America knows the Yemenis are a people that are fearless and are not bluffing. While, on the other hand, the Yemenis know the Americans are bluffing.
By Finian Cunningham
The United States has this week announced a multinational navy task force to counter Yemen’s blockade of the Red Sea. The U.S. also warned it is prepared to hit the Arab country with military strikes in retaliation.
The stakes are high. The Yemenis have the vital Red Sea global shipping route under their command from controlling the narrow Bab el-Mandeb strait that flows out to the Indian Ocean. The impact of closing this chokepoint on global trade is eye-watering. Hence the Americans and their European allies have sprung into action with threats of retaliation.
In response, the Yemeni armed forces in alliance with the Houthi rebel movement told the Americans to shove it.
The Yemenis warned that they have ballistic missiles to sink any warship or submarine that the U.S. and its allies deploy in the region. The Yemenis added they will continue blocking cargo vessels using the Red Sea route until the genocide in Gaza stops.
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Over the past week, Yemen has stepped up its interdiction of cargo ships attempting to transit the Red Sea route. Several major shipping conglomerates have confirmed their vessels are being re-routed around the African continent. The additional transport costs and disruption to supply chains are already hiking price inflation in Western economies, adding to already painful economic woes and political damage for governments held in contempt by hard-pressed populations.
The Yemenis say they are only targeting Israeli-linked ships but it seems that the deterioration in security conditions in the narrow maritime corridor is deterring all shipping companies. The Bab el-Mandeb strait is 32-kilometers wide straddling Yemen and the Horn of Africa. Hundreds of container ships and oil tankers pass through the strait on any given day, ferrying cargo from Asia to Europe through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, the other chokepoint further north in Egypt. If one chokepoint closes, the whole route is closed.
The United States has sought to frame the navy task force as a policing operation to protect international commerce and freedom of navigation.
The Yemenis, however, have said their disruption of Israeli-affiliated shipping is a legitimate action in solidarity with Palestinians.
U.S. Secretary of State Lloyd Austin in announcing the new naval coalition, dubbed Operation Prosperity Guardian, stated. “The recent escalation in reckless Houthi attacks originating from Yemen threatens the free flow of commerce, endangers innocent mariners, and violates international law. The Red Sea is a critical waterway that has been essential to freedom of navigation and a major commercial corridor that facilitates international trade. Countries that seek to uphold the foundational principle of freedom of navigation must come together to tackle the challenge posed by this non-state actor launching ballistic missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) at merchant vessels from many nations lawfully transiting international waters.”
In response, Mohammed Abdel-Salam, a spokesman for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, said: “The American-formed coalition is to protect Israel and militarize the Red Sea without any justification, and will not stop Yemen from continuing its legitimate operations in support of Gaza. We are not making a show of force against anyone [except Israel]. Whoever seeks to expand the conflict must bear the consequences of his actions.”
The Americans are trying to make out that the Yemenis are acting like criminal sea pirates and the U.S.-led task force is nobly serving in the interests of international commerce and peaceful navigation.
Washington and its allies cannot publicly admit that their actions are in support of Israel. The genocidal offensive on Gaza since October 7 in which nearly 20,000 civilians have been murdered is politically untenable for Israel’s Western allies.
The naval task force launched by the U.S. this week includes nine other nations: Britain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Norway, as well as the Seychelles and Bahrain. The latter two are token non-Western parties to give the image that this is not overtly a Western imperialist coalition. Bahrain is where the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet is based in the Persian Gulf, so it makes sense that the tiny monarchy has to be included in simple logistics.
However, the salient thing is that there are no other Gulf Arab nations involved in the task force. Egypt is also absent even though it is a major Red Sea coastal nation as is Saudi Arabia. Their absence belies the official U.S. rationale. If Operation Prosperity Guardian were really about protecting commerce and international shipping then why aren’t Red Sea Arab states joining up? Of course, they are not, because the real purpose of the task force is to aid Israel.
The acute but unspoken conundrum is if Arab states were to join the U.S.-led naval force then it would be politically fatal for the rulers of these states. They would be seen by their populations as supporting the Western-backed Israeli aggression and genocide of Palestinians. That would make America’s Arab allies unstable from internal revolt and perhaps even risk their total collapse. The Arab pillars of the U.S. empire are at risk of falling.
If the Saudis and Egyptians were patrolling the Red Sea with American warships, the Yemenis would be sure to fire missiles at Riyadh and Cairo in retaliation. After all, the Yemenis fought an eight-year with Saudi Arabia from 2015 when the Saudis were militarily supported by the U.S., Britain and France. The Yemenis were undefeated and the Saudis were forced into making a shaky truce over the past year. The Saudis reportedly don’t want to slide back into a war with Yemen that was financially ruinous for the Saudis.
