Follow us on social

49025171282_274526c187_k

House passes measure ending US support for Saudi war on Yemen

Rep. Ro Khanna has again pushed through this important amendment, but will other forces collude to kill it?

Analysis | Middle East

The House voted today to pass Rep. Ro Khanna's amendment to end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's war on Yemen. The amendment passed with 11 Republicans voting in favor, and 11 Democrats voting against, with a final vote of 219 to 207. The passage of the amendment represents a win for those that have pushed to end American complicity in the war on Yemen since the Saudi-led coalition began its aerial bombardment in 2015.

However, this may just be deja vu all over again. The California Democrat passed the same amendment in 2019, but it was removed from the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act, along with many other progressive defense priorities that passed the House vote, but did not survive conference. At the time, House Armed Services Committee ranking member Adam Smith faced rebuke for not fighting harder, but he could claim that with the Democrats in the minority, he could not dictate the outcome.

This time, Smith is the chair of the House Armed Services Committee, and so can no longer hide behind the excuse of having his hands tied. However, the concern among progressives like Khanna is that another Yemen amendment also passed the House: House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Gregory Meeks's amendment reflects similar language used by the White House, ending U.S. support for "offensive" Saudi operations. Biden committed to this back in February and paused arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but Saudi air strikes have continued at comparable levels as those observed during the last year of the Trump administration, signaling that U.S. support for offensive operations is unchanged, despite Biden's statement to the contrary.

Relatedly, the Senate version of the NDAA (section 1272) likewise reflects similar language as the Meeks amendment: "Prohibition on support for offensive military operations against the Houthis in Yemen." This increases the likelihood that in the process of reconciliation, Khanna's amendment will be stripped and Meeks's will remain, leaving American involvement unchanged.

In conference, the negotiations to reconcile the House and Senate versions will take place between HASC chair Adam Smith, Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Jack Reed, as well as Majority leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. White House preferences will also be considered, to avoid the possibility of a presidential veto of the NDAA.

The likelihood that Khanna's amendment will not be included in the final bill raises the possibility that Khanna may once again try to pass a War Powers Resolution to force the White House to comply with the wishes of the majority of members of Congress, who likewise represent American public opinion on the imperative need to withdraw U.S. support for this war.

Although Khanna's amendment may ultimately not achieve its stated objective, the passage of his bill on Saudi Arabia's National Day may drive home the fact that many Americans are tired of successive administrations bowing to Saudi preferences over those of the U.S. public.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif) (Web Commons/Creative Commons/Flickr)
Analysis | Middle East
Where are the US ships on the Gaza aid mission now?
File:US Navy 030530-N-0000X-002 Sea trials of USNS Benavidez (T ...

Where are the US ships on the Gaza aid mission now?

QiOSK

The Army and Navy ships that have left the U.S. for a massive humanitarian aid project in Gaza are still making their way across the Atlantic, with two still at ports in Florida and Virginia. It will likely take until mid-April for the vessels to reach Gaza and begin building a temporary causeway to facilitate the entry of life-saving aid into the strip.

Looking at real-time satellite imagery tracking military vessels, it looks like the USAV Gen. Frank Besson Jr., an Army support vessel that left Fort Eustis, Virginia, on March 10, has been moored and presumably refueling at a port in the Azores, Portugal, since Friday. It is at the half-way point between the U.S. and its final destination of Cyprus (nearly 5,000 nautical miles total). At an average speed of 10 knots, its journey will take nearly two more weeks, depending on weather conditions, once it gets going again.

keep readingShow less
Pressure on Biden for Gaza ceasefire appears to be working

Algeria's Representative to the United Nations Amar Bendjama speaks with U.S. Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, during a vote on a Gaza resolution that demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan leading to a permanent sustainable ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., March 25, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Pressure on Biden for Gaza ceasefire appears to be working

QiOSK

The United Nations Security Council finally managed to pass a resolution on Monday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza — the first true indicator that pressure on President Biden to address the war’s calamities is working. The passing of the resolution was followed by spontaneous applause in the Security Council, which is highly unusual. The last time this happened was in 2003 when France’s Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin gave a historic speech against the Iraq war. The applause reflects the immense exasperation with Biden's efforts to keep the war going.

All countries supported the measure with the United States abstaining. Ten countries put forward the measure —Algeria, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Switzerland — that is, all of the non-permanent members, or “elected members,” of the Security Council.

keep readingShow less
Moscow attack proves Russia — and US — have lost sight of priorities

People lay flowers at a makeshift memorial to the victims of a shooting attack set up outside the Crocus City Hall concert venue in the Moscow Region, Russia, March 24, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Moscow attack proves Russia — and US — have lost sight of priorities

Europe

The Islamic State terrorist attack in Moscow is the starkest possible reminder that despite the war in Ukraine, Russia and the West also still have some of the same enemies.

What the terrorists — ISIS-K, an Afghanistan offshoot of IS, took responsibility — did in Moscow, they have done in Paris and Manchester — and will do (and did do, on 9/11) in New York and Washington, if they get the chance.

keep readingShow less

Israel-Gaza Crisis

Latest