Global Research - December 26, 2023
The Yemeni Houthis Take on the Empire
By Renee Parsons
hile it is astounding that one small, feisty Arab tribe in the nation of Yemen has shown the mega-world how to creatively stand up to the Hegemon without threatening nuclear weapons, without initiating direct military conflict and yet achieve their goals – what is even more astounding is that the Houthis are not the least intimidated by the Empire’s pretentious display of empty threats and waning power.
As a 28-year-old country and being the poorest of all nations in the Middle East has not stopped the Houthis from exercise of their principles as equal participants on the global stage.
Even as the Ukraine war grinds to a reluctant halt with Zelensky and the US refusing to call it quits, continued funding going for naught in someone’s pocket, the US preps for military expansion in the Middle East. The Israeli-Gaza war mutates into another military adventure for an additional wasteful expenditure of resources and lives.
It is fair to say that the Houthis have the Hegemon neo-con militarists over a barrel with nowhere to go unless WW III is a valid objective. If the US with its feeble-minded Congress and equally anemic foreign policy apparatus believe they are still to be feared, the Houthis have called their bluff.
From mid-November when the Ansarullah launched their first drone, the world has followed their heroic deeds to protect the Moustazafeen (oppressed ones) of planet Earth. It may be that the Houthis own experience at the hands of the Empire has sensitized and empowered them to the Hegemon-initiated suffering they have endured.
Those Houthis are unique individuals as it appears they get their dander up when they experience raw genocide conducted against a defenseless civilian population which has now suffered 20,000 fatalities, gratis US bombs and missiles.
Drone attacks were conducted through the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a 20-mile wide narrow passageway leading from the Indian Ocean into the Red Sea and up to the Suez Canal which has now, in effect, closed down. It is that Strait which controls 30% of the world’s shipping.
Houthi boardings on cargo ships have been unexpectedly effective as five of the largest international shipping lines chose to ‘pause’ their operations as the Houthis forced shipping to find an alternative route around Africa.
The Israel goal has shifted from destroying Hamas since it is now recognized that strategy was never realistic. Israel has instead focused on the extermination of Palestinians from their indigenous home, incurring a full range of war crimes.
Disrupting the supply chain of shipments headed for the psychotic Israel is nothing short of genius strategy as it goes to the heart of what the Zionists value most; it took the Houthis to recognize the vulnerability of international trade on its way to Israel to brazenly intercept tankers and oilers exhibiting more chutzpah than seen among many other more well-heeled Islamic nations.
As if Israel and its patron, had not enough to worry about, Malaysia, another small chink in the chain, has joined the fray as it has closed all its ports to Israel traffic.
Literally landing on-board a specific liner in question via a helicopter drop, the Houthis displayed a courage rarely seen in maritime encounters against the Empire as Jordan, the UAE and the Saudis may be quivering in their sandals at the thought.
Even US Secretary of Defense Austin’s haughty promise to “jointly address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and bolstering regional security and prosperity” has fallen on deaf ears. “The recent escalation in reckless Houthi attacks originating from Yemen threatens the free flow of commerce, endangers innocent mariners, and violates international law.”
Spokesman for the Houthi rebels replied,
“Even if America succeeds in mobilizing the entire world, our operations in the Red Sea will not stop unless the massacre in Gaza stops. We will not give up the responsibility of defending the Moustazafeen (oppressed ones) of the Earth.”
Well, stick that in your pipe and smoke it.
Meanwhile the USS Eisenhower remains floating idly in the tropical waters of the Red Sea without any sign of retaliation against the Houthis who could be expected to respond with an armed, under water drone to take out one US bazillion dollar floating bathtub.
As the Israel-Gaza conflict becomes more intense along the Lebanon border with Hezbollah adopting a more aggressive response, it is no coincidence that Yemen has been bombed since 2014, sanctioned by the US since 2012 and at war with its Saudi neighbors (with US weapons) in 2015, all of which failed as the Houthi’s refused to succumb to the Hegemon.
With a sitting duck flotilla of US Navy’s Operation Prosperity Guardian, the US has pushed the panic button with creation of an unimpressive ten member maritime coalition (including Bahrain — home to the US Fifth Fleet and member of the limp-noodle Abraham Accords), Canada sent three staff officers and the UK sent one rusted-out tin can to patrol the Red Sea in a futile effort to stop underwater armed drones.
