House and Senate Measures to End War in Yemen - Hold the Cheers

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Yemen is Washington's war, begun by the Bush/Cheney regime in October 2001, shortly after launching naked aggression on Afghanistan - what establishment media never explain, nor most everything else that matters on vital issues.

Passage of House and Senate measures changed nothing. War in Yemen continues with no prospect for resolution any time soon - supported by the US war party all these years.

The same goes for all US wars of aggression, part of Washington's permanent war agenda, Republicans and undemocratic Dems on the same page for waging them endlessly.

If otherwise, they'd have ended long ago. In mid-March, Senate members voted "to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress."

The measure passed by a 54 – 46 majority, invoking the 1973 War Powers Resolution. It requires a congressional declaration of war, or a national emergency created by an attack on the US, its territories, possessions, or armed forces, for the executive to deploy troops to engage in foreign hostilities.

It requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing forces to military action. It prohibits them from remaining over 60 days, a further 30-day withdrawal period allowed – without congressional authorization for use of military force (AUMF) or a declaration of war by Congress.

In December, a similar Senate measure passed by a 56 – 41 margin. Then-Speaker Paul Ryan killed it by not calling for a House vote. 

On Thursday, House members passed a resolution to end US involvement in the Yemen war for the fourth time this year, the new measure giving Trump 30 days to withdraw US forces, along with ending US military aid to the Saudis, UAE, and their allies.

The measure rebuked Trump regime support for the kingdom. Voting against US involvement in the war ignored reality. The last time Congress declared war was on December 8, 1941 - in response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Subsequent US wars were waged with no congressional or Security Council authorizations, rendering them flagrantly illegal.

For nearly 80 years, Congress supported undeclared US wars of aggression. House and Senate resolutions to end US involvement in Yemen are farcical.

Trump's promised veto will likely hold. House and Senate measures were unrelated to anti-war activism, tepid in the US since the 1970s.

They had nothing to do with US involvement in Yemen. They're meant as a rebuke to the Saudis for assassinating Jamal Khashoggi last October, his murder ordered by de facto ruler - crown prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS).

He's a figure the CIA opposes. His elevation to power displaced Mohammad bin Nayef as heir to the Saudi throne, a Western intelligence favorite.

Langley calling MBS untrustworthy and unreliable, accusing him of Khashoggi's assassination, was all about wanting him replaced with a figure the agency controls.

Undemocratic Dems support for the resolution has nothing to do with wanting war in Yemen ended they supported since 2001. 

It's all about hostility toward Trump for triumphing over Hillary, along with phony claims about improper or illegal ties to Russia House, Senate, and Mueller reports debunked.

Wars in all US conflict theaters rage with no prospects for ending them any time soon - why I call them forever wars, naked aggression for attacking countries threatening no one.

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My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

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