Thank you for this information, Mr. Kristof. The article says, "Saudi Arabia is now encouraging the United States to escalate the hostilities and order a military strike on Iran. “They must be hit hard,” Arab News, a newspaper with ties to the Saudi government, declared on Thursday."
Yes, Putin, Netanyahu, The Con Don, the Saudi Prince, Erdogan, Kim, Obran, Duerte and other supposed "strong" men who have gotten control of governments around the world want to start WW3. They, Bolton, Pompeo, Bannon and other deranged operatives are trying to foment chaos-hate-anger-fear-death-destruction-LiesLiesLies-WAR-rape-pillage-plunder around the world.
Another article in today's NY Times says The Con Don plans to "pardon" U.S. war criminals who wantonly killed innocents during U.S. military actions. He wants all the "killers", white supremacists, crazies and other war mongers on his side to try to start a civil war in America.
WE THE PEOPLE are the only ones who can/will/MUST stop them right now.
NO WW3. No more civil wars anywhere. No one wins in war. No one. Not even the insatiably greedy, demented Robber Barons who are trying to start them.
3
How does Barbara Bodine of Georgetown U., who was ambassador to Yemen when the USS Cole was bombed in the Harbor at Aden and she impeded the FBI investigation which was leading to Al Quaeda and their terrorists in the U.S. which led to 9/11, feel about Yemen today?
1
Nicholas Kristof, I agree with your position, but it's really beneath your dignity as a journalist to write:
"Iran and the Houthis have also behaved badly, but that’s a poor excuse for Americans to support war crimes against Yemeni children."
They "behaved badly"? Your readers deserve a much fuller explanation of the history of the conflict.
5
Thank you Mr. Kristof for shining some much needed light on US backing of this incredibly unjust and cruel war. It seems as though the US will do whatever the Saudis want and overlook any crime as long as oil sales continue in dollars and arms manufacturers profit. This war will achieve nothing beyond killing children, destroying a country and radicalizing a new generation and while the US citizenry is largely oblivious to our involvement, people in the ME and around the world know full well who's signature is on the bombs. I also appreciate that you gave mention to the fact that Bernie Sanders has stood apart from the pack of presidential candidates in having the good sense and moral courage to speak out against this cruel and misguided farce of a war. It is rare to see Mr. Sanders covered in the Times unless the story serves to undermine him as a presidential candidate. Tulsi Gabbard is another presidential candidate with a very clear and sensible voice against US involvement in Yemen and our misguided policy of Saudi appeasment, sadly she is also either ignored or smeared by the NYT, it's encouraging to see you do better Mr. Kristof.
2
The Sunni/Shia rift over prophets has been in extra-innings for a millenium. It's not surprising that the Sunni's would have to put the Saudi Mad Prince in to pitch... .
It IS surprising that Donald Trump has allowed himself to be conned into taking sides.
2
We are so overwhelmed by disasters, grim prophecies and stories of predation that columns like this about a genuine humanitarian crisis are nothing but a footnote, Our eyes glaze over and we pass to the next story in despair.
1
What a farce, we are so concerned about abortion and pain pills as we actively participate in allowing the Saudis and Israel, with our help, turn the Middle East into a parking lot paved with the remains of women, children and the homes they once occupied. Substitute Vietnam, where we were carpet bombing the natives abroad and throwing people into prison at home for smoking pot and you have the same scenario today. Fifty years later Vietnam and China, those commies who would destroy “ democracy” are conquering the world without firing a shot: if we don’t discontinue this madness the next politicly unacceptable “Cartoon” to rant against won’t just be Bibi and Trump as tail and dog but Bibi and whoever’s the status quo candidate in a sinking ship with the Saudis waving us off.
6
Nick still yapping about Yemen while endorsing the racist thinking that propels people like trump by promoting an honorable platform for the racism of the odious Charles Murray.
If you see the color of the Yemeni people's skin you know why trump is all in on starving their children.
2
well, let's see. you supported the invasion of syria. where do you draw the line? sorta cheapens the pulitzer....
6
Thank God for Nicholas Kristof and for this reminder of our deadly alliance with Saudi Arabia and Israel. If it weren't for those two nations, we could have a relationship with Iran that would benefit the US and stabilize the Middle East. The children of Yemen, of Lebanon, of Syria, of Iraq, of Iran, of Palestine and of Israel and elsewhere could grow up in a world less filled with tragedy and oppression supported by the US government.
7
I have a hard time thinking of any U.S. interest that is served by supporting violence in Yemen. None.
"Trump has said that if the United States doesn’t sell weapons to Saudi Arabia, then Russia or China will."
We used to stand for the right of people to govern themselves and determine their own future. Now we pick fights for the money.
3
If war is coming with Iran...one thing is absolutely for certain, if we think there's a terrorism problem now that uses the United States as their primary means of cultivating funds and recruits, we're in for an eye-opening experience. I'm a proud patriotic citizen of the U.S of A, but I can certainly empathize with countries on the receiving end of heavy-handed, ill-conceived and whimsical U.S. nation building, destroying and rebuilding. What makes matters even worse is that the hawks calling the shots in this embarrassingly inept administration, bound by no morals or ethical concerns, are almost certainly doing the bidding of Netanyahu (Israel) with every bit the blind obedience shown Putin (Russia).
104
@David
When was the last time that the US went to war on behalf of someone else? Are we preparing the ground to excuse our own stupidity (in case it prevails and we attack Iran) by already pointing a blaming finger at Israel and Saudi Arabia?
2
I will never forget Colin Powell's prescient words when the Bush administration was contemplating a preemptive strike on Iraq. To paraphrase: If we invade Iraq, we own it. Nicholas just wrote similar words, that "wars are easy to get into, harder to exit" in referencing Iran. To return to Yemen itself, I am glad that Mr. Kristof points out that we are complicit in the murders of too many Yemeni children, women, and men. Because of our alliance with the ruthless Prince MBS, because of our interdependence for too long with Saudi Arabia itself, our nation is dropping those bombs, shooting those bullets, robbing food, shelter, and medicine from the most desperate of desperate individuals. In other words, it is not only those victims south of our borders whom we are dehumanizing, but it is also those people in the Middle East whom we are abusing and killing. Where did America go?
70
@Kathy Lollock
Where did America go ? Which America? Post WW2 we have unfortunately been engaged in these shenanigans from Guatemala, through Chile , and Iran ( Mossadegh coup) just to name a few lowlights... I’m a veteran, but my eyes are wide open about what we actually are as opposed to what we are supposed to stand for. I love this country, but we have work to do, at home , and abroad, to right this ship.
23
It's not just our actions concerning Yemen, siding with the Saudis and actively engaging in that war. We have effectively tried to shut Iran off from the rest of the world. Trying to stop all oil sales. Not allowing medical supplies into the country. Sending carrier groups to the Persian Gulf, ( their home waters ), threatening and provoking them at every step. These are acts of war. The same actions helped start WW2 with the Japanese. And please don't leave out the Israelis, who have sided with the Saudis, trying to goad the Iranians into war and pushing the U.S. into it. We are on the wrong side of history here and the rest of the world knows it.
130
@Doctor Woo
I recall Leslie Stahl interviewing Madeleine Albright about the sanctions imposed on Iraq by the Clinton administration which resulted in the death of a half million civilians. The latter calmly asserted they were "worth it." In hindsight it's hard to see how, except that killing innocent civilians for some amorphous foreign policy goal doesn't result in those responsible paying any price whatsoever. Quite the contrary, you can be wrong on every single count and yet lauded by the powers that be in Washington DC.
Now Bolton, whose track record is as reprehensible as Albright's, is having another go at regime change in Iran. That he, and this notion, is treated with anything but contempt is a measure of how far this country has fallen short of the ideals it was founded on.
For shame.