To date, the US/UK have shot down a dozen drones as if to challenge Houthi’s authority in international waters as the US remains in a self delusional world. The Houthis shot down a $30 million American MQ-9 Ripper unmanned aerial vehicle since it “engaged in hostile surveillance and espionage activities in the airspace of Yemeni territorial waters.”
Suddenly, creation of a Palestinian state is now on the table even as the US will remain the largest block of resistance despite the election of Trump who, as a Zionist, will dance to Israel’s tune.
Never one to miss an opportunity to blame Iran for any military aggressive behavior, the US accused Iran of being “deeply involved’ with the Houthis as if US motives are pure as the driven snow.
As if the US’ highest priority is to continue confrontational relations with every country in the world which denies its status as Empire, there is no serious strategy on dealing with a principled opponent except more violence and hatred. The Houthis continue to make fools of the multi-billion dollar US Navy.*
Renee Parsons served on the ACLU’s Florida State Board of Directors and as president of the ACLU Treasure Coast Chapter. She has been an elected public official in Colorado, staff in the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender, an environmental lobbyist for Friends of the Earth and a staff member of the US House of Representatives in Washington DC. She is a regular contributor to Global Research.
https://www.globalresearch.ca/houthis-take-empire/5844246
Global Research - December 26, 2023
Houthis Disrupt the Most Important Maritime Trading Routes: Potential Shock to the Global Economy
By Mike Whitney
“Yemen has said it would stop the blockade of Israel-bound ships as soon as sufficient food, water and medicine are allowed to enter Gaza. Guess that’s asking too much.” — Elizabeth Murray
Yemen’s Houthi militia has shown how a small army can take on the American Empire and win. They have shown how courage, resolve and commitment to principle can act as a force-multiplier allowing a much weaker military to ‘punch above its weight’. They’ve also shown that a few well-placed missiles in key locations on the world’s most critical shipping lanes, can send tremors across the global economy and shake the “rules-based order” to its foundations. In short, the Houthis have shown that David can bring down Goliath without breaking a sweat, provided that David maintains his perch along the Bab-al-Mandab Strait.
Here’s what’s going on:
The Houthis occupy an area along the narrowest part of the Red Sea that is the most important shipping corridor in the world. It is “responsible for 12% of international trade and almost one-third of global container traffic.”
When the movement of ships is disrupted along this waterway, insurance premiums skyrocket, prices on retail merchandise rise, and oil prices go through the roof.
That is why western powers are committed to keeping these shipping lanes open at all times whatever the cost. Here’s some background from CNN:
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels are stepping up their strikes on ships in the Red Sea, which they say are revenge against Israel for its military campaign in Gaza.
The attacks have forced some of the world’s biggest shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes, which could potentially cause a shock to the global economy.
The Houthis are believed to have been armed and trained by Iran, and there are fears that their attacks could escalate Israel’s war against Hamas into a wider regional conflict. Who Are The Houthis, CNN
At present, these shipping lanes are effectively closed due to Houthis attacks on Israeli-bound vessels. This, in turn, has slowed overall traffic to a crawl. If the current situation persists or gets worse, the impact on the global economy could be catastrophic.
Here’s more from the Washington Post:
On Monday, oil giant BP became the latest company to announce it would be pausing its shipments through the Red Sea. Several shipping companies, including MSC, Maersk, Euronav and the Evergreen Group, have said they are also avoiding the Suez Canal as militants target cargo vessels.
Roughly 10 percent of all maritime oil trade goes through the Red Sea — which connects to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal. Without access to the Red Sea route, many ships will have to take the far longer and costlier journey around Africa to reach their destinations….
It urged “the global community to continue to pursue every possible diplomatic effort in support of security in and safe navigation through this region that is vital to international trade.”New U.S.-led Red Sea task force wonﾒt stop shipping attacks, Houthis say, Washington Post
It’s worth noting that the Houthis have repeatedly said that ships that are NOT bound for Israeli ports will not be attacked. But that has not stopped all of the major shipping companies from rerouting their vessels from the Red Sea to the Cape of Good Hope. This alternate route adds weeks to the sailing time forcing carriers to raise their cargo prices and adjust their schedules. Bottom line: The action of the Houthis is going to further boost inflation in western countries pushing their economies into a sharp and protracted nosedive.
