Jul 14, 2022
As U.S. President Joe Biden visits the Middle East this week, three senators introduced a joint resolution to end the United States' involvement in the Saudi-led war on Yemen.
"This war has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis today and it is past time to end U.S. complicity in those horrors."
The resolution is sponsored by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)--and, according to the trio, it is already backed by a bipartisan group of over 100 House members.
"We must put an end to the unauthorized and unconstitutional involvement of U.S. armed forces in the catastrophic Saudi-led war in Yemen and Congress must take back its authority over war," Sanders said in a statement, detailing the dire conditions in the region.
"More than 85,000 children in Yemen have already starved and millions more are facing imminent famine and death," he pointed out. "More than 70% of Yemen's population currently rely on humanitarian food assistance and the U.N. has warned the death toll could climb to 1.3 million people by 2030."
"This war has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis today and it is past time to end U.S. complicity in those horrors," Sanders declared. "Let us pass this resolution, so we can focus on diplomacy to end this war."
While a cease-fire in Yemen has held over the past few months, peace advocates and progressive lawmakers have continued to call for an end to U.S. support for the yearslong war.
"The war in Yemen has been an unmitigated disaster for which all parties to the conflict share responsibility," Leahy said Thursday. "Why are we supporting a corrupt theocracy that brutalizes its own people, in a war that is best known for causing immense suffering and death among impoverished, defenseless civilians?"
Both Leahy and Warren emphasized that U.S. participation was never congressionally authorized.
"The American people, through their elected representatives in Congress, never authorized U.S. involvement in the war--but Congress abdicated its constitutional powers and failed to prevent our country from involving itself in this crisis," Warren said.
Not long after taking office last year, Biden announced an end to U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition's "offensive operations" in Yemen. However, his administration has continued to allow arms sales and provide maintenance and logistical support.
The U.S. president is set to head to Saudi Arabia on Friday. Responsible Statecraftnoted Thursday that "in an op-ed explaining the reasoning behind the trip, Biden touted an ongoing truce in Yemen, but didn't say whether he would press for an end to the war."
Related Content
Outrage as Biden Reportedly Considers Lifting Ban on 'Offensive' Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia
As the senators' statement explains, their resolution--which comes after a similar one introduced in the House last month--would "follow through on Biden's pledge" from last year by:
- Ending U.S. intelligence sharing for the purpose of enabling offensive Saudi-led coalition strikes;
- Ending U.S. logistical support for offensive Saudi-led coalition strikes, including the provision of maintenance and spare parts to coalition members flying warplanes which are bombing Yemen; and
- Prohibiting U.S. military personnel from being assigned to command, coordinate, participate in the movement of, or accompany Saudi-led coalition forces engaged in hostilities without specific statutory authorization.
The statement highlighted that the resolution "is considered privileged in the Senate and can receive a vote on the floor as soon as 10 calendar days following introduction."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
As U.S. President Joe Biden visits the Middle East this week, three senators introduced a joint resolution to end the United States' involvement in the Saudi-led war on Yemen.
"This war has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis today and it is past time to end U.S. complicity in those horrors."
The resolution is sponsored by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)--and, according to the trio, it is already backed by a bipartisan group of over 100 House members.
"We must put an end to the unauthorized and unconstitutional involvement of U.S. armed forces in the catastrophic Saudi-led war in Yemen and Congress must take back its authority over war," Sanders said in a statement, detailing the dire conditions in the region.
"More than 85,000 children in Yemen have already starved and millions more are facing imminent famine and death," he pointed out. "More than 70% of Yemen's population currently rely on humanitarian food assistance and the U.N. has warned the death toll could climb to 1.3 million people by 2030."
"This war has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis today and it is past time to end U.S. complicity in those horrors," Sanders declared. "Let us pass this resolution, so we can focus on diplomacy to end this war."
While a cease-fire in Yemen has held over the past few months, peace advocates and progressive lawmakers have continued to call for an end to U.S. support for the yearslong war.
"The war in Yemen has been an unmitigated disaster for which all parties to the conflict share responsibility," Leahy said Thursday. "Why are we supporting a corrupt theocracy that brutalizes its own people, in a war that is best known for causing immense suffering and death among impoverished, defenseless civilians?"
Both Leahy and Warren emphasized that U.S. participation was never congressionally authorized.