25
Thanks, Nick, for pointing out what your fellow pundits -- in their focus on realpolitik or US politik or, simply, "us" (as opposed to "them") -- fail to recognize. That is, that there are already plenty of "them" who are suffering because "us" don't care about anyone other than ... well, us.
Please, Nick, keep up the good fight. Sadly, though, I think, in the long (and important) run, you're going to lose. As are we all.
44
The problem with the US/Saudi alliance is that the two nations have their hands so deeply into one another's pockets.
The US made a deal with the devil in 1974: in order to stabilize world oil markets, the Nixon administration made a secret deal with Saudi Arabia - we would buy their oil and they would buy our debt. Currently, the Saudis own a huge chunk of US debt, and for the past 4 decades, the US dollar has been the base for oil trading around the world - and by extension, most other commerce.
China is now the world's largest importer of oil, and they are working hard to alter this traditional paradigm and use their Renminbi instead of US dollars to purchase oil. This could have a very disruptive effect on the US economy, and most likely destabilize the dollar worldwide.
Obviously we should not be supporting either of the two bloodthirsty regimes (Iran or Saudi Arabia), but there is too much at stake if we try to withdraw support from the Saudis at this point.
The fact that I haven't mentioned the starving children until now is a perfect metaphor for US foreign policy: our first concern is economic stability, not human rights. I'm not sure if that's as evil as it sounds, because if the US economy crashes, we can't help anyone anyway.
It's a fragile balance, and it can't be easy to make these calls. But hopefully public pressure based on articles like this will contribute to our erring on the side of human rights.
35
Colin Powell declared that military intervention should only be used when their are clear cut political objectives; the use of overwhelming military force and an explicit exit strategy. The Persian gulf war met this criteria when a sovereign country that we were strategically aligned with was invaded by Iraq. That country was united in wanting our involvement and once when Iraq was expelled we withdrew our forces. Bush 41 was prescient in not wanting to invade Iraq and get involved in a factional dispute without an end in sight. Unfortunately starting with Bush 43 and enabled by shortsighted strategist like bolton Mr. Powells words are not being adhered to.
28
Miller and Bolton want a war. Trump, the disturbed idiot sitting on the throne in the White House, wants a war, because he’s being told he needs one, and he thinks he’ll distract all the “thinking people.” (Trump is too stupid to think up anything by himself.)
This country better wake up real soon, or we’ll have nothing left but an idiot President and a deceased Administration killing everything in this country that is good.
It’s our choice. Time is running out. Act soon.
6
The official declaration of war is merely a formality as well as hypocrisy. No 'breaking news' there. Even armistices, when unfairly written and enforced with cruelty often reignite within a generation or less while a terms such as 'cold war' have been endless.
Whatever you call them, they're here to stay, at least until we begin to fully embrace peace. That's truly 'the war to end all wars.'
What a simplistic argument. Iran backed proxies have Israel encircled in Gaza and Lebanon. Iran is clearly trying to do the same to Saudi Arabia with their Houthi proxies in Yemen.
So just what precisely should Saudi Arabia do about that?
Mr. Kristof doesn't like the sickening outcome of the war. No one does. So what is your solution to countering Iranian Islamist domineering intentions in the Levant, Mr. Kristof?
4
Tell me. Is this a political war or a religious one?
3
Of course both and all sides have behaved badly in this business, but the real crime is the refusal of the U.S. to pull out of its slavery to Israel's lead on these issues--and accordingly our inability to free ourselves for truly serious leadership of an international coalition to contain these horrors. Iran is always--always--going to be either a partner for stability in that part of the world, or, excluded, to find itself a party to ceaseless intrigue and anarchy. It would be easy to blame the Trump government's absurdly provocative substitute for diplomacy here, but there is also a lack of will and a consensus in our Congress and public opinion generally on this issue. Unless and until we liberate ourselves from an Israeli veto over our action, we are not going to be a credible international actor in these horrors.
2
Please stop the "both-side-ism." If Iran is indeed a culprit in this outrage against humanity, please provide details instead of a one sentence assertion.
The Saudis, with massive American complicity, are perpetrating the war crimes Kristoff has detailed. Iran is providing some, minimal, support to the Shi'a Houthis, but one can easily believe that these Yemenis are capable of fighting on their own. There is no evidence of Iranian personnel in the fight, and the monetary support they provide are insignificant compared the US and Saudi wealth that's perpetrating this humanitarian and moral disaster.
Describe it as what it is, and stop trying to portray Iran as the destabilizer of this region. The Saudis under the rogue MbS are to blame. The US needs to control its client. It's in America's ability to stop this wanton war. It's about time we did.
6
Nick, you are right on all accounts, but there is more to this conflict.
While Iran is not innocent and does have a number of reasons to be frowned upon, the bigger culprit in the region is Saudi Arabia, which not only already has nuclear weapons but has also started to spread terrorism on a global scale a few decades back, using Islam as the carrier of their Wahhabi ideology, funding Madrassas and Imams with billions of USD to spread the idea that only a world under Islam is worth living in.
And that this idea has to be spread by all means, including the sword.
So when comparing the two troublesome countries in the region, Iran only comes a distant second.
But, as we have learned in the Yugoslav conflict of the 1980s and 1990, all it takes is a good PR firm and the culprit becomes a victim no matter what they do.
This is what made Bosnia a victim and this is what is at work here.
The kingdom has hired a US PR firm in California to paint a picture of itself and Iran that defies reality by a large margin.
Left is Right and Right is Wrong, or as Orwell called it: Doublespeak.
If it weren't for the favourable and very successful public lobbying, Trump just as Obama would probably not have fallen for this PR stunt and the war in Yemen would long be over.
And this is were one could step in by showing the world who is lobbying for whom.
But alas, MbS wants a war and Trump wants to impress his buddy of the glowing orb.
And means high probability of a (nuclear) war against Iran.
2
@Thomas Actually it’s Israel with the nukes, I don’t believe we have given them to the Saudis yet, they would be using them against us sooner or later so I certainly hope we haven’t.
2
The slaughter of the Yemenis is a war crime and the guilty include Salman, Obama, and Trump. There was once a time when American jurists declared to the world that to plot and wage aggressive war is the ultimate international crime and punished war criminals for their crimes. Reviving that legacy would be to something to be proud of, and we can start with our own war criminals.
4
"Iran and the Houthis have also behaved badly, but that’s a poor excuse for Americans to support war crimes against Yemeni children."
Mr. Kristof likes to lock on to an issue and sometimes does not show both sides as clearly as he should. Iran, Houthis and war crimes get 1 sentence.
For a more nuanced view try the BBC here:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-45329220
The Houthis are also quite adept at using drones, attacking Saudi oil installations and a UAE airport, but as long as children are not involved, that too passes under Mr. Kristof's radar as "bad behavior".
https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/3/18527205/drones-explosives-yemen-war-houthi-rebels-edge-violence-borders
"It’s time to end American support for the bombing and starvation of children in Yemen."
Absolutely correct. But it is time not to forget or give a pass to Iranian proxies.
7
@Joshua Schwartz
I don’t think Mr. Kristof suggested that anyone be given “a pass.”
And if innocents - and especially children - are suffering at the hands of the Saudis, then the US should stop being complicit in those immoral actions. There are other ways of standing strong against Iran.
3
Sadly Americans really don't care about this. Do you remember when the Saudis dismembered your friend in the Embassy in Lebanon? Our outrage for this is gone and we as a people have interest in the war in Yemen. We just don't care.
3
Imagine all the children we could save if, instead of building bombs to kill them, we sent them food and medicine and clothing. We talk pro-life but act as child killing monsters. No rational, developed, humane country allows for the death of innocent children. What do our actions say about us?
5
Gee, I wonder how many 10s of millions the Saudis have invested in Trump real estate? I wonder how big the loans are that Jared Kushner received from Qatari allies of the Saudis. Most corrupt administration eve!