Surprisingly, the Houthis do not stand to gain anything for their efforts.
In fact, they are putting themselves at great risk (of retaliation by the United States) in order to pressure Israel into stopping its relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip and to allow the starving Palestinian people access to food, water and medical supplies.
The Houthis should probably be applauded for their selfless compassion and humanity, but Washington doesn’t see it that way. They don’t think see the Houthis’ action as laudable, virtuous or just.
They see it as a challenge to American primacy.
They see it as a threat to their regional hegemony and global leadership.
They see it as interference in their Gaza policy in which Israel has been granted carte blanche to kill and maim as many Palestinians as it sees fit in order to achieve its own strategic objective, which is Greater Israel.
So, what we have is an unstoppable force and an immovable object. We have two opposing points of view, and no way to resolve their differences without a direct military confrontation. That means there’s going to be trouble in the very near future.
And that is why, last Monday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced that he had assembled a ten-member maritime coalition that would patrol the waterways in the Red Sea and defend the “freedom of navigation” in that area. (Coalition members include: Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain.)
Now a reasonable person might wonder why Austin would cobble together another makeshift military coalition—whose strategic goals are far from clear—instead of first contacting the Houthi leadership to see if a deal could be worked out and a confrontation avoided. But those who have followed US foreign policy for the last 30 years, know that the US does not negotiate with people or countries it considers its inferiors.
So, that option was quickly discarded. Instead, the US has decided to pursue its traditional approach to emerging crises, which involves a fair amount of incendiary rhetoric followed by a military hammer-blow. And, that appears to be the direction that things are now headed. Check out this excerpt from an article by John Helmer:
“… on Monday, in the Moscow newspaper Vedomosti, it was reported that Russian experts expect “most likely, the Americans will launch missile and bomb attacks on command centres and military depots of the Houthis, or targeted strikes by special forces may follow in order to eliminate the commanders of the movement. The operation will be roughly comparable to the actions of Western allies in Syria or Iraq.” The newspaper claimed that, according to its source, “the military forces of Saudi Arabia and the UAE may participate in the operation – their armed forces and their proxies have been waging a sluggish war against Iran’s allies in Yemen since 2015. John Helmer, Dancing With Bears
And respected publications in the western media are calling for a war with the Houthis too. This is from The World Socialist Web Site:
The US media is, meanwhile, agitating for the Biden administration to target both Yemen and Iran. In an editorial, the Wall Street Journal wrote, “The press is reporting that the Biden Administration is contemplating the use of military force in response to continuing attacks on commercial shipping by the Houthi militia in Yemen. It’s about time. The Houthi missile attacks pose the most significant threat to global shipping in decades, and they will continue unless a global coalition unites to stop them.”
The Journal continued, “The question is whether the U.S. and other Western navies are merely going to play defense and catch missiles as the Houthis set the terms of battle. Sooner or later a Houthi missile may get past U.S. naval defenses and kill American sailors. Then the White House will have little choice other than to strike back.” The Journal demands that the US escalate against Iran, declaring, “Eventually Iran’s rulers have to know that their assets—military and nuclear—are at risk if they continue to foment disorder, attack U.S. allies, and target American bases or ships.”ﾠAs Gaza genocide continues, US prepares major escalation of war throughout Middle East, World Socialist Web Site
So, there’s definitely an element within the foreign policy establishment that supports the idea of a war on Yemen.
We expect this ‘rush to war’ will gain momentum in the weeks ahead as more ships are diverted to Africa and hostilities continue to mount. But there’s no sign that the Houthis are going to ease up on their demands or abandon the Palestinian cause anytime soon. If anything, they appear to be more resolute than ever as is evident in this quote by Houthi Council member Muhammad al-Bukhaiti,
“Even if America succeeds in mobilizing the entire world, our operations in the Red Sea will not stop unless the massacre in Gaza stops. We will not give up the responsibility of defending the Moustazafeen (oppressed ones) of the Earth.”
