Yemen began in 2015,
Britain has licensed £4.7 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia.
Some are manufactured at Raytheon’s Glenrothes plant. This
includes the Paveway IV missile.
MP Stephen Gethins stated that if the UK claims to be a partner
for peace, then it must end fuelling the conflict with billions
of pounds worth of arms: [quote]The UK is not a mere bystander
in that war, it is an active player. Despite the mounting
evidence of breaches in international law, the UK government is
still content on looking the other way, whilst simultaneously
supplying arms and military advice to the Saudi
government.[/quote]
HTML http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16412459.david-pratt-how-bombs-made-in-scotland-are-helping-to-fuel-death-toll-in-yemen/
#Post#: 3794--------------------------------------------------
UN supports Yemen genocide
By: Firestarter Date: February 10, 2019, 9:39 am
---------------------------------------------------------
While Yemen is being starved to death, the UK, USA, Netherlands,
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (who
all support this clear example of genocide) have/had nice seats
on the highly respected UN Human Rights council (OHCHR):
HTML http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/CurrentMembers.aspx
According to UN officials, who can’t count, “more than 10,000
people” have been killed in the war against Yemen.
In august 2018, UNICEF reported that as many as 66,000 Yemeni
children under the age of 5 die every year from “preventable
diseases”.
UNICEF’s Meritxell Relano tweeted that half of these children
die in the first month of life, while others die from
preventable diseases like diarrhoea, pneumonia and malnutrition:
HTML https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180816-unicef-66000-yemen-children-die-annually-from-preventable-diseases/
See a Yemeni child treated in hospital for malnutrition, 19
September 2018.
HTML [IMG]http://217.218.67.233//photo/20180922/2f05052a-decd-4db4-9b24-ab7d1e7e82ca.jpg[/img]
Stories that Yemen could become the world’s worst humanitarian
disaster in the world, have been published for more than 3 years
now by the same UN that supports this genocide...
In February 2018, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Mark Lowcock said: [quote]The
situation in Yemen – today, right now, to the population of the
country – looks like the apocalypse.
Unless the situation changes, we’re going to have the world’s
worst humanitarian disaster for 50 years[/quote]
HTML http://web.archive.org/web/20180302082722/http://www.yemenpress.org:80/yemen/yemen-could-be-worst-humanitarian-crisis-in-50-years.html
In February 2018, United Nations humanitarian coordinator for
Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, announced his resignation, 2 days after
the UN envoy for the country said he would step down:
[quote]This is my last day here in Sana’a.
I leave Yemen with a great deal of mixed emotion... sadness
because of the suffering that is taking place, frustration
because we haven't been able to do more for the people in this
country.
And at the same time, more and more people have become
vulnerable because of this crisis.[/quote]
Martin Griffiths, who’s from Britain, became the new UN envoy to
Yemen.
Griffiths is the executive director of the Brussels-based
European Institute of Peace (EIP) – you have to understand
“peace” in an Orwellian way to understand what kind of “peace”
Griffiths works for.
He has earlier supported genocidal campaigns for the UN in
Syria, Afghanistan and Libya, making sure that there came no
peace or improvement of life for the population:
HTML https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/who-martin-griffiths-yemens-new-un-envoy-1120969214
The UN has written that Yemen must achieve a “transition”:
[quote]In 2013, Yemen enters into the most critical phase of the
Transition, marked by a series of overlapped processes to be
achieved in just 12 months:



justice,

rights,

and

sector.[/quote]
The UN describes the problems for Yemen as follows:
[quote]This complex transition, aiming at establishing a new
balance of power in Yemen, will take place in a context
seriously affected by:
- insecurity, as a result of continued military clashes amongst
the national army, Al Qaeda-affiliated groups and armed tribes
in many areas of the country;
- severe humanitarian crisis, particularly in the South,
aggravated by a massive movement of population from the Horn of
Africa; and finally
- an increasing social demand for “peace dividends”[/quote]
“Peace dividends” is the demand for a decrease in military
spending and increase in money for social programs:
HTML http://www.ye.undp.org/content/yemen/en/home/countryinfo/
No information at all about the massive famine caused by the
blockade and bombing by the coalition led by the UK/US.
I have archived this page of the UN here:
HTML http://archive.is/mfZbX
In October 2018, the Guardian reported on a “leaked” document,
called Visibility Plan, which shows that Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates demanded that in return for their
“humanitarian aid” to Yemen, UN aid agency Ocha was forced to
get positive stories published in “reputable” news outlets.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE reportedly provided nearly one third of
the total UN “humanitarian” budget for Yemen - for vaccines and
psychiatric treatment amongst others.
Saudi Arabia donated $930 million – NOT to Yemen, but to the UN
that supports this genocide.
So far the UN has condemned the Houthis in a resolution, but
never the “coalition”...
The document sets out 48 specific steps UN agencies have agreed
upon to publicise Saudi activity covering 5 different “aid“
agencies, including Unicef, the UN Development Programme, Ocha,
and the World Health Organization.
The agreement includes: [quote]We consider it very important to
ensure that our dear fellow Yemenis are all aware of our
donations. More emphasis should be placed on strengthening the
local visibility plan by engaging local media … so that donors
get deserved recognition and not to be overshadowed by the
recipient’s agencies’ visibility.
(...)
One would expect from Ocha or [a] recipient agency to publish
articles in recognised daily newspapers such as the New York
Times or the [B]Guardian[/B], highlighting our
contribution.[/quote]
HTML https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/oct/30/saudis-demanded-good-publicity-over-yemen-aid-leaked-un-document-shows?CMP=share_btn_tw
In February 2017, the UN launched a campaign to vaccinate 5
million starving Yemeni children with polio, with the help of
the World Bank, UNICEF and WHO.
