Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called for an end to U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen from the Senate floor in March. (Photo: C-SPAN)
Oct 25, 2018
Anti-war voices are praising a new "must-read" New York Timesop-ed in which Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called on Congress "to redefine our relationship with Saudi Arabia, and to show that the Saudis do not have a blank check to continue violating human rights" by revoking U.S. support for the Saudi and UAE-led war in Yemen.
Noting that the humanitarian crisis in Yemen "has only worsened and our complicity become even greater" since the Senate voted in March to block a resolution (SJ Res. 54)--introduced by Sanders, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)--to end military support for the Saudis, Sanders wrote that he will bring the measure back to the floor next month.
"Amen!" tweeted CODEPINK co-founder Medea Benjamin. "We have been in the Senate all week pushing for this bill. Join us."
\u201cAmen! We have been in the Senate all week pushing for this bill. Join us\u201d— Medea Benjamin (@Medea Benjamin) 1540434157
Media critic Adam Johnson, an outspoken opponent of U.S. wars and imperialism, simply said, "this is good folks."
Concluding that there are "so many excellent points in this op-ed" that she didn't "even know where to begin," Laura Pitter of Human Rights Watched tweeted, "Just read it."
\u201cSo many excellent points in this oped, dont even know where to begin. Just read it. War creating very problem administration claims it wants to solve; undermining broader effort against violent extremists; it\u2019s a strategic/moral disaster for US @SenSanders https://t.co/a7yoE7HkyE\u201d— Laura Pitter (@Laura Pitter) 1540470087
As Sanders stated in his op-ed, "The likely assassination of the Saudi critic and Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi underscores how urgent it has become" to immediately cease American complicity in the Saudi assault on Yemen, which has produced the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Since Khashoggi disappeared, Sanders and many others have urged the Trump administration to "reevaluate" the U.S. relationship with the kingdom.
In addition to denouncing the "brutal murder" of Khashoggi, Sanders detailed how "the United States is deeply engaged in this war" in Yemen, and how it is "a strategic and moral disaster for the United States." Specifically, he pointed out that "we are providing bombs the Saudi-led coalition is using, we are refueling their planes before they drop those bombs, and we are assisting with intelligence."
While the Trump administration has defended U.S. involvement--even as the coalition has dropped American-made bombs on schoolchildren--the bombing campaign has killed, wounded, and displaced thousands of civilians, and created a hunger crisis that the U.N. recently warned could cause 13 million people to starve to death.
As the Times published the senator's op-ed on Wednesday, Saudi airstrikes reportedly killed 21 people in Hodeidah, where civilian deaths have "surged dramatically" since June, when the Saudi-led coalition launched an offensive to take control of the port city.
None— \u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0639\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 * \u0628\u062f\u064a\u0644 (@\u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0639\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 * \u0628\u062f\u064a\u0644) 1540453438
As Sanders plans to bring his resolution back to the floor, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.)--who also wrote an op-ed about ending U.S. support for the war, published by the San Francisco Chronicle last week--is leading a similar effort in the House of Representatives.
"Not only has this war created a humanitarian disaster in one of the world's poorest countries, but also American involvement in this war has not been authorized by Congress and is therefore unconstitutional," Sanders concluded. "I very much hope that Congress will act, that we will finally take seriously our congressional duty, end our support for the carnage in Yemen, and send the message that human lives are worth more than profits for arms manufacturers."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Anti-war voices are praising a new "must-read" New York Timesop-ed in which Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called on Congress "to redefine our relationship with Saudi Arabia, and to show that the Saudis do not have a blank check to continue violating human rights" by revoking U.S. support for the Saudi and UAE-led war in Yemen.
Noting that the humanitarian crisis in Yemen "has only worsened and our complicity become even greater" since the Senate voted in March to block a resolution (SJ Res. 54)--introduced by Sanders, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)--to end military support for the Saudis, Sanders wrote that he will bring the measure back to the floor next month.
"Amen!" tweeted CODEPINK co-founder Medea Benjamin. "We have been in the Senate all week pushing for this bill. Join us."
\u201cAmen! We have been in the Senate all week pushing for this bill. Join us\u201d— Medea Benjamin (@Medea Benjamin) 1540434157
Media critic Adam Johnson, an outspoken opponent of U.S. wars and imperialism, simply said, "this is good folks."
Concluding that there are "so many excellent points in this op-ed" that she didn't "even know where to begin," Laura Pitter of Human Rights Watched tweeted, "Just read it."
\u201cSo many excellent points in this oped, dont even know where to begin. Just read it. War creating very problem administration claims it wants to solve; undermining broader effort against violent extremists; it\u2019s a strategic/moral disaster for US @SenSanders https://t.co/a7yoE7HkyE\u201d— Laura Pitter (@Laura Pitter) 1540470087
As Sanders stated in his op-ed, "The likely assassination of the Saudi critic and Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi underscores how urgent it has become" to immediately cease American complicity in the Saudi assault on Yemen, which has produced the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Since Khashoggi disappeared, Sanders and many others have urged the Trump administration to "reevaluate" the U.S. relationship with the kingdom.