4
It has always been the population of a country which suffers most from war. It will ever be thus. We clearly see the outlines of the Four Horsemen with Conquest, War, Pestilence and Death running rampant in Yemen. But, unlike the book of Revelation where the seals were broken open by the lamb of God, we are the agents of the evils of this war.
And we have chosen to look away. We do not acknowledge our complicity in 223,000 deaths and look not upon the possibility of 1,800,000 deaths either.
But our arms dealers and our bomb makers pocket the proceeds.
Just as those who once worked in cigarette manufacture, I would hope those actually making bombs in our nation would walk off the factory floor and call a halt to destruction since our government apparently cannot show restraint.
"And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isa 2:4)
“Most presidential candidates (with the exception of Senator Bernie Sanders, who has been a strong opponent of the Yemen war) don’t mention Yemen much...”
I see Kristof hasn’t heard of Gravel and Gabbard, both running for the Democratic nomination.
Submitted May 18th 4:04 PM
1
Several points. First, war between Mamlaka in RYAD and Yemen has been going on generations. Had a sergeant in my classes when I was a contractor in S.A. in 1970's veteran of the combat in Yemen. So, it's not a new thing, What is new is the intensification of hostilities and the power struggle ongoing between S,A and Iran which regards Houthi rebels as proxies. Second, Yeminis r still coming to S.A. for work, and since the Saudis, a trifle "paresseux," don't have to be gainfully employed since they have so much money, that labor supply will not dry up in the near future.Third,If Mr.Kristof wants to be our national conscience, reminding us of the suffering and injustice in the world, why does he not personally lead by example and sponsor a needy, despairing Yemeni family for green cards, and let us know how they make out in his column?On a stipend of $800 monthly sponsored a family from Ghana plus their pets and it has worked out just fine.Son is in a charter school in the Bronx.Join actions to your compassionate words, Mr. Kristof, show us that you personally really care!We can't solve ALL the problems in YEMEN, but u can make a difference in the lives of 1 family if u choose to do so!
well, people forget quite easily how difficult it was in 2015. it was not Trump's era where nothing really matters.
so yes, it appears to be a partisan issue where smart people want this madness to end and where the present administration wants it to go on.
https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/obama-aide-how-we-got-it-wrong-in-yemen-24162
Obama, come back please.
When I looked up information on the production of weapons, it appears that Russia and China don't make all than many, not that they wouldn't. But it is the US that produces weapons in exponentially greater numbers than those countries. How much a part of our supposedly "booming economy" are weapons and their export. What's happening to these children is beyond evil and inhumane. MSB is a thug, and we don't deny him or ostracize him. For shame!
4
For too long now, news video out of Yemen has made me ashamed of my country.
AOC is correct in saying that these new restrictive abortion bills coming out of the Republican party at the state level are not nearly as much about saving babies' lives as they are about controlling women's sexuality. Whoever cares about babies' lives and all human life should be horrified, outraged, but much more importantly should be taking action over the starvation that is happening in Yemen and Venezuela. Where is the action?
Today's NYT front page photo of a starving 2-year old in Venezuela is heart-shattering, and properly so. At the top of the WI. State Journal today is, as stripes the top of the paper 365 days of the year, a "fierce" picture of athletic play. It's just irrelevant. I get 5-10% of news through reading our local paper. The remaining 90-95% I get from reading the NYT. But vast majority of people in Wisconsin don't read the NYT, only their local papers, pretty devotedly, and feel confident that they have "gotten the news." How can we transform local newspapers into mini versions of NYT-quality newspapers? Then the country may effect more of the action it should be effecting, because the populace would be immensely better informed.
One special aspect of NYT is its comments sections. It makes newspaper reading a crowd-sourced dialogue. Sometimes the top comments are so erudite and wise that I learn more from them than I do from the journalist who penned the article. Would it be feasible to have some kind of real comments section for local papers?
5
The Houthi (named after the leader of their movement) are indigenous Zayidi Muslims, a branch of Shi'a Islam. They are not "rebels." Zayidis were rulers of Yemen from the 9th Century until the 1970's when Yemen and South Yemen were reunited and Sunnis captured the government with the support of the Saudis.
The Zayidis also live in Southern Saudi Arabia, and that is the crux of the problem. The Saudis are paranoid in the extreme about Shi'a Muslims within their borders.
The Yemeni conflict is a civil war that the Houthis have already won, but the Saudis will not accept this, which is why they keep bombing babies.
But why is the United States participating in this genocidal war crime? Ask Trump.
5
We will never accuse Donald Trump of shrewd insight. Or giving a hoot about Yemen's suffering. He's busy amusing himself---with Twitter, Fox News, his golf game, & rallies.
There is not one coherent policy. And have you ever heard a president, when asked if going to war, weakly state "I hope not?"
He's emotion-based, not logic-based. We won't hear any line of thought with great powers of reasoning, classifying, and inference-making. May Democrats succeed in 2020.
Our future depends on it.
3
The Saudis traded wealth for fierceness in 1920. As they have gotten fatter, lined their tents with gold plate, replaced their prophet with profits, they never raised a generation capable of defending their petro-state. It should be no surprise they cannot mount a serious challenge to barefooted, khat-addicted rubes despite access to advanced weaponry. Too bad we haven't better proxies as we do in another volatile area of the region. Unfortunately the destruction of the mullah-state of Iran will have to be left to the Israelis, who are the masters of the asymmetric. With silent assistance it will work...in time. As incidents arise, appropriately effective but less than a massive response will cauterize the situation while increasing the overall pressure. The Persians haven't a safety valve; she will eventually blow.
1
Yemeni children starve or are killed in U.S.- supported air strikes while president Trump surveys the situation and wonders: How does this make me look to my "base"?
Yes, it really is that bad.
For too long, news video from Yemen has made me ashamed of my country.
If only those Yemeni children were still fetuses, then the Americans might care.
And while it is admirable that Mr. Kristof is "haunted by seeing my tax dollars go to help starve children to death", I guess the adult deaths, the death's of the children's parents, is less moving.
Mr. Kristof should know by now that the US is currently killing children in Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and is trying to starve Venezuela and Cuba.
Has any country in the history of the world killed so many children in so many parts of the globe at the same time?
USA! USA! We're Number One!
3
"..... I’m haunted by seeing my tax dollars go to help starve children to death."
One would hope that all White House journalists are equally haunted. Yet none of them dare to remind Mr. Trump of his statement after he ordered bombing of Syria. Referring to the impact of Assad's chemical bombs, he said: "Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack” (please see 1). These journalists should ask Mr. Trump what is the difference between him and Assad, when both are giving green light to murderers to kill "beautiful babies."
1. CNBC article: "Trump launches attack on Syria with 59 Tomahawk missiles," by Everett Rosenfeld, Apr 7, 2017.
1
What percentage of those that simply turn a blind eye to our partner nation atrocities are also on the warpath to save the unborn? Is that a checkpoint for punditry?
The enmity between Iran and Saudi Arabia is a religious one. The Saudis and the staunch supporters of one Muslim sect and the Iranians are the staunch supporters of a competing Muslim sect. In addition, the Saudis are Arabs and the Iranians are Persians and not Arabs.
If Donald Trump would hire people who actually know what the politics of the issue are, instead of idiots like Bolton who wants a never ending war in the the Mid-east, He would not be threatening war.
1
The war monger GOP need to start the draft up and we demand their sons and daughters all get drafted for now on. They are picking fights with every country every week and that needs to stop. The religions that voted for these anti life people will then be very upset when there sons and daughters go off to war. You reap what you sow.
1
Raytheon stock price is up 70% since the conflict in Yemen started.
You cannot create jobs without killing some children. Preferably someone else's.