According to Ms. MeritxellRelaño of UNICEF: [quote]Every minute,
the situation of Yemen’s children gets worse. It is unacceptable
that children in Yemen are dying of preventable diseases. This
is why, together with partners, we are sparing no effort to save
more lives[/quote] Ms. Sandra Bloemenkamp of the World Bank
stated: [quote]The World Bank is committed to investing in
children’s health, which is a vital investment in the country’s
future, through working with our UN partners in Yemen and
strengthening the local health institutions.[/quote]
They have even been so considerate to deliver fuel, generators
and solar-powered refrigerators to keep vaccines at a constant
cool temperature:
HTML http://ye.one.un.org/content/unct/yemen/en/home/news-centre/news/nationwide-immunization-campaign-protects-5-million-children-against-polio-war-torn.html
According to the UN “Vaccination is one of the safest and most
cost effective health interventions to protect children from
potentially fatal and debilitating diseases”.
I guess the UN honestly doesn’t “understand” that food, clean
water and fuel are more needed in starving Yemen than vaccines…
The international world powers in their greatest philanthropic
disguise, in June 2017 provided Yemen with one million doses of
an oral cholera vaccine for urgent use.
Do I understand correctly that because of these magical
“vaccines”, Yemenis don’t need food and clean water anymore?!?
There is at least one death every hour caused by severe
dehydration and diarrhoea.
International health officials say the emergency vaccinations
are necessary to contain the cholera epidemic in Yemen. The
vaccine can only be administered to those who don’t have cholera
yet.
According to the WHO, there is already a network in place to
distribute the vaccines immediately in priority areas to
everyone above the age of one:
HTML https://www.irinnews.org/news/2017/06/20/exclusive-largest-ever-stock-cholera-vaccine-headed-yemen
#Post#: 3850--------------------------------------------------
Netherlands supports war on Yemen
By: Firestarter Date: February 12, 2019, 11:13 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Naturally my home country the Kingdom of Netherlands, world top
10 arms dealer, is also involved in this clear example of
genocide.
There is information (from a report from 2015) that arms are
sold from or shipped through the Netherlands to countries
involved in the war against Yemen.
The Netherlands is involved in (lots of) exports to the United
Arab Emirates (UAE).
Components and grenades in 2006, 2013, 2014.
Components of radar- and radar fire control systems in 2004,
2005, 2006, 2007, 2014.
Components of rocket launchers in 2009.
Ammunition in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014.
Components for guided projectiles in 2012.
Parts and components for F-16 fighter jets in 2014.
Armoured cars in 2014.
Naval equipment for Sea Sparrow Canister in 2014.
To Saudi Arabia.
Components of F-15 fighter jet engines in 2007.
Components of military communication systems in 2007.
Communication systems in 2008, 2009.
Communication systems for tanks in 2009 (more orders expected).
Portable surveillance radars in 2009.
Components of armoured vehicles in 2010.
Components for Typhoon and F-15 fighter jets in 2013.
Armoured Lexus LX570 in 2014.
To make it more easy for the arms dealers in most cases the
Netherlands doesn’t require transit license requirements; if
they originate or have as destination Australia, Japan, New
Zealand, Switzerland or any Member State of the European Union
or NATO:
HTML http://www.oxfamnovib.nl/Redactie/Pdf/Yemen%20Needs%20Peace%20Not%20Arms%20november%202015.pdf
The Netherlands also reported that they’re more restrictive in
selling arms to Saudi Arabia...
The Netherlands wouldn’t lie, of course, but we are masters at
“bending” the truth!
From 1950 to 2017, the Netherlands (like Israel) is in the top
10 of biggest arms exporters in the world. In 2016, the
Netherlands exported 1.4 billion Euros in weapons.
[IMG]
HTML https://archive.is/mIKjq/5831e1f7ad4292bc36de87a8cb770b45f4e8901b.jpg[/img]
In 2015, the Netherlands sold 72 million Euros worth of weapons
to the UAE (“only” 3.5 million in 2016).
In 2015, the Netherlands sold 9.6 million worth of weapons and
in 2016 9.2 million to Jordan.
(in Dutch):
HTML http://www.stopwapenhandel.org/sites/stopwapenhandel.org/files/analyse2017opmaak_0.pdf
The first trick used by the Netherlands to hide their support
for genocide is by labelling military products as non-military.
The Netherlands for example produces and sells SOTAS
communication systems for Abraham tanks to Saudi Arabia that are
used in the war against Yemen.
The Saudi's lost over 20 Abram tanks during the war in Yemen. In
2016, Saudi Arabia bought 133 new Abram tanks.
In February 2017, the Pentagon issued a contract for
modification of systems and technical support for the Abram
tanks of Australia, UAE and Saudi Arabia. To be completed in
February 2018.
General Dynamics was the main contract partner. Which companies
in Germany and the Netherlands are involved is not mentioned.
A Thales employee, that previously (also) delivered internal
SOTAS communication systems for Saudi tanks, admitted that the
company still sold these “baby phones” in the summer of 2017.
These communication systems are labelled as non-military...
The Dutch state has a 1% stake in Thales:
HTML http://www.stopwapenhandel.org/node/2109
(archived here:
HTML http://archive.is/0i2Ti)
The second trick used by the Netherlands is by mainly producing
intermediate products (instead of end products) that are
assembled elsewhere into weapons.
According to the Dutch government, intermediate products make up
80% of the total “new” weapons sales from the Netherlands.
Because these weapons are further assembled elsewhere, the
Netherlands can’t be expected to keep track on where they end
up...
The Netherlands also sells huge quantities of second hand
weapons systems (that are “obsolete”).
The Netherlands also produces parts for the Apache helicopter
and Reaper-drone. These are sold from the US, so the Netherlands
takes profit but can’t be blamed...
The biggest buyer for the Reaper-drones is the US Department of
Defense, who use them in the war against Yemen (in Dutch):
HTML https://decorrespondent.nl/7894/hoe-nederlandse-wapens-worden-gebruikt-voor-mensenrechtenschendingen/183102514100-ce75497c
#Post#: 3899--------------------------------------------------
Re: Yemen – the ignored genocide
By: Firestarter Date: February 14, 2019, 10:29 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Last month, Morocco said it stopped taking part in military
interventions in the war on Yemen, and recalled its ambassador
to the kingdom amid rising tensions between Riyadh and Rabat.
In 2018, Morocco had already pledged to pull its reported 6
planes and 1,500 troops out of the
War.
Before Morocco, Malaysia had already withdrawn its forces from
the coalition amid international “outrage” over the heavy
civilian toll.
After Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita talked about
having serious reservations about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman, Saudi channel Al-Arabiya aired a documentary
supporting claims that Morocco invaded the disputed Western
Sahara after Spanish colonizers left in 1975.
Tension between Riyadh and Rabat were growing since June 2018
when Saudi Arabia ruined Morocco´s bid to host the 2026 World
Cup and instead backed an opposite bid by the US, Canada and
Mexico:
HTML https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/02/08/587996/Morocco-leave-saudi-coalition-Yemen-tension
Hardly in the news today.
Yesterday, the House passed a bill in a 248-177 vote to stop the
US support for the genocide in Yemen within 30 days (after it
passes). The House will now send the war powers resolution to
the Senate. If it also passes the Senate, it is expected that
Trump will use the first veto of his presidency to block it
(like he has repeatedly promised)...
The bill, was introduced by Democrat Ro Khanna, who argued:
[quote]The only patriotic thing, if you care about our troops,
if you care about American interests, if you care about the
outrage that the Saudis are inflicting on Americans and on the
world, then the only patriotic thing to do is to vote for this
resolution.[/quote]
The White House called the resolution “flawed” because US forces
are not directly involved in hostilities in Yemen and warned the
bill would “harm bilateral relationships”.
The White House bizarrely claimed: [quote]Our continued
cooperation with regional partner nations allows the United
States to support diplomatic negotiations to end the conflict,
promote humanitarian access, mitigate civilian casualties,
enhance efforts to recover United States hostages in Yemen and
defeat terrorists who seek to harm the United States.[/quote]
HTML https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-02-13/defiance-trump-house-votes-end-us-military-support-saudi-war-yemen
In December, the Senate passed a similar resolution 56-41 that
was then blocked by House Republicans who prevented it from
reaching the floor of the House. That was the first time the
Senate had ever used their congressional authority under the War
Powers Act of 1973.
At least 5 of the 37 Republican senators that voted against the
resolution - Tim Scott, John Boozman, Roy Blunt, Richard Burr
and Mike Crapo - got some of that sweet Saudi money in 2016 and
2017 (nothing on the UAE!).
It is estimated that Saudi Arabia spent around $27 million on
lobbying in 2017:
HTML https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/11/30/581542/US-republican-senators-Saudi-lobbying-groups-Center-for-International-Policy
In the following video from July 2018, Heather Nauert blames the
Houthis for attacking Saudi Arabia...
She claims that the US provides massive amounts of “humanitarian
aid” to the suffering Yemenis (while selling hundreds of
billions of weapons...).
Heather tells that the US government thinks it is a good idea
that Saudi Arabia "investigates" their own massacres in Yemen.
The video stops after she blames Hamas for what’s happening in
Gaza:
HTML https://youtu.be/WlhhEUdnppY
In 2016 and 2017, the Pentagon, despite repeated denials, was
involved in providing intelligence and training to the coalition
for combat in Yemen, including to United Arab Emirates troops.
This was exposed by documents obtained through the Freedom of
Information Act.
The Pentagon had also conducted air-to-air refuelling for
coalition aircraft, but in November claimed it would stop:
HTML https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/documents-reveal-us-trained-uae-forces-combat-yemen-report-476084018
In January, the Trump administration approved another $195
million in upgrades to Saudi Arabia’s missile defense system.
A fellow of the Brookings Institution claimed, when he was still
working for the Center for Strategic and International Studies,
that since March 2015 there have been 133 Houthi missiles
intercepted from Yemen:
HTML https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/01/saudia-arabia-us-missile-defense-boost-khashoggi.html
In September 2018, US Special Envoy Brian Hook talked at the
think tank Hudson Institute, where he took aim at the 2015 Iran
nuclear deal while praising sanctions against Tehran.
He also accused Iran for what it’s doing in Yemen!
After he had finished his speech, CODEPINK co-founder Medea
Benjamin stormed the stage; she was dragged out of the room by 3
security guards.
[quote]That is the most ridiculous thing I have seen. The world
community wants to keep the Iran nuclear deal.
Let’s talk about normal countries. Let’s talk about Saudi
Arabia. Is that who our allies are? They are the biggest threat
to the world community.
And how dare you bring up the issue of Yemen? It’s the Saudi
bombing that is killing most people in Yemen.
They’re [the sanctions] hurting the Iranian people. You are
making a case for war with Iran. How did the war with Iraq turn
out? You’re doing exactly the same thing we did in the case of
Iraq. We don’t want another war in the Middle East.
So let’s get real. No more war! Peace with Iran![/quote]
Hook wasn’t able to respond to any of the shouted accusations by
Benjamin, but after she had been dragged out of the room he was
able to make a joke: [I]I think she had her coffee this
morning[/I]”.
Starting at the 1:00 mark, Medea Benjamin enters the scene.
HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_75QSE_Nuw
In 2015, the Houthis captured the American Scott Darden, who
supposedly worked for the Non-Governmental Organization
Transoceanic Developments as Yemen’s country director.
Darden had previously worked for UNICEF and the Red Cross, he
used being an “aid worker” as a cover for working for the US
military.
Darden was in fact setting up US sleeper cells: safe houses and
supply networks for US commando units (to bring peace and
democracy of course!):
HTML http://geopoliticsalert.com/american-spy-arrested-houthis-worked-undercover-via-ngo-agencies
Most people have never heard of what is going on in Yemen, but
even the people that have been paying attention probably don’t
know what happened in Yemen before March 2015.
In 2009, Strategic Communication Laboratories (SCL), the parent
company of Cambridge Analytica, carried out an operation in
Yemen - Project Titania for US-based military contractor
Archimedes.
In Yemen, SCL’s goal was to reduce what they called “non-desired
behaviors” (NDB) by “communication campaigns”.
They first gathered information, for example from social media,
NGOs, censuses, and other sources before they conducted their
own interviews with Yemenis. They told the interviewed Yemenis
that their responses would be used “for seemingly benign
purposes like “[I]a university research programme or a market
research programme[/I]”.