In addition to denouncing the "brutal murder" of Khashoggi, Sanders detailed how "the United States is deeply engaged in this war" in Yemen, and how it is "a strategic and moral disaster for the United States." Specifically, he pointed out that "we are providing bombs the Saudi-led coalition is using, we are refueling their planes before they drop those bombs, and we are assisting with intelligence."
While the Trump administration has defended U.S. involvement--even as the coalition has dropped American-made bombs on schoolchildren--the bombing campaign has killed, wounded, and displaced thousands of civilians, and created a hunger crisis that the U.N. recently warned could cause 13 million people to starve to death.
As the Times published the senator's op-ed on Wednesday, Saudi airstrikes reportedly killed 21 people in Hodeidah, where civilian deaths have "surged dramatically" since June, when the Saudi-led coalition launched an offensive to take control of the port city.
None— \u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0639\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 * \u0628\u062f\u064a\u0644 (@\u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0639\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 * \u0628\u062f\u064a\u0644) 1540453438
As Sanders plans to bring his resolution back to the floor, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.)--who also wrote an op-ed about ending U.S. support for the war, published by the San Francisco Chronicle last week--is leading a similar effort in the House of Representatives.
"Not only has this war created a humanitarian disaster in one of the world's poorest countries, but also American involvement in this war has not been authorized by Congress and is therefore unconstitutional," Sanders concluded. "I very much hope that Congress will act, that we will finally take seriously our congressional duty, end our support for the carnage in Yemen, and send the message that human lives are worth more than profits for arms manufacturers."
Anti-war voices are praising a new "must-read" New York Timesop-ed in which Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called on Congress "to redefine our relationship with Saudi Arabia, and to show that the Saudis do not have a blank check to continue violating human rights" by revoking U.S. support for the Saudi and UAE-led war in Yemen.
Noting that the humanitarian crisis in Yemen "has only worsened and our complicity become even greater" since the Senate voted in March to block a resolution (SJ Res. 54)--introduced by Sanders, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)--to end military support for the Saudis, Sanders wrote that he will bring the measure back to the floor next month.
"Amen!" tweeted CODEPINK co-founder Medea Benjamin. "We have been in the Senate all week pushing for this bill. Join us."
\u201cAmen! We have been in the Senate all week pushing for this bill. Join us\u201d— Medea Benjamin (@Medea Benjamin) 1540434157
Media critic Adam Johnson, an outspoken opponent of U.S. wars and imperialism, simply said, "this is good folks."
Concluding that there are "so many excellent points in this op-ed" that she didn't "even know where to begin," Laura Pitter of Human Rights Watched tweeted, "Just read it."
\u201cSo many excellent points in this oped, dont even know where to begin. Just read it. War creating very problem administration claims it wants to solve; undermining broader effort against violent extremists; it\u2019s a strategic/moral disaster for US @SenSanders https://t.co/a7yoE7HkyE\u201d— Laura Pitter (@Laura Pitter) 1540470087
As Sanders stated in his op-ed, "The likely assassination of the Saudi critic and Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi underscores how urgent it has become" to immediately cease American complicity in the Saudi assault on Yemen, which has produced the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Since Khashoggi disappeared, Sanders and many others have urged the Trump administration to "reevaluate" the U.S. relationship with the kingdom.
In addition to denouncing the "brutal murder" of Khashoggi, Sanders detailed how "the United States is deeply engaged in this war" in Yemen, and how it is "a strategic and moral disaster for the United States." Specifically, he pointed out that "we are providing bombs the Saudi-led coalition is using, we are refueling their planes before they drop those bombs, and we are assisting with intelligence."
While the Trump administration has defended U.S. involvement--even as the coalition has dropped American-made bombs on schoolchildren--the bombing campaign has killed, wounded, and displaced thousands of civilians, and created a hunger crisis that the U.N. recently warned could cause 13 million people to starve to death.
As the Times published the senator's op-ed on Wednesday, Saudi airstrikes reportedly killed 21 people in Hodeidah, where civilian deaths have "surged dramatically" since June, when the Saudi-led coalition launched an offensive to take control of the port city.
None— \u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0639\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 * \u0628\u062f\u064a\u0644 (@\u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0639\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 * \u0628\u062f\u064a\u0644) 1540453438
As Sanders plans to bring his resolution back to the floor, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.)--who also wrote an op-ed about ending U.S. support for the war, published by the San Francisco Chronicle last week--is leading a similar effort in the House of Representatives.
"Not only has this war created a humanitarian disaster in one of the world's poorest countries, but also American involvement in this war has not been authorized by Congress and is therefore unconstitutional," Sanders concluded. "I very much hope that Congress will act, that we will finally take seriously our congressional duty, end our support for the carnage in Yemen, and send the message that human lives are worth more than profits for arms manufacturers."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.