The petition to Congress reads:
“Pass H.C.R. 81 to immediately halt unauthorized U.S. military involvement in the Republic of Yemen.”
Add your name:
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On August 25, an American-made laser-guided bomb killed seven children in Yemen’s capital city.1 Before the strike, a five year-old named Buthaina had five brothers and sisters. After the strike she had none.
The ongoing Saudi-led war in Yemen has killed thousands, forced millions to flee their homes, resulted in the world’s worst cholera outbreak, and left 7 million people at risk of starvation.1,2 American-made bombs – dropped by American-made planes and refueled by American military forces – have been used by the Saudis and their allies to destroy crops, cut off access to ports, and wreak havoc on the people of Yemen. This war depends on American support, and now we have a chance to shut that down.
Congress has never approved American involvement in this war, and progressive Reps. Ro Khanna, Mark Pocan and others have introduced legislation to demand the United States immediately halt all unauthorized military involvement in Yemen. Under the War Powers Resolution, this important legislation is guaranteed a vote, which means in the next few weeks, the House of Representatives will finally debate and vote on this completely unauthorized war.
For nearly three years, under the guise of our reckless, illegal “war on terror,” the United States has assisted Saudi Arabia in their conflict with the Houthis – a Yemeni Shiite rebel group. We have provided weapons, helped refuel coalition jets as they dropped bombs and provided logistical and intelligence support. But the Houthis have absolutely nothing to do with Al Qaeda, ISIS or any other terrorist organization that could conceivably fall within the scope of military intervention authorized by the current Authorization for Use of Military Force.4
In providing the Saudi-led coalition targeting intelligence, mid-air refueling and other logistical support, the United States is complicit in violations of international law. We are also helping create one of the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The civilian death toll in Yemen has been heart-wrenching – with over 10,000 casualties and rising – but the United States continues to offer resources to the Saudi-led coalition. Last October, a coalition airstrike targeted a funeral procession, killing over 130 innocent people and injuring 500 more.5 The United States responded by doubling down on the amount of fuel we provide to the jets that drop those bombs of devastation.6
This conflict is devastating the Yemeni people, and U.S. involvement has not been authorized by Congress– whose responsibility it is to debate, vote on and authorize military action. By participating in this war in this way, Congress and Donald Trump are robbing the American people of their right to be represented in these decisions.
Congress must remove us from this conflict, immediately.
Tell Congress: Pass H.C.R. 81 to immediately halt unauthorized U.S. military involvement in the Republic of Yemen. Click the link below to sign the petition:
- Tessa Levine, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets
Add your name:
Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images References:
1. The New York Times, “Young Yemeni Girl Is Sole Survivor After Airstrike Topples Her Home,” Aug. 26, 2017. 2. Bethan McKernan, “Yemen: almost one death per hour as cholera epidemic spreads like wildfire,” Independent, June 9, 2017. 3. Robert Naiman, “Rand Paul: Unconstitutional Saudi War In Yemen Is Not In Our Interest, And Congress Should Vote,” HuffPost, Sept. 18, 2017. 4. Joost Hiltermann, “The Houthis Are Not Hezbollah,” ForeignPolicy, Feb. 27, 2017. 5.Naiman, “Rand Paul: Unconstitutional Saudi War In Yemen Is Not In Our Interest, And Congress Should Vote.” 6. Samuel Oakford, “U.S. Doubled Fuel Support for Saudi Bombing Campaign in Yemen After Deadly Strike on Funeral,” The Intercept, July 13, 2017. |
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