U.S. Strikes at Houthis in Yemen for a Second Day

[Drum]

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/01/11/world/israel-hamas-houthi-yemen-news/here-is-the-latest-on-the-strikes-in-yemen?smid=url-share

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U.S. officials said on Friday night that American forces had carried out another round of strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, bombing a radar facility there.

It was the second round of strikes against Houthis in two days, following a coordinated, American-led air and naval assault a day earlier on nearly 30 Houthi targets in Yemen.

The new strikes came hours after a White House spokesman denied that the prior strikes were intended to ignite a wider regional war, which Houthi leaders and their allies vowed to respond to.

“We’re not interested in a war with Yemen,” said the spokesman, John F. Kirby. “We’re not interested in a conflict of any kind. In fact everything the president has been doing has been trying to prevent any escalation of conflict, including the strikes last night.”


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Update 9:53
MSNBC’s Pentagon correspondent just reported that tonight action was just on a single target, nothing like the scale of last night.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

1. More finding out because the fucking around is still going on. nt

[Arazi]

8. Interesting that the Behshad, the IRGC radar ship is still floating

It conspicuously moved away from Yemen coast a few days ago. Most analysts believe it’s been directing the Ansar Allah Houthi strikes on the ships 🤔

It seems as though Biden is doing everything possible to avoid a conspicuous hit on declared Iranian assets, to prevent “escalation”?

I give it one more day of strikes and then I’ll bet we sit back, watch and wait to see what Iran wants to do next

[MarineCombatEngineer]

14. It'll be interesting to see if Iran wants to escalate this,

the last time they tangled with the US Navy, they got their asses handed to them.

[tinymontgomery]

21. Our ships can just keep pushing them away

Our ships can just keep pushing them away. Force the navigation rules of the road and they will have to adjust
or cause a collision. Video of a British ship chasing that ship away, Iran doesn't want to go against any major naval ship. Navigator, 23 years navy so I do know just a bit about.the Navigation rules of the road.

[Arazi]

22. You're definitely right

I do think in her case, Iran got smart and saw the handwriting on the wall and moved her. And we’re still letting her stay afloat (she’s hanging around Djibouti).

Personally after the attacks on the bases and serious injuries to our folks, Iran is lucky Joe Biden’s in charge or their ship would be at the bottom of the sea by now.

The piracy and missile attacks need to stop now. We’ll see how much they test our resolve

[tinymontgomery]

24. Djibouti, haven't heard that name in a long time

Djibouti, haven't heard that name in a long time. Pulled in there in 83' on our way home from the gulf. As most sailor do they go where their
not to go. Our CO came on the 1mc and Said " there is a 90% VD rate there, we're going home so don't mess around. Of Course sailors being sailors we went back home with about 1/3 having to be treating.

[hueymahl]

2. Yay

More drumbeats of war

[Happy Hoosier]

3. So... just let them attack ships?

Because that’s the alternative.

[leftstreet]

4. What ships?

[Happy Hoosier]

6. The ships the Houthis have been attacking.

You know about those, right?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

7. Commercial ships transiting the Red Sea in intl. waters.

But you knew that already.

[leftstreet]

9. Commercial you say? They should fund their own security n/t

[MarineCombatEngineer]

10. Wow, just wow.

We and our allies have an obligation and duty to protect the free passage of shipping in intl. waters, just as we do in the S. China Sea and other shipping lanes.

The attacks against the Houthi's would stop right now if the Houthi's stopped trying to interdict shipping in intl. waters.

[womanofthehills]

25. They will only stop if there is a ceasefire

They are only stopping Israeli ships or those doing business with Israel.

[EX500rider]

27. That's not true they've been firing at other ships

[TheKentuckian]

28. Being dead will slow their roll.

The phony ass not pro terrorism masks have now slipped so far it is most practical for them to be used as loincloths or at this point socks.

The pro terrorism, pro theocracy, Jew hating, racist, rape cheering, jollies from mutilation, lying ass, Death to America fake left and agents of Putin are just as toxic as the white nationalist crime syndicate and theocratic domestic terrorist organization that calls themselves Republicans, perhaps more so.

Fuck all Nazis.

[dalton99a]

48. +1

[Dorian Gray]

33. This is not true at all

They've been targeting commercial ships from many countries. They even accidentally targeted a Russian ship. You should read news stories about this.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

34. Uh, no,

they've been attacking just about any and all ships, including naval warships.
Google is your friend.

[Happy Hoosier]

53. Well that's okay then!!!

Holy crap… the justification some folks are going through….

[ripcord]

11. That is what every corporation needs

A few para military teams.

[leftstreet]

12. Sounds like they've already got them n/t

[MarineCombatEngineer]

13. So the US, UK, France and other militaries are now

para militaries for corporations.
You ever heard the phrase, jumping the shark?

