Tell Congress: End U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen

We have a chance to save lives in the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Petition to Congress: “Co-sponsor and support Rep. Ro Khanna and Sen. Bernie Sanders' resolution to end U.S. military involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen.” Add your name:

With massive U.S. support, Saudi Arabia has waged war in a Yemen for more than three years, resulting in around 50,000 direct casualties of violence and more than 113,000 children – 130 a day – dying of malnutrition and preventable disease.1,2 Progressive champions in the House of Representatives and Senate, led by Rep. Ro Khanna and Sen. Bernie Sanders, just introduced a bipartisan resolution to end the U.S. military involvement in Yemen.3 CREDO is joining a coalition of progressive partners that includes Demand Progress and Win Without War to support this War Powers Resolution, end American complicity in the Saudi-led war in Yemen – and save countless lives. Tell Congress: End U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Click here to sign the petition. Las December, the Senate approved an identical resolution – but former Speaker Paul Ryan blocked it in the House of Representatives. Now, with Democrats in charge of the House and bipartisan backing in both chambers of Congress, we have a shot at a life-saving victory.4 Trump's coziness with the Saudi regime is unacceptable, whether it's supporting the regime's war in Yemen or refusing to hold its leaders accountable for assassinating Jamal Khashoggi. It is Congress' responsibility to debate, vote on and authorize military action. But unless Congress asserts its authority and supports this new War Powers Resolution, it will continue allowing Trump to make the United States complicit in Saudi atrocities.5 Since the start of the war in 2015, the United States has provided the Saudis with weapons and logistical and intelligence support. We have helped refuel coalition jets as they dropped bombs on Yemeni civilians under the guise of confronting Iran, which has limited ties to Yemen's Houthi rebels. Despite a bus bombing that killed 29 children and calls for greater U.S. oversight, the United States is still supporting the Saudi war – all without explicit congressional authorization.6 This unauthorized war started under the Obama administration. But Donald Trump overturned a ban on selling precision-guided munitions to the Saudis and gave the regime a green light to double down.7 The death toll in Yemen has been heart-wrenching – but right now, a massive public outcry to end United States support for these atrocities could finally bring an end to this brutal war. Tell Congress: End U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Click here to sign the petition. Beyond the direct violence, the ongoing war in Yemen has forced millions to flee their homes. It contributed to a fast-moving cholera outbreak – the largest documented in modern history – that is affecting more than 1.2 million people.8 It has also led to widespread starvation: 400,000 Yemeni children are at risk of death from starvation while the United Nations estimates that as many as 13 million people in Yemen are on the verge of famine.9,10 Saudi forces are using food as a weapon of war by enforcing a blockade that is stopping much needed food, medicine and supplies from entering the country.11 Lives are at stake. We must do all we can to push Congress to pass the new War Powers Resolution to reassert its constitutional authority and end our complicity in mass murder. Tell Congress: End U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Click below to sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/yemen-war-powers-2019?t=8&akid=31443%2E3130208%2EN7HHYr - Heidi Hess, CREDO Action Add your name: References: Shireen Al-Adeimi, "Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance has accomplished what 50,000 Yemeni deaths could not," NBC News, Oct. 16, 2018. Kareem Fahim, "The deadly war in Yemen rages on. So why does the death toll stand still?" The Washington Post, Aug. 3, 2018. Rebecca Kheel, "Lawmakers renew fight with Trump over Saudi Arabia, Yemen," The Hill, Jan. 30, 2019. Ibid. Mohamad Bazzi, "The United States Could End the War in Yemen If It Wanted To," The Atlantic, Sept. 30, 2018. Ibid. Samuel Oakford, "U.S. Doubled Fuel Support for Saudi Bombing Campaign in Yemen After Deadly Strike on Funeral,” The Intercept, July 13, 2017. Reuters, "Yemen cholera outbreak accelerates to 10,000+ cases per week: WHO," Oct. 2, 2018. Hannah Summers, "Yemen on brink of 'world's worst famine in 100 years' if war continues," The Guardian, Oct. 15, 2018. AFP, "Yemen war: 5,000 children dead or hurt and 400,000 malnourished, UN says," The Guardian, Jan. 16, 2018. Clarissa Ward, “In Yemen, the markets have food, but children are starving to death,” CNN, Dec. 19, 2017.