SCL’s report didn’t see the Houthis as a major factor in Yemen:
HTML https://www.mintpressnews.com/cambridge-analyticas-yemen-psyop/245280/
(archived here:
HTML http://archive.is/HpLvS)
For more information on SCL, Cambridge Analytica:
HTML https://www.lawfulpath.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1398
#Post#: 3944--------------------------------------------------
United Arab Emirates
By: Firestarter Date: February 16, 2019, 11:04 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Many stories claim that it´s Saudi Arabia that leads the
coalition, but Saudi Arabia couldn´t continue the genocide
without the help of the UN.
It could even be that the UAE have more to say in what happens
that the Saudis...
AP found 18 secret prisons in Yemen, controlled by the UAE,
where hundreds of Yemeni men are locked up without charges or
trials.
[IMG]
HTML https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57cf18ae6b8f5ba693497e1a/594d484417bffccf8cf175b9/594d4844bebafba3a9ec18d3/1498237553665/800-1.jpg?format=500w[/img]
Detainees held in 5 UAE-controlled prisons, 4 of which in the
Yemeni port city of Aden, have been tortured in “[I]Abu
Ghraib-like[/I]” prisons, including practices like: beating
until bleeding; electrocuting genitals; hanging rocks from
testicles; and anal rape with poles. Sometimes the shocking acts
were filmed (to blackmail the victims...).
On March 10, at Beir Ahmed prison in the southern city of Aden,
15 officers from the UAE arrived. They lined up the detainees
and ordered them to undress and lie down. The officers then
“searched” the anal cavity of each prisoner.
A drawing of a victim; the Arabic reads: “[I]with water after
beating[/I]”.
[IMG]
HTML https://storage.googleapis.com/afs-prod/media/media:330353dbeb104f06829399ce89f7a24a/800.jpeg[/img]
The UAE has denied running prisons or secret detention centres
in Yemen.
Yemen’s interior minister has said he doesn’t have authority
over prisons and must ask the UAE for permission to enter Aden.
Americans and Colombians have been spotted at “secret” prisons,
including the one at Buriqa base. US officials have acknowledged
that they receive intelligence from the UAE and have
participated in interrogations in Yemen. The prisoners haven’t
accused Americans of being directly involved in torture.
Despite widespread accounts of torture, even by the UN, a
Pentagon spokesperson said the US has seen no “evidence” of
torture committed by US ally the UAE.
On May 24, the House of Representatives voted that Defense
Secretary Jim Mattis must inform them if US military or
intelligence personnel violated the law in interrogations of
detainees in Yemen:
HTML https://apnews.com/7994b4508e9c4a5eaf8a1cca9f20322f
(archived here:
HTML http://archive.is/1rwjY)
While AP previously reported on 18 detention sites run by the
UAE in southern Yemen, the media “forgot” to report on other UAE
prison sites located in the west-coast districts of Al Makkah,
Khwakha and Bab Al Mandeb, which are also controlled by the
UAE-Saudi coalition.
Instead of the reported hundreds of Yemeni civilians held
without trial and tortured at UAE-run prisons, there are more
than 2,500 men who disappeared in these secret prisons.
Some men died as the result of being tortured.
One victim described what he had been through: [quote]They were
hanging me for a long time and electrocuted me, I was screaming
from beatings so intense that I could feel our cell shake, then
I went unconscious.
In one of the torture sessions, four brothers [Sa’id, Abdul,
Hakim and Ahmed] from the Manser family in Aden, had been hanged
in front of us.
The prisoners screamed and wept. Those who were kidnapped were
threatened by barking dogs and beaten until they bled.[/quote]
HTML https://www.mintpressnews.com/a-story-of-capture-detention-and-torture-in-a-secret-uae-prison-in-yemen/246140/
(archived here:
HTML http://archive.is/RrNf2)
In July 2018, Amnesty International reported on the “dozens” of
families in southern Yemen whose loved ones have been tortured,
killed, and/or disappeared by Yemeni security forces reporting
to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Many people still don’t know
where their friends and family are.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman pardoned “[I]all military men, who
have taken part in the Operation Restoring Hope of their
respective military and disciplinary penalties, in regard of
some rules and disciplines[/I]”. Maybe this had something to do
with the Amnesty report.
Close to 500 Yemenis have found a refuge nearly 5000 miles from
Yemen on South Korea’s Jeju Island:
HTML https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/24/god-only-knows-tortured-killed-or-forcibly-disappeared-people-yemen
The following story shows that Saudi Arabia and the UAE decide
what happens in “South” Yemen.
Saudi and Emirati envoys negotiated to end the battle of Aden.
Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE support Hadi, who lives in exile
in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), but it’s not clear if they support PM
Bin Dagher and other ministers.
Major General Mohammed Bin Saeed Al Mughaidi of Saudi Arabia
told reporters: [quote]The situation in Aden is stable and all
parties have complied completely with the communique issued by
the Arab coalition.
The kingdom and the United Arab Emirate have a common goal and
the same vision and have no ambitions.[/quote]
UAE Major General Mohammed Matar Al Khyeli added: [quote]Saudi
Arabia and the UAE stand together with the Yemeni people and are
leading reconciliation efforts between the Yemeni
parties.[/quote]
HTML http://www.jordantimes.com/news/region/saudi-arabia-uae-envoys-bid-end-standoff-yemen%E2%80%99s-aden
The Emirati news site Al-Khaleej Online has published that many
of the mercenaries murdering for the UAE were trained in Israel
by Israeli soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). These
mercenaries are now leading the renewed assault on the Yemeni
port of Hodeidah, which began last Tuesday.
Are these by chance Erik Prince, Reflex Responses (R2)
mercenaries?!?
It’s no secret that when the assault on Yemen first began, in
March 2015, the coalition was using Israeli-made weapons.
Al-Khaleej Online has previously reported that Israel has
continue to covertly sell weapons and ammunition to the Saudis,
including internationally prohibited weapons. These arms have
been used in the coalition’s brutal bombing campaign in Yemen.
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated to
consider sending Israeli troops to Yemen to fight for the
Britain-led coalition if the Houthis would gain control over the
strategic Bab al-Mandab strait, through which Saudi oil is
exported.
