(Newswire.net — October 17, 2016) — While America is focusing on the 2016 elections, neither candidate is talking about the fact that the US has enter into war with Yemen, The Guardian reports.
All that has been said is that Saudi Arabia has identified Al Qaeda in Yemen and launched a massive bombing campaign. The Pentagon hurried to “join the party” launching missiles from a Navy destroyer, targeting sites of the Houthi rebel movement in Yemen.
The situation in the poorest Arab country Yemen is similar to that in Syria, but this time the US is supporting the Sunni regime and is fighting the Shia rebels backed by Iran.
The Yemeni regime coalition received logistical and intelligence support from the US, UK and France.
Though US drones have been executing attacks in Yemen for some time now, Washington has justified a direct missile attack as retaliation for missiles fired last week from Yemen to the US destroyers. Those missiles landed in the water and posed no real threat to US battleships, however, the massive bombing that followed devastated both military and civilian targets. No one really pays attention these days to collateral damage if it’s caused by the “good guys”.
According to The Guardian, “US sold the Saudis $110bn worth of arms since President Obama assumed office, and recently approved the sale of $1.15bn more,” also providing necessary intelligence and logistic for the Saudi-led coalition.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Yemen 18 months ago, more than 6,800 people have been killed and 14.4 million people are facing hunger. Reports indicate that both sides in Yemen have committed atrocities and war crimes.
The 2016 U.S. elections “reality show” has only been focusing on selective foreign policy issues, down to what Trump and Hilary have to say about Syria, alleged Russia hacking, ISIS and… well it is hard to remember all the issues, like for example engaging in a civil war in Yemen .
While all public eyes are glued to what the polls and statistics say, and on Smalltalk whether Trump is fit to be the next U.S. President or Hillary needs to stand trial for Benghazi or the private email server affair, the American people should expect more, the Guardian concludes.
It is not enough to understand what you are voting against, but also what you’ll be voting for when choosing the next U.S. President.