Yemen 2009, Spain 1939, Arabian Genocide, Tribal Liberals……….
"In a Nov. 11 Christian Science Monitor article entitled “Does Iran play role in Yemen conflict?” Joost Hilterman, deputy Middle East program director for the International Crisis Group in Washington D.C., said, “There is probably next to no Iranian involvement. I have seen no evidence for it [and] it's really a bit too far afield.” He went on to say, “The Iranians are just brilliant. [They play] no role whatsoever, but they get all the credit ... ” But who most assuredly does get credit for their meddling is Saudi Arabia. Worried that the Houthis – in their quest to end political and socioeconomic discrimination of the Zaidi community as a result of an encroaching Wahabi and Al-Qaeda presence – may transform themselves into a Hezbollah-like group, the Saudis have resorted to using sophisticated weaponry against them and the impoverished people of north Yemen. These include jets, attack helicopters, surface-to-air missiles, and possibly ones more sinister. “The day after the bombing raid, Amnesty International wrote to Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, Crown Prince Sultan bin ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Al-Saud, asking whether phosphorus bombs were used and, if so, in what manner and what precautions were taken to ensure that civilians were not put at risk. As yet, the organization has received no response.” The Saudi attack on northern Yemen is the epitome of military adventurism and opportunism. It allows them to use – for the first time – advanced weapons purchased from the United States against an ill-equipped band of rebels in the midst of a destitute, malnourished, and displaced population. The humanitarian consequences of this reckless offensive are already evident…..……” Middle East Online
Arab oligarchs have lined up to express support for the Saudi monarchy in its war against the ragtag rebels in Yemen. Gulf “tribal liberals” (liberals means they still worship the oligarchs but want to weaken their fundamentalist rivals) have hurriedly and cravenly lined up behind the oligarchs. A ragtag group of mountain rebels fighting a 31 year dictatorship is now the enemy. To convince people that the Houthis are the enemy they insert the mullahs of Iran into the conflict. This week the Yemeni ambassador in Kuwait stated to the groveling local media that there are “groups” in Kuwait and the Gulf who support the Houthis. He did not need to say who they were: he knew the Salafis and others, tribal liberals, will pounce on his statement to fan the flames of sectarianism.
It looks like deje vu (all over again) in the Persian Gulf region. During the 1980s, the oligarchs and their self-styled “tribal liberal” media sided with another genocidal dictator who was oppressing a mountain minority, the Kurds of Iraq. The oppressed were also called agents of foreign powers and even Zionists. It was a time of war and anti-Shi’a sectarian feelings were strong, being fanned by the very same media of the plutocrats. We all know how that one turned out in the end. I do.
A more virulent version of the same old play is being staged these days on the Gulf. How else can you get sane people in this day and age to support an absolute tribal monarchy modeled on the early Middle Ages?
Cheers
mhg
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