The US directly helps the coalition in choosing strike targets;
so last month 43% of the coalition’s targets were civilian
structures:
HTML https://www.mintpressnews.com/israel-training-yemen-mercenaries/249637/
#Post#: 4010--------------------------------------------------
Re: Yemen – the ignored genocide
By: Firestarter Date: February 19, 2019, 10:01 am
---------------------------------------------------------
According to Reuters it was France that in 2015 sold the most
weapons to Saudi Arabia worth $18 billion, while the USA “only”
sold $5.9 billion and Britain $4 billion:
HTML http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-arms-idUSKCN10X1MM
German government’s coalition agreement claimed that Germany
wouldn’t sell weapons to any side fighting in Yemen’s war
anymore.
Despite this agreement the German government approved the sale
of arms to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Economy Minister Peter Altmaier approved the shipment of 4
artillery positioning systems for armoured vehicles.
The Federal Security Council, which includes Angela Merkel and
several ministers, authorised the export of 48 warheads and 91
homing heads for ship-based air “defence” systems to the UAE:
HTML https://www.infowars.com/germany-approves-saudi-arms-sale-despite-yemen-war-ban/
On 20 January 2018, Germany announced that it stopped selling
weapons to Saudi Arabia and “almost all of its allies” waging
war on Yemen.
Jordan would still receive €130 million ($158 million) worth of
military equipment.
Negotiations among the German political factions of the CDU,
CSU, and Social Democrats on the formation of a new coalition
government are still ongoing:
HTML https://ahtribune.com/world/europe/2103-germany-saudi-arms-sales.html
They could only make such a decision after the formation has
been completed...
What makes this story even less convincing, is that in April
2017 Saudi Deputy Economy Minister Mohammed al-Tuwaijri told
[I]Der Spiegel[/I] that good relations with Berlin are more
important than arms: [quote]We accept the German reticence with
regard to exports to Saudi Arabia; we know the political
background.
We will not cause any more problems for the German government
with new requests for weapons[/quote]
HTML http://www.dw.com/en/saudi-arabia-wants-no-more-german-weapons-report/a-38647662
(archived here:
HTML http://archive.is/5OMVW)
In the third quarter of 2017, German government approved nearly
€150 million weapons export to Saudi Arabia.
Egypt, which also actively participates in the war against
Yemen, received nearly €300 million worth of weapons in that
period.
The 2 countries imported €45 million and €41 million
respectively in the third quarter of 2016.
German arms exports to Saudi Arabia surged in 2012, and have
remained high in the following years:
HTML http://www.dw.com/en/germany-quintuples-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-and-egypt/a-41370500
[IMG]
HTML http://www.dw.com/image/41376375_401.png[/img]
In September 2018, the Spanish Ministry of Defence announced
that it will return the 9.2 million Euros already paid by Saudi
Arabia for 400 precision bombs.
There are some concerns that Spain will be accused of supporting
the genocide of Yemenis.
The Spanish Royal family has a good relationship with the ruling
family in Saudi Arabia and Spain is the fourth largest arms
exporter to Saudi Arabia.
In July, Spanish state-owned shipbuilder Navantia signed a 1.8
billion Euro deal to sell 5 warships to Saudi Arabia. [I]Isn’t
it strange that Spain has returned a mere 9.2 million while
keeping the 1.8 billion Euros...[/I]
Earlier this year, a spokesman for Germany announced that Berlin
has decided to stop exporting weapons to countries involved in
the aggression on Yemen.
[I]This contradicts the fact that in the first quarter of 2018,
Germany tripled its arms exports to Saudi Arabia to a whopping
162 million Euro....[/I]
A Belgian court suspended 4 arms licenses for Saudi Arabia
because of concerns about Yemen. Norway has also suspended some
arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Sweden has also reported that they’ve adopted a more restrictive
approach on arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
The United States, the United Kingdom and France remain the
major arms suppliers to Saudi Arabia:
HTML https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2605&cat_id=2
Saudi Arabia has used US-supplied white phosphorous munitions in
Yemen, probably against civilians:
HTML https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/09/19/saudi-arabia-appears-to-be-using-u-s-supplied-white-phosphorus-in-its-war-in-yemen/?utm_term=.399db4973beb
Shortly after Trump was inaugurated as president, US drone
strikes killed 3 alleged Al-Qaida operatives in Yemen. Mwatana,
one of Yemen’s human rights groups, released a documentary on
civilian victims of drone strikes. It cited hundreds of killed
innocents by US strikes since 2002:
HTML https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/22/us-drone-strikes-al-qaida-yemen-trump?CMP=twt_gu
At least eight million Yemenis are on the verge of famine.
The UK (also) sells weapons to the UAE and Saudi Arabia and
provides logistical support for the brutal aggression against
Yemen. Britain could also stop the death of hundreds of
thousands (or millions?), but will continue to supply and aide
in the war against Yemen.
Bizarrely the government of Britain has released statements to
declare its “innocence”. Britain claims to have “discouraged”
the UAE to attack Hodeidah.
Foreign office minister Alistair Burt told the House of Commons:
[quote]We will continue to discourage any attack on Hodeidah
port and will continue to use our influence to do so.
It could still be that a negotiated solution is found.[/quote]
The Department for International Development (Dfid) released a
statement: [quote]We are doing everything we can through
diplomatic channels to discourage an assault on Hodeidah.
However despite these actions, a military assault now looks
imminent.[/quote]
HTML https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/11/britain-urges-uae-not-press-ahead-attack-yemens-lifeline-port/
#Post#: 4071--------------------------------------------------
Motives
By: Firestarter Date: February 22, 2019, 10:27 am
---------------------------------------------------------
For some time now I’ve been trying to find out why the
“civilised” world has started this war against the “poorest
country” in the Middle East – Yemen.
Yemen has a strategically important position, with harbours that
could ship oil from the Middle East further east into Asia,
while it is also strategically located near Africa.
In a letter sent by the Saudi-based construction company Huta
Marine, it thanked Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Yemen for asking
the company it to present a technical and financial proposal to
build an oil port in Yemen's al-Mahra governorate (in the
southeast of Yemen).
Saudi Arabia reportedly also plans to construct a pipeline to
transport Saudi oil to the port.
