BRATTLEBORO — Any war is a tragedy, especially for civilians.
Since February, the bitter war in Ukraine has diverted attention from the past seven-plus years during which the United States has facilitated war and supplied blockades in Yemen. The long-term virtual famine of Yemeni civilians is one result. Ignoring our country's involvement doesn't make it go away.
Since 2018 there has been bipartisan congressional consensus to end U.S. complicity in Yemen. Now we have a president who has stated his desire to do the same.
The 2022 Yemen War Powers Resolution is the best path to that end. It was introduced in the House, then joined by a companion bill in the Senate. Vermont's own senators, Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy, led the effort in that chamber; Rep. Peter Welch was a co-signer on the House's version. They and others have built wide support for the War Powers Resolution.
Any single member of either the U.S. Senate or House can force a vote on the floor of their chamber. Bernie, I'm looking at you! With much gratitude for your efforts to date, please bring this home, before the session ends.
Amidst a relative calm in Yemen, it's easy to ignore the lack of a current truce. There is no way to hold the Saudi/UAE coalition accountable when it again drops U.S.-supplied bombs on Yemenis. Nothing to stop the Saudis from blockading further the ports and airports, cutting off shipments of essential food, fuel, and medical aid.
We hold responsibility! U.S. weapons, planes, parts, and information enable and inform this suffering. Famine used as a weapon is a war crime.
In this Thanksgiving season, it's time for Sen. Sanders to push for that floor vote to end the blockade and war: no famine while Congress feasts.