[ad_1]
A child injured in a Saudi-led coalition air strike is based in a hospital in Saada, Yemen. (Hani Mohammed / AP)
Missy Ryan
Reporter covering the Pentagon, military issues and national security
Senior Obama administration officials wrote a letter in which they acknowledged their responsibility to engage the United States in the destructive civil war in Yemen and urged the Trump administration to end the role played by the United States. United in the conflict.
Thirty former senior officials, including former National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice and former CIA director John Brennan, said the Obama administration had decided to provide limited support to a Saudi military coalition to to guarantee a prudent operation against Houthi rebels. in Yemen and to steer the conflict towards a diplomatic resolution.
"We did not intend to make American support for the coalition a blank check. But today, as the number of civilian casualties continues to grow and the conflict does not end, it is clear that this is precisely what happened, "wrote the former leaders. .
"However, rather than learn from this failure, the Trump administration has doubled its support for the Saudi prosecution's prosecution of the war, while removing the restrictions we put in place," they said. declared. "It is high time that America's role in this disastrous war in Yemen ends."
The letter, which had not been made public, came two days after the Pentagon announced it would end one of the main elements of US support for the Gulf-led coalition. flight flights over Yemen.
Coalition airstrikes have repeatedly hit civilian targets, while Saudi Arabia and its allies are also accused of contributing to a massive humanitarian crisis by making it more difficult for goods to enter the country.
The United States provides intelligence support to the coalition, which includes the United Arab Emirates and other countries.
The decision to stop refueling, which according to the Saudi government was the result of improving its own refueling capacity, appeared to be an attempt to take advance action on Congress to force the Trump government out of the conflict.
[Trump administration to end refueling of Saudi-coalition aircraft in Yemen conflict]
Lawmakers on both sides expressed growing frustration with Saudi Arabia over its conduct of the war and, more recently, for its role in the assassination of columnist contributing to the Washington Post, Jamal Khashoggi. Pressure to reduce US involvement in the war is expected to intensify following last week's midterm elections, which left the House of Democrats critical of President Trump's policy in Yemen.
Since taking office, Trump has elevated Saudi Arabia to the ranks of Middle East allies, choosing it as its first overseas destination as president, touting massive arms sales to the kingdom and expressing concern Iran's support to the armed groups in the region. He has also reversed measures to limit the sale of arms imposed at the end of the Obama administration because of concerns about civilian casualties.
US officials said Iran had provided military support to the Houthis, including advanced technology used to attack Saudi Arabia.
The letter, which also included Wendy Sherman, the undersecretary of state, and Lisa Monaco, a senior White House counterterrorism official, quoted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's decision to officially support Saudi Arabia's efforts to protect civilians. . This decision, a result of a new congressional requirement, has fueled criticism at a time when illness and deprivation have exploded in Yemen.
Supporters of the policy say that Washington must help Saudi Arabia defend itself against Houthi missiles and ensure that the group does not threaten trade in the waters off Yemen.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has stepped up its call for a peace process to end the fighting, but critics say Washington needs to do more to pressure Gulf allies to do battle. concessions.
The letter, coordinated by the national defense group National Security Action, urged the administration to call for an immediate ceasefire, strengthen its diplomatic efforts to end the war and suspend US aid.
"We tried in vain to obtain conditional support for the coalition. This administration has demonstrated the folly of unconditional support, "said former officials. "Now we have to stop supporting completely."
Karen DeYoung contributed to this report.
[ad_2]Source link