U.S. President Joe Biden is facing a tight reelection contest in less than 11 months. Polls show him losing to Republican contender Donald Trump. That’s a sign of how deeply unpopular Biden is.
The last thing Biden wants is to torpedo his electoral chances by starting a broader war in the Middle East involving U.S. forces directly. Especially if the Yemenis begin sending U.S. warships to the bottom of the Red Sea or Indian Ocean.
If the U.S. were to seriously retaliate against the Yemenis, the conflict would likely escalate with Iran entering the fray in support of their ally Yemen.
That’s why, as this AP report notes, the Pentagon is curiously dancing on a pinhead over the Red Sea. Washington is huffing and puffing, trying to talk tough but ultimately hesitant to use its firepower. The U.S. has an aircraft carrier, USS Dwight Eisenhower, in the Gulf of Aden next to Yemen. But for some reason, it has kept a distance from the marauding Yemeni vessels.
The Yemenis know they have a just cause morally and legally to help Palestinians against the U.S.-backed Israeli genocide. The battle-hardened Yemenis also have demonstrated the courage and resilience against a Western-backed Saudi war of aggression.
Washington knows the Yemenis are a people that are fearless and are not bluffing. While, on the other hand, the Yemenis know the Americans are bluffing.
Bab el-Mandeb translates as “the gateway of tears”. The Americans and their duplicitous allies will be the ones shedding the tears.
Comments
22 responses to “The Yemenis Know the U.S. Is Bluffing… Here’s Why”
Yemen proves that there is a people that cannot be intimidated by liars.
On
Well, the U.S. Admirals must be having hissy fits, mah word! Ooo panties in a knot 🪢 Thith ith a BOLD lipthtick choice moment! 🫦 for ALLLL thailors, mmmmph. 🫡
Now we find out if Aircraft Carriers are like Stegisaurii…
Hissy Fits … yeah sure, but they are really having Pissy Fits.. Dripping & Leaking their from their behinds … Now, they are pushing them stu pid Indians to send their Warship in Med & Red Sea.. Stupid Indians being slurping sucking slaves of US are ready to get their behinds reamed. Just sent 3 of their boats in Arabian Sea.. Just need one to be sunk.. they world will see them running with dripping behinds.
Hindians have ships? Holy cow the urine drinkers are angry..Fear Red.com they will the American with computer virus..yes yes..
Lloyd Austin is the Sec of Defence, and Spain is NOT in the coalition of the killings.
Several of the nations Austin announced as participants in Operation Prosperity Guardian either have other ideas, or are contibuting next to nothing. According to Reuters:
‘- FRANCE
France’s Defence Ministry said it supported efforts to secure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and surrounding area and said it already operated in the region. But it said its ships would stay under French command and did not say if it would deploy more naval forces.
– ITALY
Italy’s Defence Ministry said it would send naval frigate Virginio Fasan to the Red Sea to protect its national interests in response to specific requests made by Italian shipowners. It said this was part of its existing operations and was not part of Operation Prosperity Guardian.
– SPAIN
Spain’s Defence Ministry said it would only participate in NATO-led missions or EU-coordinated operations. “We will not participate unilaterally in the Red Sea operation,” it said.
– OTHER COUNTRIES
The Netherlands said it would send two staff officers and Norway said it would send 10 naval officers to Bahrain, the headquarters of CMF.’
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-red-sea-taskforce-gets-limited-backing-some-allies-2023-12-20/
As for the Seychelles:
‘Seychelles’ participation in the “Operation Prosperity Guardian”, a multinational force set up to provide maritime security in the Red Sea is only in the sharing and receiving of information, said Vice President Ahmed Afif on Wednesday.’
http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/19810/Seychelles%27+participation+in+%22Operation+Prosperity+Guardian%22+is+only+information+exchange
Even Bahrain hasn’t publicly said what, if anything, it will contribute:
‘Although US Defense Secretary Austin announced Bahrain’s participation in Operation Prosperity Guardian, the GCC island did not issue any statement about its participation. The King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa also did not mention his country’s involvement in the alliance during his meeting with Austin, the official Bahrain News Agency reported.’
https://themedialine.org/top-stories/bahrain-sole-gulf-country-publicly-supporting-prosperty-guardian-coalition-others-will-benefit-with-aim-to-stop-houthis/
There will be hope for world peace only when the US is economically weakened and Israel is significantly weakened militarily as to not threaten its neighbours.
Since the end of ww2, AMERICA with all its might, has been loosing wars against peasants all over the world ….
Losing not Loosing..