The port has been under control from Saudi Arabia and the UAE
since December 2017:
HTML https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/saudi-arabia-build-oil-port-yemen-al-mahra-sources-180820082111526.html
In September 2018, it was reported that Saudi Arabia began
construction on a pipeline in the Al-Mahra province in Yemen —
which will allow transporting oil directly to the Arabian Sea
through the Rub’ al Khali Desert.
The start of the construction follows a brutal late 2017
military campaign in Al-Mahra carried out by Saudi Arabia and
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) even though there are hardly any
Houthis or other armed “rebels” in the province.
Seventeen % of petroleum imports to Yemen enter from Oman
through a border crossing in Al-Mahra, which is under Saudi and
UAE control.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE also claim that arms smuggling
operations by Ansarullah (Houthis) are carried out from Oman
into Yemen via the Al-Mahra border crossing (which is under
Saudi and UAE control...).
Saudi Arabia is also establishing Islamic extremist centres in
the Al-Mahra province with the same Salafi ideology as ISIS and
al-Qaeda (to make Yemen a better place of course).
Residents in the Al-Mahra province have protested against the
pipeline. They reject the violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and
promise to carry on protesting against the Saudi and Emirati
presence in Al-Mahra.
Saudi-led coalition forces arrested Al-Mahra’s former deputy
governor, Ali bin Salem al-Huraizy, after he called for protests
against the “coalition” claiming that the Saudi ambassador is in
control of Al-Mahra:
HTML https://www.mintpressnews.com/saudi-arabia-begins-construction-of-petrol-pipeline-through-yemen/249936/
I have some doubts about the oil and “large” gas reserves in
al-Jawf, which borders Saudi Arabia and has been protected by
them for years. In 2011, President Saleh was forced to admit its
existence publicly. The presence of gas reserves in the
Marib-Jawf gas fields northeast of Sanaa was already known
before 2011…
In August 2005, the Yemen Liquid Natural Gas (YLNG) project in
Balha project was being developed by a consortium led by
France’s Total (39.62% shareholding); US company Hunt Oil
(17.22%); South Korea’s SK Corp (9.55%), Kogas (6%), Hyundai
Corporation (5.88%); Yemen Gas Company (6.73%), and the General
Authority for Social Security & Pensions of Yemen (5%).
The needed $5 billion, was financed in part with $3 billion from
a syndicate of banks including Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ,
Citigroup, ING Group, Royal Bank of Scotland, Société Générale,
and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation:
HTML http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/projects/yemen-lng/
This looks like Yemen would take 11.73% of the profits of this
gas field - too much?!?
There are reasons to believe that Saudi Arabia is a spend force
in oil exports, and needs to plunder Yemen (and other states) to
keep up. If the people find out that they have squandered the
oil profits, the Saudi regime could be in a lot of trouble. It’s
no coincidence that the Saudis are killing people in the same
Jawf region where the oil and gas basins were first discovered
and explored by Hunt Oil, Exxon.
Since 15 November 2005, the Government of Yemen has taken action
to prevent Hunt Oil and Exxon to plunder Yemen (in Block 18).
According to Hunt this is in violation with agreements signed in
2004, so was forced to file arbitration against the Government
of Yemen:
HTML http://web.archive.org/web/20171019064842/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hunt-oil-company-and-exxonmobil-file-arbitration-in-response-to-republic-of-yemens-expropriation-of-block-18-in-yemen-55698537.html
British Gas and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have
known of the vast oil and gas deposits offshore of Yemen for
some time. A 2002 USGS report shows that there is an
immeasurable potential, while numerous explorations show vast
oil reservoirs and potential around Yemen.
A WikiLeaks cable dated 1 December 2008, from Ambassador Stephen
A. Seche, shows that the Bush administration knew that Yemen was
“PUSHING FULL STEAM AHEAD ON GAS PRODUCTION.
Looking back this seems a warning that something must be done to
stop the Yemeni government.
It isn’t surprising that the Wall Street Journal doesn’t report
about what’s going on. This is one of the many media outlets of
Rupert Murdoch, who has personal interests by his investments in
Genie Oil:
HTML http://www.globalresearch.ca/yemen-a-war-for-profit-saudi-genocide-backed-by-obama/5519856
The following shocking video shows the severely malnourished
12-year-old girl Fatima Qoba, who weighs only 10 kilograms (22
pounds).
See her legs, skin over bones. You can see the cheekbones
sticking out of her face...
HTML https://youtu.be/5wHydccKv3k
The family of 11 children and their father fled their home near
the Saudi Arabian border and are now dying under a tree. The
head of the clinic, Makiah al-Aslami, said Fatima is “[I]skin
and bones due to the hard life of her family[/I]” .
Al-Aslami expects that the devastation will become even worse.
The UN again announced that the Houthis have agreed to withdraw
from the port of Hodeidah ([B]does anybody believe this
BS?[/B]):
HTML https://www.rt.com/news/451854-yemen-starving-girl-fatima/
#Post#: 4128--------------------------------------------------
Re: Yemen – the ignored genocide
By: Firestarter Date: February 25, 2019, 8:57 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Following is an interesting interview with Hanan al-Harazi from
August 2015, who could escape Yemen because her family had
foreign passports. Nobody is issuing visas to Yemeni nationals
so this means 23 million people are trapped inside a country
that is being mercilessly and indiscriminately bombed with
complete disregard for civilian life.
Saudi Arabia wants to bomb Yemen into submission. When this
didn’t succeed they continued with this brutal, horrific, cruel,
vicious blockade on Yemen in the hope that the Yemeni people
will turn against those who are fighting the Saudi invaders.
Not many people know that the problem of not having energy
resources is enormous, because without diesel or electricity,
water cannot be pumped from underground reservoirs.
In Amran and Lahj, they have targeted food markets and livestock
markets — to starve Yemenis.
The mainstream media have ignored that internationally banned
weaponry was used in Yemen. The use of cluster bombs is well
documented, some have failed to detonate and were photographed
on the ground.
In the densely populated civilian area called Faj Attan, weapons
of mass destruction were used. Why was this exempted from
investigation?
There are areas in the South, like parts of Hadramaut, which are
under total control of Al-Qaeda. Strangely the bombs are falling
on the people that are fighting these extremists. Not a single
bomb has been dropped on the extremist strongholds. Obviously
the “coalition” is not fighting against Al-Qaeda.
