This commentary is by MaryDiane Baker of Brattleboro, an organizer for the Volunteer Action Corps.
It pains me to write, again, that the USA still fuels the Saudi/UAE war machine, enabling its attacks on Yemen. This month, we’ll mark eight full years. Eight years of unconstitutional American military involvement in Yemeni starvation and destruction, while legislators, activists, more than 100 organizations in this country and 300 others worldwide demand an end to this illegal war.
Yemen is not even America’s enemy. Yet we’ve helped the Saudis subject Yemen to over 25,000 air raids. Three-fourths of Yemen’s people need humanitarian aid. How many more years should we starve these poor souls?
The Yemen War Powers Resolution continues to be the best vehicle to stop U.S. complicity in “Saudi Arabia’s brutal offensive,” states the Friends Committee on National Legislation. Our own Sen. Bernie Sanders has been in the forefront of this push through the years. He was about to take the next steps toward a war powers resolution vote in the Senate in December. The Biden administration shut him down.
Though not finalized, activity around two previous versions of the war powers resolution “produced tangible results in the lives of millions of Yemenis,” the Friends Committee reports. Military activity and attacks were reduced. As the latest bipartisan war powers resolution effort progresses, dynamics have had similar effects, including negotiations and truces.
Yes, the Saudi bombings have paused for 10 months; this is thanks, in part, to U.S. antiwar mobilizing. But there is currently no way to hold the Saudis accountable when they begin again. There is no way to hold this administration accountable either.
On the campaign trail and on his first day in office, President Biden vowed to stop American support. He has not done so. He and Congress have an opportunity to change that, right now.
With heartfelt gratitude to Bernie for his conscientious, persistent leadership and to Sen. Peter Welch for his actions, they need to keep pushing. Vermont is key; Bernie has been the face of this effort in Congress.
On March 1, Vermont rallied again as part of this year’s national protest for Yemen, backed by more than 70 organizations. Demands include: that Congress pass a war powers resolution now, stop weapons sales to Saudi Arabia/UAE and that the blockade is lifted to fully open airports and seaports.
Here in our brave little state, we encourage Sens. Sanders and Welch to bring the war powers resolution fully to the floor for a vote; to gather in the legislators who were first on board years ago; to win over more. Out here, activists continue to inform those legislators.
We strongly urge the Biden administration to work with Bernie on ending U.S. complicity in Yemen.
And we appeal to legislators across the country to champion this work. Many of Biden’s now-senior officials have worked to end this war and America’s abetment. It’s time for Congress to once and for all end U.S. collusion.
A hashtag and a protest chant declare “Yemen can’t wait.” Yemen truly can’t wait any longer.