I don’t know. Loose can mean unleash, as in ‘loosed the dogs on the prowlers’ and discharge, eg. ‘loosed a hail of bullets’ – both of which seem quite apt.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loose
The beginning of the end of the evil Zionist empire and their Godless supporters. God bless Yemen, the only Arab nation with the balls to take on the war criminal, children killing Zionist vermin. ARAB NATIONS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. GROW A PAIR , YOU EUNUCHS!
Once removed, can they be “regrown?” But, in the case of warmongering females, I guess you don’t need ‘em to show you got ‘em. Just the desire to kill gets you in the door to the big boys club.
The beginning of the end of the evil Zionist vermin and their Godless supporters. God bless Yemen, the only Arab nation with the balls to take on these war criminal, children killing bastards. ARAB NATIONS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. GROW A PAIR, YOU EUNUCHS!
ARAB … IS A 4 LETTER WORD. THEY ARE AN ABUSE & A DISCARD OF HUMAN SOCIETY ……. ALL THE BAD & FOUL WORDS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARE 4 LETTER WORDS. ….. F**K, S**K, D**K, T**S, N**S, C**T …… ETC;
The US was created by eliminating the indigenous population.much to the pleasure of the earliest oligarchy later turned Zionists. This fueled the psychopathologies of a nation that eventually became controlled by Zionists. Today the world is reaping the consequences.
Why don’t my comments get posted?
Bonjour, une autre manière de considérer l’actualité, la Géopolitique et l’Histoire.
Le sionisme (+ virus, arnaque climat, …) est créé par le monde anglophone.
Utilisation frauduleuse de la Bible: les “Israélites” ne sont que nos pensées qui suivent la loi (“Moïse”) dans le désert de la conscience mentale (ou solitude existentielle) et qui doivent investir le Royaume intérieur (“Jéricho”); les remparts sont nos idées reçues, croyances, dogmes, … .
Mythes et Science (synchronicités de Jung, Physique moderne, « trame divine » de Victor Hugo, …) : Les USA c’est les Georgia guidestones, le retour de la bête Yéti nommée Bigfoot, le mictlan (nord et enfer) des Aztèques, le temple de Mammon à NY, … : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9rzgllkiC0&list=PLYHHkNZz74gu9F5eJ5Pls7rDyMFQhYtiV (+ odysée, rumble, crowdbunker, etc.).
En France, Macron – le suiveur sioniste (et autre) – c’est l’Emmanuel/Ze-us à … l’Élysée bien sûr (et non Jé-sus) ; un Œdipe (démon intérieur) qui tue le Père (Patrie) et épouse sa mère (intellectuelle, sa prof.) ; une « Brigitte », nom de la déesse (donc vieille Psyché) gauloise, etc. (même si travesti ou transexuel, ce qui rajoute à la complexité du personnage). Etc..
Ulysse (toi, moi) doit retrouver sa vie intérieure (Ithaque), sa fidèle Psyché, et le Fils unique (Christianisme) à l’aide duquel nos démons prétendants sont détruits; son animalité est morte (le chien); etc. .
Ne vous inquiétez pas, le Père Noël nous sauvera.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/dec/18/amazon-workers-holiday-wishes-peccy
Translation PONS
Hello, another way to consider current affairs, geopolitics and history.
Zionism (+ virus, climate scam, …) is created by the English-speaking world.
Fraudulent use of the Bible: the “Israelites” are only our thoughts that follow the law (“Moses”) in the desert of mental consciousness (or existential solitude) and that must invest the inner Kingdom (“Jericho”); the ramparts are our received ideas, beliefs, dogmas, … .
Myths and Science (synchronicities of Jung, Modern Physics, “divine plot” of Victor Hugo, …) : The USA is the Georgia guidestones, the return of the yeti beast named Bigfoot, the mictlan (north and hell) of the Aztecs, the temple of Mammon in NY, … : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9rzgllkiC0&list=PLYHHkNZz74gu9F5eJ5Pls7rDyMFQhYtiV (+ odyssey, rumble, crowdbunker, etc.).
In France, Macron – the Zionist follower (and others) – is the Emmanuel/Ze-us at … the Elysée of course (and not Jé-sus); an Oedipus (inner demon) who kills the Father (Patria) and marries his mother (intellectual, her teacher); a “Brigitte”, the name of the Gaulish goddess (so old Psyche), etc. (even if transvestite or transsexual, which adds to the complexity of the character). Etc.
Ulysses (you, me) must regain his inner life (Ithaca), his faithful Psyche, and the only begotten Son (Christianity) with the help of whom our pretending demons are destroyed; his animality is dead (the dog); etc.
Stopping production at the point of production… classic workmen’s tactics.