08-27-2018, 10:42 PM
*** 28-Aug-18 World View -- Saudis target women and children in Yemen to make them 'shiver' for generations
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Saudis target women and children in Yemen to make them 'shiver' for generations
****
![[Image: g180827b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g180827b.jpg)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman
The war in Yemen between a Saudi Arabia backed coalition and
Iran-backed ethnic Houthis has been going on since 2015, with no end
in sight. The Saudis and their coalition partner United Arab Emirates
(UAE) have been under increasing international pressure to avoid
civilian casualties.
Now the United Nations says that airstrikes launched by Saudi Arabia
on Friday killed at least 26 children and four women in al-Hodeidah
seaport, which is controlled by the Houthis. Two weeks earlier,
another airstrike killed dozens of children traveling in a school bus.
UN official Mark Lowcock wrote:
<QUOTE>"I echo the recent statement by the Secretary-General
on Yemen, condemning such attacks on civilians and calling for an
impartial, independent and prompt investigation into these most
recent incidents. I am also deeply concerned by the proximity of
attacks to humanitarian sites, including health facilities and
water and sanitation infrastructure. The UN and partners are doing
all they can to reach people with assistance. Access for
humanitarian aid workers to reach people in need is critical to
respond to the massive humanitarian crisis in Yemen. People need
to be able to voluntarily flee the fighting to access humanitarian
assistance too."<END QUOTE>
On Monday, Lise Grande, another UN official, called for an
“independent and impartial investigation” into the attacks on
civilians. Grande stated that “what is happening in Yemen is
unimaginable” and added that “the time has come to wake up to the
terrible reality of the war and its human cost and the need to work
together to end hostilities.”
According to unnamed "informed sources," Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad
bin Salman (MBS) ordered his coalition military generals to ignore the
international pressure:
<QUOTE>"Do not care about international criticism. We want
to leave a big impact on the consciousness of Yemeni
generations. We want their children, women and even their men to
shiver whenever the name of Saudi Arabia is
mentioned."<END QUOTE>
From the point of view of Generational Dynamics, whether MBS actually
uttered this statement or not, it's quite likely that it reflects his
attitude. MBS is young, 32 years old, and has been extremely
aggressive and belligerent since taking power two years ago.
Furthermore, the world was shocked in years past when video emerged of
atrocities, such as the beheading of a civilian by a jihadist, or by
the abduction of numerous girls to serve as sex slaves. Today, as
we've gone deeper and deeper into a generational Crisis era, these
kinds of atrocities are the new normal, and do not shock people
anymore.
One thing that characterizes a generational Crisis era is that the
value of an individual human life goes down continually, while
increasingly the only thing that matters is the survival of the entire
nation and its way of life. So, for example, in 1944 Americans were
willing to send tens of thousands of their soldiers onto the beaches
of Normandy, despite knowing that thousands would be immediately
killed.
Both the Saudis and the Houthis have been increasingly willing to use
civilians, including women and children, s cannon fodder in the cause
of fighting the Yemen war. The Houthis use children as human shields
to protect military installations, and the Saudis kill the children in
order to strike at the military installations. That's what always
happens in a generational crisis war. Relief Web and NY Magazine and Bellingcat (9-Aug)
****
**** US Military under pressure to end support of Saudis in Yemen
****
Although the US military is not part of the Saudi-led coalition in
Yemen, the US military does provide help in the form of air refueling
for Saudi aircraft and intelligence support. In addition, the US
sells weapons to the Saudis.
The recent spate of news stories about civilian deaths in Yemen has
caused international pressure on the US to reduce or end military
support to the Saudis. In addition, there are claims that the weapons
that have killed civilians in recent weeks are American made, but this
claim has been challenged, as the Saudis also obtain weapons from
other sources.
Reports indicate that the Pentagon is warning the Saudis that the US
will reduce military and intelligence support if the Saudis don't
demonstrate they are attempting to limit civilian deaths in
airstrikes. And Democrats in Congress want to amend the defense
appropriations bill to make American support contingent on the
U.S. defense secretary certifying that the coalition air campaign is
not violating international law and U.S. policy related to the
protection of civilians.
However, reducing American support to Saudi Arabia would probably just
hand a victory over to Iran and the Houthis. In fact, the Saudis have
provided evidence to the UN Security Council that Iran is sponsoring
Hezbollah militants in the Yemen war, so that a Houthi victory in
Yemen would give Iran almost complete effective control of the country
-- insofar as it's possible for anyone to control Yemen.
It seems unlikely that President Donald Trump, who views the Saudis as
an essential ally, would agree to a reduction of military support. In
fact, because of the strategic importance of the al-Hodeidah seaport,
whose recapture is the current objective of the Saudi coalition's
current military operation, Trump is said to be considering increasing
U.S. military support for that operation.
The UN has repeatedly described Yemen as the world's worst
humanitarian crisis. The al-Hodeidah seaport is crucial to whatever
humanitarian efforts are possible in Yemen. NGOs use this seaport to
import badly need humanitarian aid, including food, water and
medicines, for 8 million Yeminis, out of a total population of 22
million. Many Yemenis are already on the verge of starvation, and the
closure of the port for even a few days could be disastrous. Defense News and CNN and The National (UAE) and Gulf News
Related Articles:
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Yemen, Saudi Arabia,
United Arab Emirates, UAE, al-Hodeidah,
Mark Lowcock, Houthis, Iran, Hezbollah
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Saudis target women and children in Yemen to make them 'shiver' for generations
- US Military under pressure to end support of Saudis in Yemen
****
**** Saudis target women and children in Yemen to make them 'shiver' for generations
****
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman
The war in Yemen between a Saudi Arabia backed coalition and
Iran-backed ethnic Houthis has been going on since 2015, with no end
in sight. The Saudis and their coalition partner United Arab Emirates
(UAE) have been under increasing international pressure to avoid
civilian casualties.