There’s not a lot of wiggle-room here. The Houthis want a cessation of the violence and the distribution of humanitarian aid. And they are willing to go to war with the United States to make sure their demands are met. And no one knows better than the Houthis, what that means. During the 9 years they were at war with Saudi Arabia, Washington provided the weapons and embargo-power that led to the deaths of an estimated 377,000 people. “More than half died due to starvation and disease caused by the siege.” (Antiwar.com)
So, the Houthis know what savagery Washington is capable of. Even so, they are not backing down and not caving in. There’s going to be a ceasefire or there’s going to be a war. It’s up to Biden to decide. But if he opts for war, he should realize that it’s not going to be a cakewalk. Oh, no. There are going to be attacks on American bases, American warships and Saudi oil fields and infrastructure. Oil prices will soar, commercial shipping will grind to a standstill, and global equities will tumble. And, all the while, China and Russia will be watching from the sidelines while Uncle Sam drains his last ounce credibility and power down a black hole on the Arabian Peninsula.
This is how Houthi leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi summed it up:
“If the US wants to go to war with us, they must know that we are waiting. We want a direct war between Yemen and the US and Israel. We are not afraid of America and all the people of Yemen will stand against them.”
This is a war that the United States can easily avoid by simply ‘doing the right thing’ and approving a ceasefire now. That will bring a swift end to Israel’s atrocities and stop the attacks on commercial shipping at the same time. That’s a solution we can all live with.*
Michael Whitney is a renowned geopolitical and social analyst based in Washington State. He initiated his career as an independent citizen-journalist in 2002 with a commitment to honest journalism, social justice and World peace. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG).
https://www.globalresearch.ca/houthis-have-biden-by-shorthairs/5844253
Global Research - December 26, 2023
Yemen Resistance Remains Defiant as Pentagon Escalates Tensions in Red Sea
“Operation Prosperity Guardian” designed to provide logistical support to the Israeli genocide in Gaza
By Abayomi Azikiwe
Although the administration of President Joe Biden claimed earlier on in the Al-Aqsa Storm launched on October 7 that the United States was opposed to the widening of the military struggle between the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Hamas resistance movement in Gaza.
Soon after the bombing campaign and attempted total siege of Gaza, clashes between Hezbollah armed forces and the IDF grew in frequency and severity.
The blanket bombing of Gaza along with the IDF raids on towns and refugee camps in the West Bank was bound to ignite solidarity efforts across the region and the world. Millions everyday engage in mass demonstrations and rallies while resistance forces in Iraq and Syria have launched attacks on U.S. military forces.
In response to the declaration of the Ansar Allah Resistance Movement in Yemen that it would enforce a blockade on Israeli linked ships until the genocidal siege on the Palestinians ceased, the U.S. has pledged to protect commercial vessels traveling throughout the Red Sea. Therefore, such an initiative by Washington further exposes the false statements by the White House claiming the administration opposes the wanton slaughter of civilians, since the foreign policy trajectory of Washington and Wall Street is geared toward maintaining the occupation of Palestine.
In figures released by the Gaza Health Ministry over 20,000 people have been killed since October 7. More than 50,000 have been wounded and almost the entire population of 2.3 million Palestinians have been displaced.
The Palestinian people are suffering from lack of shelter, healthcare, clean drinking water, adequate food, fuel for transportation, energy generation and cooking. The U.S. as the main allies of the settler-colonial State of Israel has refused to call for a ceasefire and continues to block any effective measures before the United Nations Security Council.
Thousands of tons of weapons are being transported to the Israeli state by the U.S. every week as daily massacres of Palestinians occur. All humanitarian organizations have pleaded with Tel Aviv and the U.S. to halt the bombing.
Corporate and government-controlled media outlets in the West are providing political cover for the Israeli state by consistently labeling Hamas and other resistance forces in Palestine and across the region as “terrorists” and “rebels.”
Pentagon-led Alliance Facing Enormous Challenges
“Operation Prosperity Guardian” is the latest military project by the Pentagon to attempt to build a “coalition” of like-minded states whose objectives would be to keep commerce flowing in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic waterway providing a lucrative shipping lane connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. The strait connects the West Asian and Northeast African states of Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula along with Djibouti and Somalia in the Horn of Africa.