That Yemenis knew that our long-time dictator “Ali” Abdullah
Saleh gave priority to the Saudi interests over that of Yemen,
led to the 2011 revolution to get rid of him.
Jamal Benomar, the former UN peace envoy to Yemen, has confirmed
that just as the warring factions, including the Houthis, were
reaching an agreement (the Peace and Partnership Initiative) -
Hadi suddenly didn’t want Ansarullah to have even marginal
representation in government (ordered by the Saudis). This was
not going to be acceptable to Ansarullah.
Hadi was placed under house arrest because he was following
Saudi instructions. Saudi Arabia was against Ansarullah’s
inclusion in Yemen’s government. Then Hadi fled to the south,
and then on 25 March 2015 the war started.
They want to split Yemen into a six-federal-state system. This
was the start of the problem. When they devised the six-state
system, they deliberately isolated one state, Azal, without
resources or access to the sea. It was blatant imprisonment and
suppression of that area.
Iran is not playing an active role. Iran’s supposed “support” is
only a propaganda ploy for the Saudis/imperialists to justify
hitting Yemen.
The Saudis put Yemeni leaders on their payroll to destroy Yemen.
It’s nearly impossible for a Yemeni to get a visa to travel,
even to the Emirates. How can a country flourish when there are
so many restrictions on its people:
HTML http://dissidentvoice.org/2015/07/yemen-a-voice-in-the-wilderness/
In November 2017, Yemeni journalist Afrah Nasser in an interview
has told about the current catastrophe in Yemen: [quote]On
Monday, the coalition shut air, land and sea routes into Yemen
after Houthi rebels fired a missile that was intercepted near
the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Saudi Arabia says its blockade is
needed to stop Iran from sending weapons to the rebels.
(…)
the decision by Saudi Arabia or the Saudi-led coalition to
impose a total blockade means a death sentence that will kill
all Yemenis.
(…)
They have one cousin or one brother or one relative who died
because of—if it’s not under the Saudi-led airstrikes or the
shelling of the Houthi and Saleh forces in Taiz and other
disputed areas, the shortage, the extreme lack of medicine and
food and healthcare have—you know, I’ve lost count of how many
relatives that I know, or friends of friends and relatives of my
friends, who died because of the implication caused by the
conflict. Myself, I lost my aunt two years ago. Just last week,
I lost also another two relatives, distant relatives. And all
were not victims of the airstrikes, but they were victims of the
blockade and the shortage in medicine and the total collapse of
healthcare.
(…)
And no question that the U.S. has its hand in what’s going on in
Yemen. They are a participant in creating, you know, the world’s
largest humanitarian crisis. They are a participant in creating
the largest famine that we will see, that the U.N. official was
talking about earlier. I think the U.S. administration has to
admit that it is giving its political backing to the Saudi-led
coalition. It has given its, you know, support with the arms
sales and the intelligence and logistic assistance to the
military operation, plus even with this total blockade. The U.S.
Navy has about 80 percent control over the ports to Yemen.
(…)
Actually, there are many participants in what’s happening in
Yemen. Absolutely, it’s Saudi Arabia and the members of the
Saudi-led coalition, and also other Western countries that are
directly involved in, you know, the military operation. So, all
these countries have responsibility to, you know, to uphold the
human well-being, before their—the political and military gains
that they are looking for.[/quote]
HTML https://www.democracynow.org/2017/11/9/yemeni_journalist_saudi_arabias_total_blockade
(archived here:
HTML http://archive.is/l9i01)
In November 2018, the coalition once again bombed a densely
populated neighbourhood in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
At least 90 people were killed, including schoolchildren. Local
hospitals received 86 injuries. As there are probably bodies
still buried in the rubble, the number of victims is expected to
rise.
The attack came hours after up to 60 air raids by the
“coalition” on Sunday night in residential districts in Sanaa,
Hodeida, and Saada.
In Saada, in northern Yemen, 5 people were killed after Saudi
aircraft bombed a house.
In Hodeidah, 2 more civilians were killed in Saudi strikes.
In Hajjah, which was bombed 10 times in 24 hours, there is no
information on the number of casualties.
According to Yemen’s state news agency, Saba, the coalition
intentionally bombs crowded places during rush hour to inflict
more casualties.
Yemen’s Brigadier-General Sharaf Ghalib Luqman — referring to
information that US Green Berets are on the ground actively
assisting the coalition — promised that Yemen’s army will target
US forces fighting against Yemen. I guess that President Donald,
Queen Elizabeth, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Emir Khalifa
bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the major shareholders in the
military industrial complex won’t lose any sleep over his
threat…
An official Yemeni source said that the actions of the US –
collaborating and supporting the aggression against Yemen,
including murdering Yemenis and destruction of its
infrastructure - are contradicting its statements - calling for
a political settlement and peace:
HTML https://www.mintpressnews.com/saudi-airstrikes-target-yemens-presidential-compound-in-busy-residential-district/241757/
US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert was cornered by
a journalist with some questions on Iran, Saudi Arabia and
Yemen…
HTML https://youtu.be/BXuviPd-ZUk
The journalist first said/asked her: “[I]On Iran, you’re
basically saying to the country, ‘Change your entire foreign
policy and we’ll talk to you, if you agree to change
everything…'[/I]”.
Heather explained: “[I]I would think that we should ask another
country to stop attacking other nations and to stop fomenting
terror[/I]”.
Then the journalist tricked her by asking: “[I]How do you square
that with the stance on Saudi Arabia and U.A.E. and Yemen?[/I]”
Heather first responded: “[I]You don’t see. I’m sorry. What do
you mean by that?[/I]”
He clarified that the US is “[I]siding with Saudi in Yemen[/I]”.
Then Heather explained that the Houthis are “terrible” and Saudi
Arabia has the right to take out those “bad actors” and “we”
support that: [quote]Um, we have concerns about what the Houthi
rebels have been doing for quite some time, that is well
documented. They have been terrible and conducted many, many
attacks against their own people of Yemen.