[PufPuf23]

23. Smedley Butler

Major General Smedley Darlington Butler (July 30, 1881 – June 21, 1940), nicknamed the Maverick Marine, was a senior United States Marine Corps officer. During his 34-year career, he fought in the Philippine–American War, the Boxer Rebellion, the Mexican Revolution, and World War I. At the time of his death, Butler was the most decorated Marine in U.S. history. By the end of his career, Butler had received sixteen medals, including five for heroism; he is the only Marine to be awarded the Brevet Medal as well as two Medals of Honor, all for separate actions.

cut

Butler later became an outspoken critic of American wars and their consequences. In 1935, Butler wrote the book War Is a Racket, where he alleged imperialist motivations for U.S. foreign policy and wars (such as those in which he had been involved). After retiring from service, he became a popular advocate, speaking at meetings organized by veterans, pacifists, and church groups in the 1930s.

cut

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smedley_Butler

Pound your chest. Even with overwhelming force things go wrong. Think Custer. Maybe some folks want WWIII and POTUS Biden is doing maximum to dampen things down, no thanks to Netanyahu et al.

From the article:

“We’re not interested in a war with Yemen,” said the spokesman, John F. Kirby. “We’re not interested in a conflict of any kind. In fact everything the president has been doing has been trying to prevent any escalation of conflict, including the strikes last night.”

[TheKentuckian]

30. Custer wanted to subjugate and control.

We have no such interests, greatly minimizing any potential for any going wrong.

Force projection and simply unleashing hell.
A completely asymmetrical effort with no need for a single boot on the ground with no aims other than destruction is hard to get upside down.

We have sufficient capability to not even bother being in the theater at all if we so choose.

[PufPuf23]

31. That was not point about Custer; stating that even with the best of superiority, unexpected bad things happen in war.

I find you monster in your cold statement.

Been pro-Israel longer than my 50 plus years as a Democrat. Violence is folly and the product of sick, narcissist men. Huge waste of humanity and natural resources.

[TheKentuckian]

64. Easily avoided. Stop attacking the ships. Cease the terrorist attacks on civilians.

Don't want the monster?

Refrain from provoking it and live in peace with the dove.

Peace is not a state of rewarding, hand waiving, or submitting to naked aggression.
Particularly so when that aggression is a purposeful strategy of attacking civilians rather than any military or even political targets.

Chaos at best and subjugation to the very worst elements the most likely outcome. The worst case beyond untenable.

What I see called for is doing nothing but inviting violence because the "sin" in this convoluted at best thought process is failing to either grin and bear it or flat out capitulate to it, which in my experience is the ultimate folly.

It is stupicidal.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

35. I really don't need to be told about Marine Major General Smedley Butler,

I was, after all, a career Marine.

I think I trust Pres. Joe Biden here more than some anonymous person on a chat site.

[PufPuf23]

49. You typed, "So the US, UK, France and other militaries are now para militaries for corporations."

One could make a good argument that the current USA is more a military and mercantile empire than a bastion of freedom with well-cared for citizens. As you have noted, the USA protects sea lanes throughout the World.

Mentioned the great Marine Smedley Butler because how could one that reads DU with any regularity not know you a "career Marine"?

>>Butler later became an outspoken critic of American wars and their consequences. In 1935, Butler wrote the book War Is a Racket, where he alleged imperialist motivations for U.S. foreign policy and wars (such as those in which he had been involved). After retiring from service, he became a popular advocate, speaking at meetings organized by veterans, pacifists, and church groups in the 1930s.

[yagotme]

51. A Co, HQSVCBn, MCB, Camp Butler, OKI FPO Seattle, WA 98773.

Almost 4 yrs. Strange thing about Camp Butler, it wasn't really a "camp". Confused a lot of people. Butler (the command structure) was located on Camp Foster (real estate). The command structure reached several different camps.

[hueymahl]

56. That is not far from the truth

That the militaries have been captured by the industrial complex. Why exactly do you think we are so involved in the Middle East? It is because we have so many commercial interests there. Military is protecting rich companies and our politicians are cloaking it in freedom and democracy.

A lot of us need to wake up to reality. Democrats in the past knew this. We seem to have forgotten.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

68. Yeah, ok, whatever you say.

[hueymahl]

71. You are right

How silly of me to look at things with open eyes

[Happy Hoosier]

54. One of the missions of the Navy...

… is to ensure safe transit of the sea lanes. It’s literally part of the US Navy mission statement.

[Renew Deal]

16. That's now how it works

Because most countries don't want armed foreigners showing up on their docks.

[Dorian Gray]

32. lol

okay.

[NickB79]

37. Most ports won't accept armed ships or even ones with mercenaries aboard to dock

And what cargo ships are going to be installing anti-missile systems and radar?

[EllieBC]

63. Would you really be ok with that?

Or would you be “outraged” over the force of said private security firms?

[Arazi]

15. They're firing at US warships and US military bases

Several US service members have been seriously injured.

Biden has shown incredible restraint. Even now he’s pulling his punches. Frankly, Ansar Allah is a terrorist group that has been provoking an international response for months.