These waterways serve to transport manufactured goods, petroleum and natural gas. Any threat to shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden areas would represent a severe blow to the world economy.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin claimed in a press release that the alliance already had 20 members. However, many of the participants are choosing to remain anonymous.
Of the Arab states in the region only Bahrain has been named as a member. Even other imperialist states such as Spain, France and Italy have declined to join the Pentagon-led intervention. Spain says it would participate in a NATO or United Nations initiative while France wants to be a part of Operation Prosperity Guardian yet does not wish to function under the Pentagon command structures.
Greece made a public statement saying it would be involved in Operation Prosperity Guardian without specifying what resources are being shifted to the project. Greece noted that its economy heavily relies on shipping.
Australia, a close ally of the U.S., says it wants to join the Pentagon-led campaign while keeping its focus on the Pacific. The country will deploy 11 personnel to the operational center in Bahrain. However, no military vessels will be sent into the Red Sea area.
In the War Zone website which covers military affairs, it pointed out on December 23:
“While wrangling any multi-national coalition for a tumultuous operation like this is never easy, these developments among America’s closest allies are certainly setbacks. They also come as it appears that the threat to shipping is expanding far beyond the Bab el-Mandeb and its more immediate surroundings. Just hours ago, a Liberian-flagged chemical tanker M/V Chem Pluto that has ties to Israel was struck by a drone while sailing in the Indian Ocean, roughly 120 miles to the southwest of the Indian port city of Veraval. According to ABC News, Ambrey, a prolific security contractor that provides armed guards and other services to commercial vessels, said the drone struck the stern of the ship and a fire was ignited, but was eventually put out without injuries to the ship’s crew. The ship has structural damage and has taken on some water as a result of the attack. It was heading from Saudi Arabia to India when it was struck. The Indian Navy responded to the ship’s distress call with a maritime patrol aircraft and a warship.”
It is estimated that 10% of the oil shipped around the globe travels through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. Several leading shipping firms have suspended their operations in the Red Sea area. The threats to its cargo, personnel and the higher costs for insurance and security have threatened to severely reduce their rates of profit. These shipping firms are being forced to reroute their commerce around the Southern and Western regions of Africa.
On December 24, Maersk, the second largest commercial shipping company in the world, announced that it would resume its regular commerce routes in light of the commitment made by the Pentagon to safeguard trade in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. This firm based in Denmark, will still face credible threats since the Yemeni resistance forces are not deterred by the growing presence of the U.S. warships.
White House Moves to Bolster Israel amid Major Setbacks in Military Campaign
Secretary of Defense Alston’s maneuvering of troops and military hardware is a reflection of the difficulties experienced by Tel Aviv and Washington in the Gaza siege. After nearly three months of offensive operations in Gaza and the West Bank, Hamas and other resistance forces continue their strikes against the IDF.
The actual statistics for the number of IDF soldiers killed and wounded remain shrouded in secrecy. Nonetheless, since early December, figures have been released by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several press agencies which illustrate growing numbers of IDF forces killed including high-ranking members of elite military units and their commanders.
Thousands of IDF soldiers have been injured and rendered disabled. Most of the deaths and injuries are being inflicted by the al-Qassam Brigades and other military wings of the resistance movement.
Moreover, the losses are not only physical on the battlefield. World public opinion has turned against the State of Israel and the U.S. for its unconditional support for Tel Aviv.
The Biden administration has further damaged its potential for re-election due to the White House and Congressional positions on the Palestinian question. A majority of the Democratic electorate are in favor of a ceasefire in Gaza.
Yet due to the strategic role of Israel in the U.S. imperialist project in West Asia and North Africa, the Biden administration is prepared to neglect the burgeoning mass sentiment against the settler-colonial state. Both the Democratic and Republican parties are led by imperialist interests. In order for there to be a shift in U.S. foreign policy towards Israel, tremendous political pressure will have to be brought against the legislative and administrative branches of the federal government.
The formation of a mass anti-imperialist party in the U.S. will require substantial time for political education and the building of internal organizational structures. Nonetheless, the work of constructing a society based upon peace and social emancipation is the only solution to the imperialist crises of perpetual war and economic exploitation both domestically and internationally.
*Abayomi Azikiwe is the editor of the Pan-African News Wire. He is a regular contributor to Global Research.
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