We’ve seen what’s happened at the port there, the Hodeidah port,
and the inability to have a good free flow of goods coming in
and Saudi Arabia certainly has the right to a… to take out some
of those bad actors.[/quote]
HTML https://thinkprogress.org/state-department-heather-nauert-wants-to-change-irans-foreign-policy-not-saudi-a68396d0c4d3/
#Post#: 4203--------------------------------------------------
Re: Yemen – the ignored genocide
By: Firestarter Date: February 28, 2019, 10:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
From March 2015 to September 2017, coalition bombs targeted 356
farms, 174 market places and 61 food storage sites.
According to emeritus professor Martha Mundy at the London
School of Economics, in the first 15 months of the “coalition”
bombing campaign of Yemen there was “[I]strong evidence that
coalition strategy has aimed to destroy food production and
distribution[/I]” in areas controlled by the Houthis and/or
former president Ali Abdullah Saleh (who’s reportedly been
killed by the Houthis).
[IMG]
HTML http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mec/files/2017/06/YemenTargetMap-768x543.png[/img]
The data show that agricultural land was the target most
frequently in every governorate (see the picture), except for
Shabwa and al Mahwait (where the road to Sanaa was the main
target). In Yemen agriculture is less than 3% of the area. This
makes it even more evident that agriculture was intentionally
destroyed:
HTML http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mec/2017/06/19/empire-of-information-the-war-on-yemen-and-its-agricultural-sector/
There are photographs of destroyed farms, factories and dead
animals in fields with munitions –preventing farmers returning
to work. Poultry and beehive farms have been destroyed:
HTML http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-s-bombing-of-yemeni-farmland-is-a-disgraceful-breach-of-the-geneva-conventions-a7376576.html
On 23 April 2018, villagers of Al-Raqah, in northern Yemen, came
together for a wedding celebration. With music playing, no one
heard the warplane before the missile struck, around 11 p.m.,
killing 23 and wounding over 60.
A witness commented: [quote]We were singing and dancing,
everything was winding down. We were about to leave. Then, all
the sudden, I was on the ground, I couldn’t hear anything. We
totally lost control of our senses. There were body parts around
me, I was just looking for my children.
It took us over a week to find all the body parts.[/quote]
According to eyewitnesses, after the bomb struck, women were
running around, screaming, looking for their children and
relatives:
HTML https://theintercept.com/2018/06/16/yemen-wedding-airstrike/
A paper by the Global Network for the Right to Food and
Nutrition explains that: [quote]Destruction of access to food
and water constitutes a war crime.[/quote]
The British government has approved more than £4.6 billion in
fighter jets and arms sales to Saudi Arabia since their war
against Yemen began. The UK’s “deputy prime minister” Damian
Green explained: “[I]our defence industry is an extremely
important creator of jobs and prosperity[/I]”.
More than 8 million Yemenis are now facing famine after Saudi
Arabia tightened a blockade on the country on 6 November.
Restrictions were slightly eased on 26 November, so that
vaccines could be delivered to the starving population.
In the district of al-Rawda in northern Sanaa, farmer Yahya Abdu
Taleb stopped cultivating his land after a bomb landed less than
50 metres from his house. When Abdu Taleb started rebuilding the
polytunnels needed for growing vegetables in the mountains his
neighbours begged him to stop, because: [quote]The Saudis target
them [the polytunnels]. They were afraid the planes would come
back, bomb us and kill their families.[/quote]
There was another (hypothetical) way the Yemenis could get food
– fishing.
According to Mohammed Hassani, the head of the fishermen’s union
Hodeida, since Saudi Arabia launched its military intervention
in Yemen in March 2015, more than 250 fishing boats have been
damaged or destroyed and 152 fishermen have been killed by
coalition warships and helicopters in the Red Sea:
HTML https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/12/bombed-into-famine-how-saudi-air-campaign-targets-yemens-food-supplies?CMP=share_btn_tw
(archived here:
HTML http://archive.is/OkvYG)
On 16 March 2017 at about 9 PM, a helicopter opened fire on a
boat carrying (mostly) Somali civilians some 50 km (30 miles)
off the coast of Hodeidah, killing more than 32 people
(including a Yemeni civilian) of the 145 on board.
Another 29, including 6 children, were wounded, and 10 more
remain missing.
Because the Houthis don’t possess helicopters, it is clear that
this war crime was done by the coalition
Here’s a photo of some of the corpses after the attack on the
boat.
HTML http://www.yoobsannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Ax.jpg
All the parties involved, have denied responsibility for the
attack, including the USA and Saudi Arabia.
Human Rights Watch was not able to determine which coalition
member carried out the attack on the refugee boat, but the US
State Department has approved the sale of helicopters to Saudi
Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Jordan:
HTML https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/03/26/yemen-attack-refugee-boat-likely-war-crime
In August 2018, Saudi warplanes (again) struck 2 fishing boats
in waters near Hodeidah, killing 13 people, injuring 4 others,
while another 4 Yemeni fishermen are still missing.
The United Nations says 22.2 million Yemenis are in need of food
aid, including 8.4 million on the verge of starvation.
According to the UN, from November to February an estimated
100,000 people were driven from their homes by the increased war
effort by the coalition:
HTML https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/08/19/571674/Saudi-airstrike-off-Hudaydah-coast-leaves-13-Yemeni-fishermen-dead
In reply to the murder of fishermen, the Ministry of Fish Wealth
held a press conference where they called on the (deaf, dumb and
blind) UN, Security Council and international humanitarian
organisations to officially label this crime and previous crimes
against fishermen as “crimes against humanity”.
The head of the General Authority for Fisheries in the Red Sea,
Abdul Qader al-Wadai, said that the total number of victims by
coalition bombing includes 213 dead and 204 wounded and 4
missing fishermen. He added that the number of operations
against fishermen totals 70 since March 2015.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Fish Wealth estimates the
total losses of the fish sector in the Red Sea as a result of
the coalition bombing at more than $5 billion:
HTML http://en.althawranews.net/2018/08/400-fishermen-killed-and-wounded-by-the-aggression/
Here’s a compilation of pictures with starving Yemeni kids...
[IMG]
HTML https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtLfjKNVsAAuyPC.jpg[/img]
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