Now they have it

[MarineCombatEngineer]

5. So you're in favor of just letting the Houthi's continually attacking shipping in intl. waters?

[hueymahl]

18. Have you ever met a military action you didn't like?

I mean, semper fi and all that, but there actually are alternatives to killing people. But big gun go boom is so much more satisfying.

[brooklynite]

20. Let us know what those alternatives are...

Iran’s proxies are carrying out the war you detest. Perhaps make some suggestions to them?

[malaise]

38. Who are the US's proxies?

Asking for some non-whites across the planet.

[NickB79]

47. Ukraine, for one

Fighting against Russia's war crimes and aggression.

And they're fighting the good fight, unlike Iranian proxies.

[dalton99a]

17. Do it again. Kill them dead.

[hueymahl]

19. Things we protect

Link to tweet

?s=46&t=0YKDVlA0-PifpiC_0T1Ofg

[Arne]

26. Please don't let the Dogs out.

These newest machines are really deadly.

[TheKentuckian]

29. Bombardment, then mow the lawn with vigor with the warthogs,

and liberal use of gunships to clear the stragglers while sinking every vessel.

Enough of this shit.

Then if Yemen and/or Iran still wants to jump bad then to the stone age with them but leaving not one single rock to stacked on the other.

[David__77]

52. Do you think the entire housing stock should be destroyed there?

[TheKentuckian]

65. To break the chain of organized terror, not even a fire ring

left recognizable.

Clearly, not desirable but it is just as easy to see we are dealing with people who are quite willing to go as low as they can excavate and then depend on the morality of the attacked for their safe harbor.

They will continue to dig until it is known that the tactics can never delve deeply enough to find any reward in this life.

[malaise]

36. Imperialists will be imperialists

I weep for humaniy.

[tritsofme]

39. Do you consider President Biden to be an "imperialist"?

I weep for anyone that could possibly be that detached from reality.

[malaise]

40. My training demands empirical evidence not opinion

What ‘s his voting record.

[tritsofme]

41. So would you assert that the empirical evidence indicates President Biden is an imperialist?

If that’s what you think, why so afraid to own it?

[hueymahl]

57. I can guess why

Because it is a trap question. You want the poster to say something negative about Biden so you can get the post hidden.

It is unfortunate that the forum rules so often are weaponized against people making legitimate criticism of policy decisions. Very undemocratic, if you ask me.

[tritsofme]

59. No the rules make sense, but if you actually think President Biden is an imperialist, you're probably in the wrong place

[hueymahl]

60. I've been here far longer than you my friend

The rules make sense. Unfortunately unscrupulous people will abuse the rules to avoid having a real discussion.

[tritsofme]

61. LOL, I've been here nearly 10 years longer than you, but I know math can be oppressive sometimes.

[malaise]

72. THIS

That is all

[BannonsLiver]

62. In this particular case you will need a lot of tissues.

[NickB79]

42. Just when I thought the mask was all the way off, there's another one under it

The Houthis have done in Yemen what Hamas only aspires to do: cleanse themselves of Jews.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/houthi-persecution-civil-war-emptying-yemen-of-nearly-all-jews-un-says/

The "imperialists" here are 100% correct in blowing these terrorists to bits. Absolutely no one here at DU should be backing the Houthis. If you are, you're on the wrong site.

[tritsofme]

43. Typically, when folks yell and scream at you who they are...they should be believed.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

45. Lots of masks have been slipping lately. nt

[hueymahl]

58. No one is backing the Houthis or their actions

This is a classic straw man. What people are complaining about is the escalation of violence and use of military action. It may be all we have left because of numerous policy blunders up to this point, but the cheerleading of war is disgusting.

[TheKentuckian]

66. Why is so difficult to ever have an issue with the

aggression?

Complaining about the use of military action for what?

This is exactly a legitimate and just as much so appropriate use of such, not some adventuring, act of oppression or belligerence, or conquest.

[NickB79]

69. Yesterday in London's protest rally, they were cheering Houthi attacks on ships

Chanting "Yemen, Yemen, make us proud, turn another ship around."

I made a post here complete with video and audio of it.

And sadly, this isn't the first time that chant has been used

So yes, a lot of Pro-Palestinian protesters are backing the Houthis. No straw men.

[hueymahl]

70. No one on this site is backing the Houthis

But surely you knew that is what I meant?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

44. And terrorists will be terrorists,

so, there's that.

[Happy Hoosier]

55. WTF is imperialist about...

Protecting the sea lanes from attack? That’s nuts. No one has the right to just attack commercial shipping. Not a word of condemnation from you for these attacks on shipping.

[Sympthsical]

46. Dead over here

When people are so anti-Israel, defending Iranian-backed terrorists threatening international commerce is on your "absolutely must do" list.

Anti-Western contrarianism has reached a new phase of dumb.

[TheKentuckian]

67. Much of the whole anti Israel premise is built on a foundation

of just such thought processes.

[GuppyGal]

50. Don't start shit then their won't be shit