1
American military blunders are waiting to be made in Persia.
Cannon fodder citizens are waiting orders. As usual, go get it!
I am sorry to say but with the march toward WW III led by trump's war hawks and the potential decimation of Women's Rights in your your so-called Red States there is little to respect about your country. I have not crossed the border and spent money...except my Times subscription..in over a decade. There seems to be daily gun murders even in Washington State on the Seattle news casts and I consider Washinton State among the good group in your country. Where is leader who can overcome your extreme rightists who seem to want to destroy what the USA prides itself on? To me they are the Anti-Americans destroying your American values of human rights.
One? Syria, Iraq, Afghanisan, Yemen, Kenya, Somalia, Pakistan, and Lybia. I bet we will be at war with Venezuela and Iran before Trump leaves office.
The shame US participation in this slaughter brings is almost unbearable. While abortion has captured the center ring for the 2020 elections, this obscenity deserves the number two spot.
Trump is anti-War ... Christoff is totally wrong ... the War in Yemen is Saudi Arabia’s ‘baby’ ... if the US didn’t sell them weapons ... another candidate would step forward (China or Russia) ... the real issue is Saudi Arabia handing over weapons to Al Qaeda ... it seems to me the Arab/Muslim Middle East is imploding ... states dissolving / humanity suffering ... we (the West) can’t do a thing to resolve it for them ... stepping into a Muslim State begets a backlash ... Trump is right ... sell the weapons but stay clear ...
The antichrist in our time is not Donald Trump , although he does a very good impersonation of evil incarnate .
The true antichrist of our time is the almighty dollar- the idol that we have created in order to “prosper“. And because of this we have allowed Saudi Arabia to own 8 percent of our wealth . If they were to be sufficiently alienated and withdraw their investments, the US would go into a major recession. And for this reason, we have, to a great extent done the bidding of Saudi Arabia and we have stepped into the middle of a Middle Eastern tribal war . Our greed and our stupidity have caused this Geo political checkmate. And unfortunately it’s going to take someone far more intelligent than the likes of Donald Trump and his pathetic lapdogs in Congress to fix this misery .
It seems that it would take a sociopath to use your country's treasure to bomb and kill children. A sociopath that would veto bills to cut the "bloody" cord of destruction. A sociopath that has lied to the citizens over 10,000 times since coming to power. A sociopath that wants so desperately to be a "friendly" dictator.
@doggirl
Well, perhaps, but to be fair, at least he does not wear an adult diaper so it could be worse.
The Senate voted to end aid to Saudis Arabia for the war on Yemen. Trump vetoed it. It's not even a bipartisan issue. It's just Trump at this point.
5
The UK is also complicit in supplying arms to Saudi Arabia that are used in the Yemeni civil war, a major crime against humanity. Saudi Arabia and israel aim to push the US directly into war with Iran on the pretext that US interests are threatened. But the only 'interests' basically Israeli and Saudi, and the US has no strategic interest in perpetuating the Yemeni conflict.
2
I think there will be a Tonkin Gulf incident. Bolton and trump will claim an attack on one of our ships. They will not allow any contact with the ship, "national security." trump will have retaliated before the House can even convene. It will have been totally bogus, and they will demand national loyalty.
7
We have gone from being a country that was the moral leader, sensitive to world opinion and supportive of the United Nations in the post WWII years, when we decried the USSR for its aggressive behavior and frequent use of its veto power in the UN Security Council, when we helped rebuild Europe and Japan and renedered aide worldwide, to the world's bully, caring only for our selfish interests, bringing death and destruction both directly and indirectly, callous to genocide, seemingly unprincipled and largely distrusted. We as a nation have seemed to have lost our moral way.
Although he has accelerated the trend, it's not all Trump, and it's not all either the Republicans or the Democrats.
As with many things, it seems to have started in the 60's with Vietnam. Our social fabric was stretched and torn.
It's not been a straight-line decline. We have made some good efforts, such as trying to negotiate a settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, Richard Holbrook's team negotiating peace in the Bosnian conflict.
But too often we have operated to support dictators, to engineer coups in Iran, in Central America, and elsewhere. We have used our might to back the wrong horses out of greed, to protect US busines interests. We're no longer trusted to mediate.
Now Mr. Kristof seems a voice crying out in the wilderness, where few Americans really care.
What ever happened to the vanished question, the one we no longer hear: What is the right thing to do?
10
@Jim Hugenschmidt
Thank you for sharing. You are telling the true.
I think the U.S was the hope for all nations who were tired from centuries of exploitation. All over the world, they considered the U.S. as a powerful country who could help them to have peace and democracy. This was true until the U.S. collaborated in a coup in 1953 in Iran to topple down the Iranian democracy in order to help Great Britain exploit oil resources in the region.
That was NOT a coup for american values.
Similarly, the coming war is NOT a war for american values. It works only for Saudi values. I would say: don't sacrifice american face/souls to please Saudi Arabia.
1
while it is right to accuse the Saudi government for its atrocious war in Yemen and we are indirectly to blame, but have we ever thought about the current predicament in Venezuela is perhaps partly due to our embargoes and freezing of its assets?
3
Thank you, Nick, for explaining the complexity of this immoral war that Saudi Arabia is waging against the helpless. MBS is a ruthless murderer, as we've known for a while now, but this aggression in Yemen is truly barbaric. So many civilians have died, and so many are starving. The children you've shown us are heart-wrenching examples of the effects of the unlimited evil in this world.
6
Interesting analysis of warmongering, here and there; and it's memory remains...unless it's ongoing. Who may be the culprit right now, pushing the 'enemy' against the wall? Some humility is in order, however abundant is it's counter, arrogance, in some quarters.
"Trump has said that if the United States doesn’t sell weapons to Saudi Arabia, then Russia or China will. But Saudi Arabia needs American spare parts, and it also buys U.S. weapons partly for the implicit security guarantee that comes with them. No other country can provide that security blanket."
Trump vetoed Congress's resolution to end the war in Yemen. Trump is best buds with MBS, who orchestrated the murder of journalist and US resident, Jamal Kashoggi. The Saudis produced the 9/11 terrorists.
So in what convoluted world does an attacked country become best friends with the thuggish regime that spawned the 9/11 terrorists while buying lots of American weapons, roping the US into its unholy war in Yemen, and pressuring us to fight Iran so they don't have to?
I applaud Nicholas Kristof's courage to "slip into" Yemen to witness for himself the horrors of a war few of us think about unless we follow his columns.
This is what dedicated journalists do: bear witness to crimes against humanity perpetrated by so the called "allies" of our government currently ruled more by financial considerations than moral ones.
16
Remember the Saudis? They're the people that murdered an American resident, they're the people that use our aviation fuel and bombs to murder Yemeni children, they're a hateful theocracy that we've been friends with for decades.
America once stood for something and then 'global politics' and oil became more important.
16
@Michael Kelly You left out 9/11. The Saudis supplied most of the hijackers and money for the "operation", and have benefited from it more than anyone, judging from their new president they've installed in the White House.
1
Saudi Arabia is squelching any regional Shiite influence; hence their ruthless campaign in Yemen and antagonism towards Iran. How can we possibly get on board with such a bankrupt agenda? Saudi Arabia’s oil and status as a (supposed) Middle East ally has far too much, and far too destructive, power over our country.
5
The Saudi Regime is evil, personified. At least North Korea keeps its horrific abuse within its own borders, and its own people. MBS is exporting the death and destruction, with our help. What possible justification is there for actively aiding and abetting murder, and suffering ??? Money, weapons deals, public AND private, commissions and fees ? What’s the going rate of child murder ? What about starvation, unspeakable pain and suffering ? WHO is benefiting, and WHY ???
Thank you, Sir. Please continue, we need you.
14
There's much to unpack here:
Americans don't seem to be moved by death statistics alone.