Tell Congress: End U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen

The petition to members of Congress reads: “Co-sponsor and support H.Con.Res 138 to end U.S. military involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen.” Add your name:

Saudi Arabia's gruesome assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has captured worldwide attention, but it is just one example of the Saudi regime's brutal disregard for human rights.1 For more than three years, Saudi Arabia, with massive U.S. support, has been waging a war in Yemen that has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis.2 With international outrage focused on Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi's murder, there is political momentum to finally end U.S. support for Saudi-led war in Yemen – which could lead to the end of the war for good. Progressive champions in the House of Representatives introduced a bipartisan privileged resolution to end U.S. military involvement and withdraw its support from the conflict.3  Tell Congress: Pass H.Con.Res 138 to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Click here to sign the petition. The United States backs Saudi Arabia's war under the guise of confronting Iran. Saudi Arabia sees Iran's support for the Houthis – a Yemeni Shiite militia group originally formed around the historical economic and political marginalization of Yemen’s northwest – as a threat to its power in the region.4 Since the start of the war in 2015, the United States has provided the Saudis with weapons and logistical and intelligence support and helped refuel coalition jets as they dropped bombs on Yemeni civilians. After one such attack in August, the Saudis dropped an American-made bomb on a school bus that killed at least 40 children.5,6 The strike was just one in a long string of Saudi attacks on civilians. Despite the international coverage of the bus bombing and calls for greater U.S. oversight, the United States is still supporting the Saudi war – all without explicit congressional authorization. That is because the Houthis have limited ties to Iran and absolutely nothing to do with Al Qaeda, ISIS or any other terrorist organization that could conceivably fall within the scope of military intervention under the current Authorization for Use of Military Force.7 This unauthorized war started under the Obama administration. But after the Saudis used a U.S. missile to strike a Yemeni market and killed 97 people, President Obama scaled back United States involvement by banning the sale of precision-guided military technology.8 Donald Trump overturned that ban and gave Saudi Arabia the green light to double down on its disastrous air campaign.9 The death toll in Yemen has been heart-wrenching. There are as many as 50,000 direct casualties of violence and more than 113,000 children – 130 a day – dying of malnutrition and preventable disease.10,11 Right now, a massive public outcry to end United States support for these atrocities could finally bring an end to this brutal war. Tell Congress: Pass H.Con.Res 138 to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Click here to sign the petition. Beyond the direct violence, the ongoing war in Yemen has forced millions to flee their homes. It has contributed to a fast-moving cholera outbreak – the largest documented in modern history – that has already affected more than 1.2 million people.12 It has also led to widespread starvation: 400,000 Yemeni children are at risk of death from starvation while the United Nations estimates that as many as 13 million people in Yemen are on the verge of famine.13,14 Saudi forces are using food as a weapon of war by enforcing a blockade that has stopped much needed food, medicine and supplies from entering the country.15 Trump's coziness with the Saudi regime is unacceptable, whether it's supporting the war in Yemen or refusing to hold its leaders accountable for assassinating Khashoggi. It is Congress' responsibility to debate, vote on and authorize military action. But unless Congress asserts its authority and supports this War Powers resolution, it will continue allowing Trump to make the United States complicit in Saudi atrocities. Congress must remove us from this conflict, immediately. Tell the Senate: Pass H.Con.Res 138 to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Click the link below to sign the petition. https://act.credoaction.com/go/25479?t=8&akid=30467%2E3130208%2EUfKp2_ - Kaili Lambe, CREDO Action from Working Assets Add your name: References: Peter Holley, Felicia Sonmez and Karoun Demirjian, "Bipartisan calls for Saudi Arabia to face repercussions mount in wake of Khashoggi killing," The Washington Post, Oct. 21, 2018 Mohamad Bazzi, "The United States Could End the War in Yemen If It Wanted To," The Atlantic, Sept. 30, 2018. Congressional Progressive Caucus, "CPC Leads Renewed Congressional Effort to End Illegal U.S.-Saudi War in Yemen," Sept. 26, 2018. Declan Walsh, "This is the front line of Saudi Arabia’s invisible war," The New York Times, Oct. 20, 2018. Nima Elbagir et al., "Bomb that killed 40 children in Yemen was supplied by the US," CNN, Aug. 17, 2018. Hakim Almasmari, Sarah El Sirgany and Tamara Qiblawi, "Saudi-led strike kills dozens of children on school field trip in Yemen," CNN, Aug. 10, 2018. Joost Hiltermann and April Longley Alley, “The Houthis Are Not Hezbollah,” Foreign Policy, Feb. 27, 2017. Elbagir et al., "Bomb that killed 40 children in Yemen was supplied by the US." Samuel Oakford, "U.S. Doubled Fuel Support for Saudi Bombing Campaign in Yemen After Deadly Strike on Funeral,” The Intercept, July 13, 2017. Shireen Al-Adeimi, "Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance has accomplished what 50,000 Yemeni deaths could not," NBC News, Oct. 16, 2018. Kareem Fahim, "The deadly war in Yemen rages on. So why does the death toll stand still?" The Washington Post, Aug. 3, 2018. Reuters, “Yemen cholera outbreak accelerates to 10,000+ cases per week: WHO," Oct. 2, 2018. Hannah Summers, "Yemen on brink of 'world's worst famine in 100 years' if war continues," The Guardian, Oct. 15, 2018. AFP, “ Yemen war: 5,000 children dead or hurt and 400,000 malnourished, UN says, The Guardian, Jan. 16, 2018. Clarissa Ward, “In Yemen, the markets have food, but children are starving to death,” CNN, Dec. 19, 2017.

