U.S. supports proxy war in Yemen

The U.S. is committing war crimes in Yemen. March 22 marks the second anniversary of the Yemen civil war. Sunni Saudi Arabia intervened on the side of their Sunni brothers in Yemen against the largely Shiite rebels. The U.S. provides massive aid to Saudi Arabia as a proxy war against our Middle East bete-noire Iran, who the U.S. and Saudis accuse of aiding the Shiite Yemen rebels. Over 10,000 dead and millions suffering cholera and starvation from a Saudi-led food blockade and bombing of Yemen infrastructure.

Now, three Senate patriots are pushing back against U.S. war crimes there. Republican Mike Lee (UT), Democrat Chris Murphy (CT) and Independent Bernie Sanders (VT) have introduced a Senate Joint Resolution to end U.S. intervention by enforcing the War Powers Act of 1973. If passed, it would force Trump to either declare war against Yemen or end U.S. war crimes there within 30 days.

Alas, the Lee-Murphy-Sanders resolution is largely symbolic. Most Senators and Congressmen are made members of the war party. Congressional leaders will never let their SJR get a vote much less pass. Nearly a century ago, President Calvin Coolidge declared that 'the business of this government is business.' Today it's more appropriate to declare that "the business of this government is criminal war."

Walt Zlotow

Glen Ellyn