It really helps to have video and photographs. Witness how many people were repulsed across the internet to the fictional incineration of Kings Landing's civilians.
Compare that to the lack of outrage over Yemen's real horror.
For me, my heart remains broken from seeing the photo of the starved body of young Amal Hussein shortly before her cruel death. Courtesy of MBS and American weapons.
(If you want to "get down to it", that alone to me justifies regime change in Saudi Arabia.)
I remember a time when the video of the murder of American journalist Bill Stewart caused us to change our policy in Nicaragua. The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, sans video, did nothing but perhaps strengthen White House ties to the Saudis, given Trump's reflex to double down on bad policy when faced with blatant wrong doing.
And now we seem to be barreling towards direct war with Iran. Before an incident triggers the conflagration, let's please pause and take a thoughtful look at what's going on:
The one nation that would benefit the most from this is Russia - calls for help from Iran and its allies, much higher oil prices, opportunity for more hegemony in the region, and disruption of the western economies - to name a few.
Our dotards in the White House really are stooges for Putin.
17
Should we be on team Saudi? Should we be on team Iran? Should we be on team Israel? Should we be on any of these teams?
12
What started out to be grab for oil rights in the Middle East is now a quagmire of death and destruction with our fingerprints all over it. If anybody wonders why there is such a thing as terrorism where America is the enemy, just think about what we have done to the Middle East over the last 50 years all to secure a cheap supply of oil.
11
Mr. Kristof doesn't understand. If Yemen falls, the whole Arabian peninsula, with all its petroleum, will fall like a stack of dominoes. First, ... uh, well, not sure, but who cares about details?
1
Leave Iran alone and in peace. We do not want war and neither do they!!
13
If the choice for a Sudanese citizen in the middle of a civil war is A) death and starvation with self determination, or B) survival without self-determination for now, why exactly is it that the Sudanese people choose A? When it means their kids will die?
This makes absolutely no sense. Lots of people in lots of countries throughout the world comply with the rule with dictators, and get to have their kids grow up. What is different about Sudan?
Do not tell me that "kids are dying" without telling me about the choices their parents make. Don't tell me that those parents should have the right of self determination- the latter seems trivial compared to survival, and Sudan is no different than any other dictatorial country.
1
@Will Hogan Excuse mi Will. Mr. Kristof was writing about Yemen. Yemen is in the Arabian peninsula. Sudan is in northern Africa.
@Will Hogan
.................forget it.
As we know, the "military-industrial" complex is really the "military-industrial-government" complex. Providing weapons for other nations who use them to deliberately massacre children, families, the numberless innocent is a criminal act by government -- as so much is these days.
It's spring, and Mr. Death rides once more in the wind.
Doug Giebel, Big Sandy, Montana
8
People need to be reminded that collateral damage is a collective good luck getting into heaven kind of offense. As a tax payer I am complicit, my moral disgust and outrage can’t shield me from that truth. Made in the USA should instill hope in that you bought something that might last forever. Not the message of death, blood stained on a fragment of searing metal pulled from a child’s body. Shame on our heartless leaders who decided to brand us in this way.
Lying to oneself that this is about defense or freedom, just makes the offense worse.
9
America is incapable of doing the right thing for another 20 months. And that's only if we get the next election right. If we don't, it won't be just the Yemenis suffering.
Asking trump to show some compassion is pointless. No return on investment says the cold one.
7
Would that we could see ourselves as those children see us.
12
With this Trump republican administration, we've turned the world upside down so the president and his cronies can get even richer - bad guys are good; good guys are bad. Our foreign policy was up for auction before Trump took his oath of office. There is no more evil empire existing in our world today than Saudi Arabia. Well, perhaps Russia. And China. And North Korea. All friends of Trump.
7
The war with Iran is going on for some time. And for a good reason. If Iran emerges victorious in this struggle, the US influence in the Middle East would crumble. Thus, there has always been an effort to weaken Iran and the Iranian allies, may these be Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Iraq or others. In fact, Saudi Arabia funded ISIS in order to "break" the Iranian arc of influence in Syria. Now, it is Yemen (and partially Lebanon). Considering that US projects power in the Middle East through Israel and Saudi Arabia, conflict with Iran (to minimize its influence) is dictated simply by geopolitical considerations. Only a "friendly", client-style Iran would be acceptable, and this is the rationale behind the recent ratcheting of pressure.
It would not work, not because the Iranian regime is popular - it is not- but because the US-linked solution is much more unpopular. Iran has shown that it can take lots of punishment and keep on ticking. The question is, of course, if the Saudis are as resilient for the long term. My guess is that the Saudi regime is more likely to collapse in the long term.
7
If the Saudis, the Emiratis and the Americans had spent a fraction of what they're spending on this war in order to assist the Yemenis during peacetime the Houthis would never have gained access to power in the first place.
22
@stu freeman
Thank you. We could say the same thing for our southern border with foreign aid. But then our president wouldn't be able to stir up his base and claim he's resolving a crisis.
We need to get him out of the Oval Office. I'm ready to vote for any Democratic candidate... no protest third-party vote, no protest non-vote, and certainly no Trump vote. Time to Dump Trump.
4
"Trump has said that if the United States doesn’t sell weapons to Saudi Arabia, then Russia or China will."
Then the blood will be on their hands, not ours.
8
@Padfoot
They don't make enough for this.
Thank you so much for this testimony of your ever-awake conscience. The Democratic candidates should not be allowed to remain silent on this issue. By all means, every news outlet, every citizen of conscience, should be cornering them on what they will do about this.
31
@Anne Sherrod They'll do nothing more than the usual hand-wringing, while US arms makers sell bombs to our wonderful 'allies' and the profits keep rolling in. (A percentage of which will become campaign contributions to both sixdes of gthe aisle.)
2
@Dana
It's the citizens' job to put pressure during the election. Under sufficient pressure, several Democratic candidates might oppose the war. You have to push hard to change things, and the upcoming election is the key time to do it. If citizens don't force the issue, they get what they deserve. Surely out of so many candidates, more than one, Bernie Sanders, will stand opposed. The war is indefensible. Let's hear what Joe Biden says, why are Harris and Warren silent? It seems to me like most of the candidates are A.W.O.L. on foreign policy. Saying that, I totally agree with you Dana, that the whole thing is driven by the sales of weapons and military expertise, which is likely why we have thus far heard so little from the candidates and current legislators on this. issue.
4
World history is witness that war never solves conflicts, whether it was Vietnam war, Korea war, Iran-Iraq war, any war: War brings destruction, what author has pointed out. In the last couple of years in Middle East, innumerable innocent lives were lost, the one of the reasons is that the mentality of rulers and politicians have not changed with the time, they seems as if living in middle ages when everything was decided by the rule of sword, diplomacy is given the least important to resolve conflicts. Unfortunately and shameful is that our country - one of the largest democratic country on the earth is complacent with such autocratic tribal rulers.
15
@Shekhar Mehta: The American War of Independence and the Second World War successfully changed the World for the better.
2
@Shekhar Mehta**** honestly that is kind of a ridiculous comment. The Civil War here had to be fought. WW2, Hitler had to be stopped, It's just the sad truth. Some wars are for the common good in the end. And they have been going on since the beginning of time in one way or another. All species seem to fight over one thing or another; water, land, natural resources, sheer survival. I suppose they will keep going on. And the Earth is just getting too small for any kind of big conflict as this would be. We are all effected by the consequences in some way. Mass migration of refugees. Lasting pollution from modern weapons. Destruction of dependent economies. The smart thing ( which our current admin. is not really capable of ), is to not needlessly start something like we are doing.
1
"the Second World War successfully changed the World for the better." You don't mean to justify the atrocities brought by Nazi Germany and her allies - the rulers of these countries were then not different from today's rulers of middle east countries - to achieve their aim by power, even tried to annihilate the particular section of their own population (Jews) and that did bring destruction and their way of achieving their aim led to 2nd world war.