Call Sen. Jeff Flake: Support Sen. Murphy's amendment to stop Saudi-led war in Yemen

For nearly three years, the United States quietly assisted Saudi Arabia in its war in Yemen. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy just introduced an amendment in the Senate that would end U.S. funding for this brutal war. The vote could come as soon as today. Will you call Sen. Flake now?

On Aug. 9, the Saudi-led coalition responsible for the brutal war in Yemen dropped a U.S-made bomb on a school bus and killed 44 children.1 This tragedy shattered the media silence about the United States' role in funding this devastating war. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy just introduced an amendment that would end that financial support and help force the war to an end. The Senate could vote any time this week, and Sen. Flake, your senator, could be the deciding vote. Will you call Sen. Flake now to demand his support for Sen. Murphy's amendment?  (202) 224-04521 (520) 575-8633 SAMPLE SCRIPT Hi, my name is ____ and I live in Tucson, AZ. I’m calling to tell Sen. Flake to support Senator Chris Murphy’s amendment to the 2019 Defense Appropriations Act that would cut off U.S. funding for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. Saudis rely on American support and use American-made weapons for their devastating war. On Aug. 9, the Saudi-led coalition dropped a U.S. made bomb on a school bus and killed 40 children. Can I count on Sen. Flake to end our participation in this brutal war? Thank you for your time. For years, the United States has been quietly supporting Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen. The U.S. government gives Saudi Arabia bombs and planes. U.S. troops even deliver fuel to Saudi jets in midair while they conduct bombings.2 The U.S. helped cause what the U.N. calls the world's gravest humanitarian crisis and helped drive more than 8 million Yemenis to the brink of famine, and cause the worst cholera epidemic in history.3,4 Murphy's amendment to the massive, must-pass 2019 defense appropriations bill would shut down U.S. funding for this brutal war unless the secretary of defense certifies the Saudi-led coalition is not violating international law. A coalition that is blowing up school buses, weddings and hospitals is definitely violating international law. Sen. Murphy’s amendment would effectively stop our tax dollars from flowing into the war in Yemen. Mitch McConnell is trying every trick in the book to block Sen. Murphy’s amendment from even getting to a vote. If key senators, including Sen. Flake, hear from their constituents demanding their support for Sen. Murphy’s amendment, we can make it clear that the time for ignoring our role in Yemen's war is over. Will you call Sen. Flake now to demand his support for Sen. Murphy's amendment? (520) 575-8633 -Kaili Lambe, CREDO Action References: Shuaib Almosawa, Ben Hubbard and Eric Schmitt, "44 Small Graves Stir Questions About U.S. Policy in Yemen,” The New York Times, Aug. 15, 2018. Paul Kawika Martin, "End America’s unauthorized war in Yemen," The Hill, March 4, 2018. Shuaib Almosawa, Ben Hubbard and Troy Griggs, "‘It’s a Slow Death’: The World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis," The New York Times, Aug. 23, 2017. Kate Lyons, "Yemen's cholera outbreak now the worst in history as millionth case looms," The Guardian, Oct. 12, 2017.

