Left and Right Unite Against Continued U.S. Backing of Saudi Attack on Yemen

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Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) “introduced Wednesday a bipartisan joint resolution to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis in Yemen pursuant to the War Powers Resolution. The bill will force the first-ever vote in the Senate to withdraw U.S. Armed Forces from an unauthorized war.”

The text directs “the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress.” It makes an exception for forces “engaged in operations directed at al Qaeda or associated forces.”

KELLEY BEAUCAR VLAHOS, kv at kelleyvlahos.com, @KelleyBVlahos
Executive editor of The American Conservative magazine, Kelley Beaucar Vlahos said today: “The relentless airstrikes and blockade by the Saudis has left Yemen in a catastrophic state of crisis — and as co-belligerents, the United States is partly to blame.” She noted that the U.S. public has been removed from a meaningful “decision-making process” on warmaking. “This bill forcing a vote on this war in Yemen is a good first step.”

KATE GOULD, kate at fcnl.org, @FCNL
Gould is legislative representative for Middle East Policy for the Friends Committee on National Legislation. She said today: “By invoking the War Powers Resolution to end the illegal U.S. war in Yemen, this bipartisan trio of senators has made history, taking a step toward restoring congressional authority over decisions about war as required by the Constitution. The bill will force the first-ever vote in the Senate to withdraw U.S. armed forces from an unauthorized war.

“This March, with senators set to vote on whether to end the illegal U.S. war in Yemen, millions of lives hang in the balance. Nowhere in the world does Washington have more leverage to stop millions of people from starvation than in Yemen, where more than 8 million people are on the verge of starving to death.

“March also marks the third anniversary of this devastating war, enabled by Washington at every major juncture. U.S. pilots are refueling U.S.-made bombers as they drop U.S.-made bombs on Yemeni men, women, and children, and the hospitals, water sanitation facilities and other civilian infrastructure that they depend on. As the coalition continues to bomb Yemeni hospitals, schools, and neighborhoods, it is also blocking food, fuel, and other essential imports from getting into Yemen. Under this legislation, no longer would U.S. pilots serve as gas station attendants in the sky to refuel Saudi and UAE bombers that rein down terror on Yemeni men, women, and children.”