Since MBS, Netanyahu, Bolton, and Pompeo all want regime change in Iran and the Republicans in Congress are too spineless to oppose the Trump administration on any issue, the only hope we have is that Trump will pay enough attention to keep U.S. saber rattling from descending into a war with Iran. Not very comforting.
22
How can we, the readers, American Citizens, stop this? This is more of the same in the Middle East, we create the problem and the problem grows and the world suffers. You would think at this point in civilization we should come together to fight global warming not to wipe out generations of families. Globalization has brought together many Global Citizens trying to cure disease, build a better world, but always in the background the rich destroy and take for themselves. Again I ask, what can we, the readers, American Citizens, do to help the people in Yemen and others suffering around the world? Do we live in a true democracy? Let's start by bringing values back into our homes, caring for our families, and being honest. Then, please NYT, tell us how can we come together fix this and to stop the atrocities.
12
@PatrIcia Use every possible forum to put pressure on the candidates running for office in 2020. Corner them on what they would do about the situation if elected. Make it a big election issue.
1
The entire Middle East has been the birthplace of a surfeit of bizarre, but hardly benign, myths that masquerade as religion. That a country whose citizens have had the advantages of education and personal liberty would provide the countries of the Levant with the means to slaughter one another, and to encourage such slaughter is a stain on everything America believes it stands for.
But then, we have Donald Trump to atone for at home. You'd think that enough is too much. Way too much.
5
This is about oil isn't it? And our eventual destruction from self-poison, plastic, and heat.
We have shown the world what we really are and it's sickening. Meanwhile our burgeoning dictatorship here is racing against time to stack the courts so trump will never be found guilty. Who knew democracy was so easily sold? It's more easily sold than a war.
9
@Michelle Teas: No it isn't about oil. It is about religion, which is much worse that oil.
2
@Jeff
It's about religion AND arms AND oil. That's a very combustible combination.
2
Problem is, this call for action from decent Americans to act to stop the war in Yemen is not being heard by those few who make the decisions and, I am sure, are getting the graft.
I have never had as little trust in my government as I have today. I have little doubt Trump and his team are cleaning up by offering American war power in exchange for personal enrichment.
It is like when Nixon became President and it took many years for us to learn he had sabotaged the 1968 peace talks so he could get into office, and thousands of American troops died before peace was available again.
We couldn't do anything because we didn't know anything, and the people in charge didn't care.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
36
how DO you bring this message to our President, who is deprived of any values that that exudes empathy or concern for human rights and is exclusively focused on actions that only benefit him personally.
11
"... it’s difficult to see how the war ends unless the U.S. forces the issue."
The American president is owned by Russia and the Saudis. When these countries have sufficient reasons for the war in Yemen to end, then the U.S. could "force" the issue. But sadly, given our current government, the U.S. is not in control at this time.
If you are opposed to this war and think your country should be taking a serious stand against it, then you need to make your voice heard at the ballot box next year. That may be the best hope to end this conflict at some time in the foreseeable future.
19
"We are drifting toward an increased risk of a collision with Iran..."
The Bolton strategy, as supported by the Saudis, is to multiply both the pressure points on Iran and the totality of stress until the Iranian leadership either makes a major mistake or lashes out in frustration. The US will then possess a superficially credible justification to retaliate militarily against Iranian aggression, and Bolton will press his case before Trump for some sort of attack.
One of the few coherent foreign policy insights Trump possessed prior to taking office was that the Iraq war was an unmitigated disaster and new Middle Eastern wars should be scrupulously avoided. So he may well prove capable of resisting the temptation for a military strike. But Trump is also impulsive, shallow and egotistical -- so Bolton's manipulation could easily succeed, especially if Trump can be convinced that the Iranian provocation is a challenge to his fragile sense of manhood.
29
Now we get to why it so important to understand the Saudi's financial hold over the Trump and Kushner families. Like the yachts and apartments they bailed Trump out of in the 90s, like the Trump hotels the Saudis continue to patronize -- buying 500 rooms at a time after his election -- and like Kushner desperately searching for Middle East investment for his failed 666 property. It is very, very clear that these people would not let little things like ethics, honor, and the death of a quarter million poor people anywhere get in the way of financing their incredibly lavish, lifestyles and bad business deals. What's not so clear is why we, as a people, including Republicans, Democrats and everyone in between will tolerate this behavior by a ruling elite that considers itself above the law. I just can't understand it. This is supposed to be America.
134
Please don't say "we" are helping to starve children in Yemen. I have zero say in how my tax dollars are spent and my influence on Capitol Hill is considerably less than my influence on lions in the African plains going in for the kill.
What should I do, resign from being a citizen? Of course not.
We are numb to wars by now and the "all volunteer military" took millions of voters out of the game by exempting them from carrying guns and walking over dead bodies. Drones, which Obama embraced and Trump celebrates, are high tech killing machines easily seen as, or adapted to, terroristic attacks. Remote control wars with remote, no control citizens makes for distant death with no blowback here in the States.
Will someone please tell me why the last three presidential administrations, at minimum, have wanted to take on Iran in one way or another? Yes, I know they were a behind the scenes bad actor during Iraq war II sending bombs and IEDs into Iraq, and they would dearly love to go, nuclear but there must be more to it than that. There is some secret reason that only Cheney's knew? Is it just that "we", meaning our government, can't stand the idea of a key nation in the middle-east going its own way, outside of US influence or control? What's the deal?
Sometimes when a bully, like Iran, wants to pick a fight, the best thing to do is walk away and let the bully exhaust himself on his own schedule.
20
@Doug Terry” Why the last three administrations, at minimum, want to take on Iran”, the answer to your question is simple Doug. Israel. The millions poured into every election plus the nonstop lobbying from groups like AIPAC insure that whatever Israel wants, Israel gets, it doesn’t matter if it’s bad for America money talks, Adelson and Israel’s lobbyists know it, so apparently does big media as they tip toe around everything to do with Israel, even Nicholas article fails to mention this, were it not for Saudis helping insure Israel’s safety there is no way they would be getting a free pass in this for the last forty years. The bully in this is the right wing element of Israel, Bibi and Likud, who have been trying to drag America into yet another war to benefit their agenda, not Iran; Iran has a young highly educated populace, not unlike Israels own young educated entrepreneurs, certainly more civilized than the Saudis who are known sponsors of terrorism, as well as acts such as the murder of the journalist. We have been in this tail wagging the dog situation with Israel for decades and anyone that goes against it is chastised. Bernie Sanders is a great example, Israel’s right wingers hate him because he wants to end wars and suffering in the endless wars so they backed first Clinton then Trump knowing full well that they could dictate foreign policy to either of them: with Trump they got a Twofer in Kushner. The time to disengage from this relationship is long overdue.
12
@Ted
Of course, I had considered the Israel connection, too, but, while your comments are convincing, it doesn't seem enough for the U.S. government to want to take on a war where a million or even several million could be killed and where there could be direct retaliation here at home. It is possible that they want to keep beating the war drums in the hope that Iran moves away from its own misdeeds and adherence to ancient religious impositions against freedom in their population. Surely they must believe (I don't) that a host of problems would be resolved if Iran fell.
There is also this: the military must have a war now and then to prove it is ready for a bigger war, to allow generals to get more stars and young people, and high tech equipment, to be fully put to the test. I haven't done the math, but, in general, the military and the civilian "leadership" find a way to get into a war every four or five years, six at most. To be a warrior, you must practice war.