Call Sen. Jeff Flake: End U.S. Support for Saudi-led war in Yemen

The United States has quietly assisted Saudi Arabia in its war in Yemen for years. Sen. Bernie Sanders just introduced a resolution to end U.S. support for this devastating war, and Sen. Flake is one of the deciding votes. Will you call him now? Click below for a sample script and the number to call: For years, the United States has been quietly supporting Saudi Arabia’s brutal war in Yemen that has driven more than 8 million Yemenis to the brink of famine and caused the worst cholera epidemic in history.1,2 The U.S. government gives Saudi Arabia bombs and planes. U.S. troops even deliver fuel to Saudi jets in midair while they conduct bombings.3 Last week, Sen. Sanders introduced a resolution to cut off U.S. support for this illegal war.4 Because Sen. Sanders’ resolution declares that the war in Yemen violates the Constitution, it’s guaranteed a vote on the Senate floor within days.5 The resolution already has bipartisan support, but Sen. Flake is on the fence. Will you call Sen. Flake now to demand that he vote for Sen. Sanders’ resolution? Click here to get started with your call. With United States support, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are deliberately using starvation as a weapon of war in Yemen and allowing diphtheria and cholera to ravage the country.6 The Saudi-led war is killing a Yemeni child on average every 10 minutes.7 U.S. tax dollars are directly financing this Saudi-led war, even though 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. Sen. Sanders’ resolution is our best chance to end U.S. support for this unconscionable, man-made crisis – but we only have a few days to make sure your senator votes the right way. Will you call Sen. Flake now to demand that he vote for Sen. Sanders’ resolution? Click the link below to get started with your call. https://act.credoaction.com/call/Senate_Yemen_calls?t=7&akid=27565%2E3130208%2ESn_HmN - Kaili Lambe, CREDO Action #stopwarinYemen Click below for a sample script and the number to call: References: Shuaib Almosawa, Ben Hubbard and Troy Griggs, "‘It’s a Slow Death’: The World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis," The New York Times, Aug. 23, 2017. Kate Lyons, "Yemen's cholera outbreak now the worst in history as millionth case looms," The Guardian, Oct. 12, 2017. Paul Kawika Martin, "End America’s unauthorized war in Yemen," The Hill, March 4, 2018. Lee Fang and Alex Emmons, “Bernie Sanders Wants to End U.S. Support for Yemen War. Saudi Lobbyists Fought Similar Measures Last Year,” The Intercept, Feb. 28, 2018. Akbar Shahid Ahmed, "Bernie Sanders And Mike Lee Want A Fight With The Saudis. Trump’s Working To Stop Them." HuffPost, Feb. 28, 2018. Scott Pelley, "When Food is used as a Weapons," CBS News, Nov. 19, 2017. To leave a message to Sen. Flake's website: https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-jeff Sample message:  Dear Senator Flake, Please, vote for S.J.Res.54 to end U.S. support for Saudi-led war in Yemen. Saudis rely on American support and use American-made weapons for their devastating war that is killing civilians, destroying crops, cutting off access to ports, and wreaking havoc on the people of Yemen. More than 8 million Yemenis are on the brink of famine and the Saudi-led war has contributed to the worst cholera outbreak in history. Can I count on the senator to vote for S.J.Res.54 to end U.S. support for this Saudi-led war? Thank you for your time. Other contact information for Sen. Flake: Phoenix Office 2200 East Camelback Road Suite 120 Phoenix, AZ 85016 P: 602-840-1891 F: 602-840-4092 Tucson Office 6840 North Oracle Road Suite 150 Tucson, AZ 85704 P: 520-575-8633 F: 520-797-3232