"The American people, through their elected representatives in Congress, never authorized U.S. involvement in the war--but Congress abdicated its constitutional powers and failed to prevent our country from involving itself in this crisis," Warren said.
Not long after taking office last year, Biden announced an end to U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition's "offensive operations" in Yemen. However, his administration has continued to allow arms sales and provide maintenance and logistical support.
The U.S. president is set to head to Saudi Arabia on Friday. Responsible Statecraftnoted Thursday that "in an op-ed explaining the reasoning behind the trip, Biden touted an ongoing truce in Yemen, but didn't say whether he would press for an end to the war."
Related Content
Outrage as Biden Reportedly Considers Lifting Ban on 'Offensive' Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia
As the senators' statement explains, their resolution--which comes after a similar one introduced in the House last month--would "follow through on Biden's pledge" from last year by:
- Ending U.S. intelligence sharing for the purpose of enabling offensive Saudi-led coalition strikes;
- Ending U.S. logistical support for offensive Saudi-led coalition strikes, including the provision of maintenance and spare parts to coalition members flying warplanes which are bombing Yemen; and
- Prohibiting U.S. military personnel from being assigned to command, coordinate, participate in the movement of, or accompany Saudi-led coalition forces engaged in hostilities without specific statutory authorization.
The statement highlighted that the resolution "is considered privileged in the Senate and can receive a vote on the floor as soon as 10 calendar days following introduction."
As U.S. President Joe Biden visits the Middle East this week, three senators introduced a joint resolution to end the United States' involvement in the Saudi-led war on Yemen.
"This war has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis today and it is past time to end U.S. complicity in those horrors."
The resolution is sponsored by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)--and, according to the trio, it is already backed by a bipartisan group of over 100 House members.
"We must put an end to the unauthorized and unconstitutional involvement of U.S. armed forces in the catastrophic Saudi-led war in Yemen and Congress must take back its authority over war," Sanders said in a statement, detailing the dire conditions in the region.
"More than 85,000 children in Yemen have already starved and millions more are facing imminent famine and death," he pointed out. "More than 70% of Yemen's population currently rely on humanitarian food assistance and the U.N. has warned the death toll could climb to 1.3 million people by 2030."
"This war has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis today and it is past time to end U.S. complicity in those horrors," Sanders declared. "Let us pass this resolution, so we can focus on diplomacy to end this war."
While a cease-fire in Yemen has held over the past few months, peace advocates and progressive lawmakers have continued to call for an end to U.S. support for the yearslong war.
"The war in Yemen has been an unmitigated disaster for which all parties to the conflict share responsibility," Leahy said Thursday. "Why are we supporting a corrupt theocracy that brutalizes its own people, in a war that is best known for causing immense suffering and death among impoverished, defenseless civilians?"
Both Leahy and Warren emphasized that U.S. participation was never congressionally authorized.
"The American people, through their elected representatives in Congress, never authorized U.S. involvement in the war--but Congress abdicated its constitutional powers and failed to prevent our country from involving itself in this crisis," Warren said.
Not long after taking office last year, Biden announced an end to U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition's "offensive operations" in Yemen. However, his administration has continued to allow arms sales and provide maintenance and logistical support.
The U.S. president is set to head to Saudi Arabia on Friday. Responsible Statecraftnoted Thursday that "in an op-ed explaining the reasoning behind the trip, Biden touted an ongoing truce in Yemen, but didn't say whether he would press for an end to the war."
Related Content
Outrage as Biden Reportedly Considers Lifting Ban on 'Offensive' Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia
As the senators' statement explains, their resolution--which comes after a similar one introduced in the House last month--would "follow through on Biden's pledge" from last year by:
- Ending U.S. intelligence sharing for the purpose of enabling offensive Saudi-led coalition strikes;
- Ending U.S. logistical support for offensive Saudi-led coalition strikes, including the provision of maintenance and spare parts to coalition members flying warplanes which are bombing Yemen; and
- Prohibiting U.S. military personnel from being assigned to command, coordinate, participate in the movement of, or accompany Saudi-led coalition forces engaged in hostilities without specific statutory authorization.
The statement highlighted that the resolution "is considered privileged in the Senate and can receive a vote on the floor as soon as 10 calendar days following introduction."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.