5
@Doug Terry: I think you’re right in your surmisal of continual war; Eisenhower said it best “ beware of the military industrial complex”. That is the other half of the equation following WWII, but in the Middle East it’s always been about oil and Israel, with fracking I doubt we need Saudi oil as much and if we ever had an admin that would put the environment before waging wars for special interest we could wean ourselves off oil permanently in a decade or two: imagine if the seven trillion spent on wars in the M.E. since 9/11 plus the eight Trillion to service the debt on that seven trillion were spent on mass transportation and green issues, we could tell the Saudis we don’t need their oil and ditto Venezuela, their would be no push for regime change there either as we are in Iran. I see no sign of our unwillingness to sacrifice millions of “ other people” whether in Africa or the M.E. nor does it make much of a blip in major media compared to any rocket launched at Israel by the “ gang that couldn’t shoot straight “ always with the same story, an “Iran backed” this or that: if Iran or Russia were involved the entire M.E.would be turned into a pile of rubble including Israel. Thank you for your feedback.
4
Not sure how one writes a piece about Iran, and that neither in the piece itself or any of the comments is there mention of the fact that Iran is largely responsible for the deaths in Syria of more than 500,000 people, many of them non-combatants. Without the support of Iran and its militias, Assad would never have been able to survive and continue killing. We now know, in addition to those killed in the war, that there are another 128,000 missing in a huge Syrian gulag--another tribute to Iran. I am sure Kristoff is right about Yemen, but any picture of Iran today must include a full reckoning with its incredibly destructive role in Syria.
6
@micha8 - I know about the atrocities being committed by other nations against vulnerable human beings around the globe. What horrifies me is that my country, my tax dollars are helping facilitate it.
3
@micha8 Are you saying that the use of our US tax money to kill children and innocents in Yeman is justified b/c Iran has done atrocious acts in Syria? If so, when does this madness end? If not, then what is your point?
Another gut-wrenching tragedy involving America.
Are you sure we're the good guys? Kant said that the ends never justify the means, especially with people: People are ends in themselves.
Of course, most of us are powerless to divert the course of this murderous river. Even Obama floated down it.
We are the world's #1 arms salesman, which provides Americans with decent jobs, a real vote-getter. But we are selling our souls by the pound in order to maintain our economic status.
We say that we (most of us) are sickened by the war in Yemen, but that sickness must be very slight, lasting only a few minutes, at best. So we cluck our tongues and move on.
If we ever love people more than profit, we may change our behavior. Which won't stop other nations, like Russia and China, but we could look ourselves in the mirror.
30
45 wants and needs a war, any war will do.
Once this gets going it will carry him through 2020 which is what he really wants.
Diversion that kills many.
Yet Bone Spurs is Caesar for a while.
a Fortunate Son
We need a Draft where every person 18 to 35 serves in some capacity or incapacity.
Maybe that will slow our drum beat.
37
Nick Kristof, thank you for your piece asking if war is coming with Iran when we're already in a war in Yemen. We supply weapons to our enemies. We understand your words and glance at the photos illustrating your column.
How can we reconcile the tragic photo of the little Yemeni boy in his neighborhood after the bombing a few days ago and the very next photo -- an advertisement by Mercedes-Benz for their "Pre-Owned Sales Event" here in America?
How much crazier can our world get? Our incomprehensible world today is where innocent people are pawns in the genocidal games played by cruel dictators (Syrian, Saudi Arabian, North Korean, Chinese).
We witnessed the agonies of wars last century. We're undergoing climate-change today, and wondering what lies in store for America and all the world's countries in the near future.
How much longer will our taxpayer monies continue to kill innocent people in faraway countries? Life isn't worthless. Isn't it time to take our democracy back from an American president who admires dictators?
49
The war against starving children in Yemen, Mr. Kristof, is doomed to continue; here's why. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are practically financial guarantors of the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
The Kushner real estate empire, including the white elephant at 666 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan that they recently unloaded, was begging for foreign bailouts from oil-rich Gulf State patrons. The young Kushner leverages his family's floundering real estate holdings against his position(s) of influence in the Trump West Wing. With the Saudis doubling down on the violence in Iran-backed Yemen, their back-channel to the Oval Office is guaranteed to prolong the war there. The starving deaths of kids will continue. Why would they not? After all, one disgraced and discredited authoritarian regime deserves another.
The president recently said he doesn't want a war with Iran and gave the impression that he pushed back against John "Regime Change" Bolton but that was just for the peanut gallery. Now that he's dismantled American involvement in the 2015 agreement--one that still has the approval of the other five nations that agreed to it--the president has nothing and no one else to side with him. Israel has remained quiet because Trump's in Bibi's pocket.
All of this means that the death toll in Yemen will continue to rise. But what are children's deaths when set against money to be made by corrupt countries that are led by men to whom murder is transactional?
54
The war against starving children in Yemen, Mr. Kristof, is doomed to continue; here's why. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are practically financial guarantors of the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
The Kushner real estate empire, including the white elephant at 666 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan that they recently unloaded, was begging for foreign bailouts from oil-rich Gulf State patrons. The young Kushner leverages his family's floundering real estate holdings against his position(s) of influence in the Trump West Wing. With the Saudis doubling down on the violence in Iran-backed Yemen, their back-channel to the Oval Office is guaranteed to prolong the war there. The starving deaths of kids will continue. Why would they not? After all, one disgraced and discredited authoritarian regime deserves another.
The president recently said he doesn't want a war with Iran and gave the impression that he pushed back against John "Regime Change" Bolton but that was just for the peanut gallery. Now that he's dismantled American involvement in the 2015 agreement--one that still has the approval of the other five nations that agreed to it--the president has nothing and no one else to side with him. Israel has remained quiet because Trump's in Bibi's pocket.
All of this means that the death toll in Yemen will continue to rise. But what are children's deaths when set against money to be made by corrupt countries that are led by men to whom murder is transactional?
10
Totally agree
1
Yemen sounds like a horrific nightmare run by MBS. Maybe Jared doesn’t say anything about Yemen because of his perceived friendship with MBS. MBS has said that Jared is in his back pocket which is not good.
It’s incredibly risky that Bolton and Trump are gearing up for a conflict with Iran. Bolton’s obsession with war is well known and Trump can’t be trusted to tell the truth. It’s extremely concerning that the United States is preparing for a conflict with Iran.
Something as serious getting into a war needs to have Congress heavily involved. But If past behavior is a guide Trump will hide everything and not allow access to anyone involved in a conflict.
Hopefully we won’t end up in another war.
14
Another war between the Shiites and Sunnis. The same as in Iraq and Syria. Why is the US taking sides in this conflict which has been raging in some manner for almost 1,500 years. The US cannot settle the conflict but can try to minimize involvement. US policy with regard to this conflict between Shiites and Sunnis has been a disaster since the US invaded Iraq under false pretenses. The US needs a president who can finally get the US out of the mess that George W. Bush initially got the country involved in. I think the Republicans are a lost cause but the Democrats running for president should try to develop a foreign policy for this region that makes sense.
15
@Bob correct. Not the place of the USA to determine the legitimate succession to Muhammad.
Another war between the Shiites and Sunnis. The same as in Iraq and Syria. Why is the US taking sides in this conflict which has been raging in some manner for almost 1,500 years. The US cannot settle the conflict but can try to minimize involvement. US policy with regard to this conflict between Shiites and Sunnis has been a disaster since the US invaded Iraq under false pretenses. The US needs a president who can finally get the US out of the mess that George W. Bush initially got the country involved in. I think the Republicans are a lost cause but the Democrats running for president should try to develop a foreign policy for this region that makes sense.
3
Thanks for this.
There is something wrong with this country that we care so little about the crimes we commit. I don’t know whether to blame our politicians, the press or ourselves. It’s probably all three.
71
Donald@Yonkers, yes you are right, sadly it looks like we don’t care about the crimes. This has become a huge problem and with Trump moving toward pardoning every war criminal that he sees as politically beneficial especially if Fox Media asks him to do it, his behavior is getting more aggressive.
