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The United States is complicit in nearly ever conflict in the Middle East. Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya and definitely now Yemen.

Forces loyal to the President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi are fighting a civil war against people of Yemen and forces allied to Zaidi Shia rebels known as Houthis in specific. It is a sectarian conflict that has been propped up by outside forces, not the least of which is Saudi Arabia.

Saudi began leading a coalition of 9 Arab states in airstrikes against Houthi militias, which in February 2015 pushed the government out of the capital Sanaa. But Saudi’s Operation Decisive Storm began in the Spring of 2015, focusing attacks on the Houthi-controlled west of Yemen.

Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain have loaned support with fighter jets, and Somalia has been making military bases available to the coalition forces.

And the United States has been providing intelligence, logistical support and most recently and fervently, weapons sales to member states. It is first important to understand that the Houthi forces in Yemen do not pose any kind of existential threat to the neighboring Arab states. Yet the Yemeni people are suffering under a blockade, described by the U.N. as a “humanitarian disaster.” 78% or 20 million Yemenis have been in urgent need of food, water and supplies, and despite Saudi’s claims to be reigning in airstrikes and loosening the blockade to focus on the political process, little progress has been made.

The United States is neither Sunni nor Shiite, yet it insists on being involved in the civil war.

“Latest information from the U.S. State Department has approved Foreign Military Sale to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), sustainment and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $380 million.”



According to the website of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the agency on 4 November 2015, submitted “the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.”

Rationale for the sale of $380 million in weapons to UAE is a bolstering of U.S. national security in the fights against DAESH (ISIS or ISIL) and restoring the legitimate government in Yemen.

ISIS is not likely to be affected much by this sale, but the situation in Yemen has the potential to be catalyzed.

The Saudi-led airstrikes have killed a large and increasing percentage of the more than 2,355 civilian deaths to date in the conflict. Airstrikes have hit weddings and most recently a Medicins San Frontiers hospital in Yemen, eliminating access to healthcare for an estimated 200,000 Yemenis. 1.5 million Yemenis have been internally displaced since the conflict began.

A reckless bombing campaign became the source of some consternation in the U.S Congress, when Democratic Representative Ted W. Lieu, of California, sent the Joint Chiefs of Staff a report citing the high rate of civilian deaths. On 27 September, Lieu passed on a letter requesting the U.S. “cease aiding coalition airstrikes in Yemen until the coalition demonstrates that they will institute proper safeguards to prevent civilian deaths.”

The usually lukewarm United Nations has taken a strong stance in the conflict, with Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon requesting involved parties “from inside and outside the country to immediately cease all military activities.”

It is not likely that coalition airstrikes will be affected. The U.S.‘s tacit support of Saudi and UAE essentially gives the countries a blank check to continue their bloody campaigns.

The U.S. State Department claims both that “The proposed sale will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” and “There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”

But the document makes no mention of the grave humanitarian crisis ongoing in Yemen, and U.S. weapons sales are not likely to help anything.

In fact, now more than ever, the U.S. has blood on its hands.