Now the United Nations says that airstrikes launched by Saudi Arabia
on Friday killed at least 26 children and four women in al-Hodeidah
seaport, which is controlled by the Houthis. Two weeks earlier,
another airstrike killed dozens of children traveling in a school bus.
UN official Mark Lowcock wrote:
<QUOTE>"I echo the recent statement by the Secretary-General
on Yemen, condemning such attacks on civilians and calling for an
impartial, independent and prompt investigation into these most
recent incidents. I am also deeply concerned by the proximity of
attacks to humanitarian sites, including health facilities and
water and sanitation infrastructure. The UN and partners are doing
all they can to reach people with assistance. Access for
humanitarian aid workers to reach people in need is critical to
respond to the massive humanitarian crisis in Yemen. People need
to be able to voluntarily flee the fighting to access humanitarian
assistance too."<END QUOTE>
On Monday, Lise Grande, another UN official, called for an
“independent and impartial investigation” into the attacks on
civilians. Grande stated that “what is happening in Yemen is
unimaginable” and added that “the time has come to wake up to the
terrible reality of the war and its human cost and the need to work
together to end hostilities.”
According to unnamed "informed sources," Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad
bin Salman (MBS) ordered his coalition military generals to ignore the
international pressure:
<QUOTE>"Do not care about international criticism. We want
to leave a big impact on the consciousness of Yemeni
generations. We want their children, women and even their men to
shiver whenever the name of Saudi Arabia is
mentioned."<END QUOTE>
From the point of view of Generational Dynamics, whether MBS actually
uttered this statement or not, it's quite likely that it reflects his
attitude. MBS is young, 32 years old, and has been extremely
aggressive and belligerent since taking power two years ago.
Furthermore, the world was shocked in years past when video emerged of
atrocities, such as the beheading of a civilian by a jihadist, or by
the abduction of numerous girls to serve as sex slaves. Today, as
we've gone deeper and deeper into a generational Crisis era, these
kinds of atrocities are the new normal, and do not shock people
anymore.
One thing that characterizes a generational Crisis era is that the
value of an individual human life goes down continually, while
increasingly the only thing that matters is the survival of the entire
nation and its way of life. So, for example, in 1944 Americans were
willing to send tens of thousands of their soldiers onto the beaches
of Normandy, despite knowing that thousands would be immediately
killed.
Both the Saudis and the Houthis have been increasingly willing to use
civilians, including women and children, s cannon fodder in the cause
of fighting the Yemen war. The Houthis use children as human shields
to protect military installations, and the Saudis kill the children in
order to strike at the military installations. That's what always
happens in a generational crisis war. Relief Web and NY Magazine and Bellingcat (9-Aug)
****
**** US Military under pressure to end support of Saudis in Yemen
****
Although the US military is not part of the Saudi-led coalition in
Yemen, the US military does provide help in the form of air refueling
for Saudi aircraft and intelligence support. In addition, the US
sells weapons to the Saudis.
The recent spate of news stories about civilian deaths in Yemen has
caused international pressure on the US to reduce or end military
support to the Saudis. In addition, there are claims that the weapons
that have killed civilians in recent weeks are American made, but this
claim has been challenged, as the Saudis also obtain weapons from
other sources.
Reports indicate that the Pentagon is warning the Saudis that the US
will reduce military and intelligence support if the Saudis don't
demonstrate they are attempting to limit civilian deaths in
airstrikes. And Democrats in Congress want to amend the defense
appropriations bill to make American support contingent on the
U.S. defense secretary certifying that the coalition air campaign is
not violating international law and U.S. policy related to the
protection of civilians.
However, reducing American support to Saudi Arabia would probably just
hand a victory over to Iran and the Houthis. In fact, the Saudis have
provided evidence to the UN Security Council that Iran is sponsoring
Hezbollah militants in the Yemen war, so that a Houthi victory in
Yemen would give Iran almost complete effective control of the country
-- insofar as it's possible for anyone to control Yemen.
It seems unlikely that President Donald Trump, who views the Saudis as
an essential ally, would agree to a reduction of military support. In
fact, because of the strategic importance of the al-Hodeidah seaport,
whose recapture is the current objective of the Saudi coalition's
current military operation, Trump is said to be considering increasing
U.S. military support for that operation.
The UN has repeatedly described Yemen as the world's worst
humanitarian crisis. The al-Hodeidah seaport is crucial to whatever
humanitarian efforts are possible in Yemen. NGOs use this seaport to
import badly need humanitarian aid, including food, water and
medicines, for 8 million Yeminis, out of a total population of 22
million. Many Yemenis are already on the verge of starvation, and the
closure of the port for even a few days could be disastrous. Defense News and CNN and The National (UAE) and Gulf News
Related Articles:
- Saudi coalition claims to have captured airport in Yemen's Hodeidah (20-Jun-2018)
- Saudi Arabia and UAE launch a 'catastrophic' assault on Port Hodeidah in Yemen (15-Jun-2018)
- Saudi Arabia sacks its top tier of military commanders as Yemen war drags on (27-Feb-2018)
- Iranian advisors are 'on the ground' with Houthis in Yemen, supplying weapons and intelligence (06-Jan-2018)
- Brief generational history of South Yemen (29-Jan-2018)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Yemen, Saudi Arabia,
United Arab Emirates, UAE, al-Hodeidah,
Mark Lowcock, Houthis, Iran, Hezbollah
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