He is probably emboldened by an “all talk and no action” Democratic Congress. Now thinks that they won’t do anything (still thinking thinking thinking about the contempt citations...) so he can exercise what he thinks of as the bigly encompassing power of the office of the presidency as he sees fit.
All because he knows the judiciary and congress will do nothing to stop him.
King Trump?
5
The war against starving children in Yemen, Mr. Kristof, is doomed to continue.
The president recently said he doesn't want a war with Iran and gave the impression that he pushed back against John "Regime Change" Bolton but that was just for the peanut gallery. Now that he's dismantled American involvement in the 2015 agreement--one that still has the approval of the other five nations that agreed to it--the president has nothing and no one else to side with him. Israel has remained quiet because Trump's in Bibi's pocket.
All of this means that the death toll in Yemen will continue to rise. But what are children's deaths when set against money to be made? When nations are led by greedy men to whom every decision is transactional?
16
@Red Sox, ‘04, ‘07, ‘13, ‘18
There’s not much to add to your great comment. I would just say that Iran has more grievances against the US than vice versa. Which country has, inter-alia, manipulated the results of the other’s election; backed Hussein in his ruthless war against them; shot down their civilian plane, killing every soul aboard; reneged on a multinational agreement...? Which country can’t stop itself from behaving worse than any caricature described by the Mullahs?
5
Trump has been pushing measures to get into a war; that is all.
Canceling an agreement, imposing economic measures against a country that is not doing anything against America; with the exception where America is looking for trouble.
27
There is a way to stop this gruesome war. Without the US stopping, without UN intervention, without stopping MbS, it is this: the Houthis gain enough small missiles (from anywhere they can manage) to bomb Saudi oil lines until the Saudis are forced to stop their bombing of defenseless Yemenis. Is there any other way? With Trump vetoing Congress, silencing American voices, and the UN helpless, is there any other way?
8
@John
I fear that your suggestion would backfire tragically. If Houthis bomb Saudi oil lines, the Trump administration has said that it would respond to any attacks on our "interests" and "allies". I think it likely that the administration would seize this as the excuse they are looking for to look at Houthi backers in Iran, and attack Iran if the Houthis attack Saudi oil lines.
8
@Kare
A Pentagon war gaming exercise reportedly revealed that the US would lose a regional war in the Persian Gulf. I think this was in the NYT. Just consider that an aircraft carrier is large and slow, the jets taking off and landing are slow, and the Iranians are shooting from small fast boats within their own territorial waters. Sounds like a backfire against US aggression to me. And everyone in the world will notice that the US sent a flotilla half way around the world to be sunk. You want to "fire"? Fire Bolton and Pompeo, and vote against every single Republican for failure to "protect and defend the Constitution" of the United States.
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Why is the US even an ally of Saudi Arabia? A large majority of the 9/11 terrorists were Saudis and their state religion demonizes everyone not Sunni Muslim or Arab.
There is no hope for the children of Yemen as long as Trump is president. His best friends forever besides Putin appear to be the Saudi royal family.
I commend Nick Kristof for his courage in going to Yemen in covering this war and his steadfastness in continuing his reporting on the slaughter of innocent children. It is a tragedy.
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@Mary Scott
Context please. The US is a Saudi ally because Iran is a sworn enemy of the US and works to undermine us everywhere. Beginning when they took our marines hostage back in the Jimmy Carter era. If the US voters had avoided letting the Supreme Court choose Geroge W Bush and Dick (Halliburton) Cheney (at the nepotism request of George's brother) then we would still have Iraq and Saddam Hussein to oppose Iran, but we were all too stupid to avoid that. Now we are stuck with Saudi Arabia as our most effective counterbalance against the evil Iran, despite the distasteful MBS and the tragedy of Yemen's civil war, which is a civil war and not just of Saudi/US manufacture...The middle east is like a chess game and your approach is naive. PS- If US citizens gave a whit about saving lives, we would provide health care for all our own citizens, which we have clearly voted not to do.
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@Mary Scott Why are we allies? Money going into the coffers of our military industrial complex.
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@Mary Scott
Saudi is even worse than that, but you nailed it.
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The United Nations and a growing number of countries in the world are calling for an immediate ceasefire in war torn Yemen.
Oxfam and other agencies are calling on the United States and European countries to end their support for the Saudi coalition. More and more Americans are reacting to the “gut-wrenching” images of starving Yemeni children.
The airports and seaports have been devastated by Saudi-US bombing and the economic collapse have pushed food prices beyond the reach for most Yeminis intensifying hunger and famine.
Images of young children reduced to flesh and bones have amplified demands for an immediate end to US and European weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Emirates.
US bomb fragments have littered the Yemeni landscape intensifying anger towards the US.
Civilian deaths have been grossly understated to minimize opposition of arms sales. Food supplies have been deliberately targeted intensifying shortages. The Saudis are also trying to close the port through which many supplies enter the country. The U.S. supplies the intelligence for the Saudi Air Force, which is carrying out massive atrocities making us complicit in Saudi’s war crimes.
It is shameful that the army of Dems seeking the presidency, with the possible exception of Sanders, remain silent to the carnage. The karmic debt keeps mounting.
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I wish I didn't view Nicholas Kristof as a rare treasure. It simply reminds me that real journalists are a dying breed and he sticks out as a shining example of what used to be. When I was in school (60 or so years ago) the term "muckraker" was intended to be a term of opprobrium. Some members of my generation picked it up as a term of honor. I think Mr. Kristof might smile to be counted among the likes of Ida Tarbell, Jacob Riis, Upton SInclair, and, more recently, I.F. Stone.
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@lhc
At the same time I thought "muckraker" was a term of honor already. Different school system, maybe?
We need I.F. Stone and Bill Moyers in his prime. And many, many more; the corruption is that deep.
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US complicity in backing Mr. Bone Saw's war against Yemen is now killing tens of thousands of innocent Yemenis and threatening starvation of two million people in the nation. The next step may well be to do MBS' bidding and wage war on Iran. Continued US involvement supporting these foreign adventures is reprehensible.
Meanwhile, I wonder what has become of MBS' bid for nuclear plants, and the apparent related payoff of $1.2 billion in a bailout of Gerald Kushner, as detailed by Kristof in a column earlier this spring.
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With great admiration, I honestly cannot comprehend how Mr. Kristof gets so close up to the suffering children in Yemen and elsewhere without falling into utter sadness and despair. I think of my children and grandchildren having to subsist like this. It looks like this is where our species is headed as Trump and other ethnocentric nationalists chime in with Saudi Arabia in declaring that these children, "...must be hit hard."
Perhaps Mr. Kristof's articles will help stir the collective conscience of some of the world's leaders if not those responsible for this unnecessary suffering. One can hope.
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The U. S. of A. has been spending lots of cash and more since theg early 1980s. Those were the days of ELF-One, a U.S.-led reconnaissance deployment based at the Riyadh airport. The USAF kept E-3 AWACS aircraft at that location for a lot of years. I deployed there myself from a air base in Oklahoma. Of course, it was all about petroleum then and still is now. I just came home from Boise via Interstate 84. I wonder how many fellow American motorists have a clue. Not many, is my guess.
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Our economy is based n the weapons we build; all other needs are made abroad. The "military-industrial-complex" we were warned about is omnipresent.
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@bnc: Absolutely correct, and Trump's instinct is to create jobs within the defense (i.e., arms-for-sale) industry even as he allows them to dry up elsewhere. The federal civil service has become a wasteland while our feckless leader makes deals to sell arms and munitions to some of the world's worst governments.
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@bnc
Yes, we are very reluctant to shoot ourselves in the foot financially, no matter the cost to our morality.
Being an ethical nation is a tough row to hoe. Few make it.
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