 |
'Obama's War
On Yemen Risks Involving Iran |
By
Stephen Lendman |
| Is this what Washington and Israel intend or another
example of the rule of untended consequences of reckless actions? What's ongoing in Yemen, Syria, Libya, Palestine and Ukraine dangerously resemble events preceding WW I. One nation after another got involved to help both sides. Things spun out-of-control. Deadly consequences followed. Before they ended, over 20 million died. Many more were maimed for life. An entire generation of youth was lost. If Washington challenges Russia over Ukraine militarily, Syria directly by invading, or Iran over Yemen belligerently, all bets are off. The worst of outcomes may follow. George Bernard Shaw once said: "We learn from history that we learn nothing from history." Neocons infesting Washington are power-crazed. They're lunatics. Their quest for global dominance may kill us all. Humanity's fate hangs in the balance today like never before. Endless US wars risk escalating to WW III. On Monday, Russia's Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev warned about war in Yemen escalating to an Arab/Iranian conflict. Yemen is strategically important. It's near the Horn of Africa. It's on Saudi Arabia's southern border, the Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden. Nearly four million of barrels of oil pass daily through the connecting Bab el-Mandeb strait chokepoint to the Indian Ocean. Around 20,000 vessels are involved annually, Patrushev explained. "The desire to change the existing balance of power in the region in somebody's favor may lead to a long war," he warned. "There are concerns that the escalation of the Yemeni conflict may affect the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program since all the main processes in the Middle East are closely interdependent." "Russia does not intend to somehow change, toughen its approach to addressing this issue due to the events in Yemen." "We sincerely hope that all other interested parties will adhere to the same position." Accusations about Iran aiding Houthis militarily aggravate things further. Days earlier, Saudi General Ahmad al-Asssiri warned "Iranian ships have the right to be present in international waters, but won't be allowed to enter Yemeni territorial waters." Iran's 34th flotilla was deployed to the Gulf of Aden. Its Alborz destroyer and Bushehr helicopter carrier now patrol its waters. Their mission is protecting Iranian cargo ships and oil tankers from naval threats. According to Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari: "The Navy warships powerfully safeguard the Islamic Republic's interests in free waters and will be deployed in any region if necessary." "We deploy our warships in free waters based on the international laws and combat sea terrorism and safeguard our country's shipping lines very powerfully." They have nothing to do with initiating conflict. Iran hasn't attacked another country in centuries. It has no intention of doing it now. It deplores war. It's a leading world peace and stability proponent. Claims otherwise are willful Big Lies - especially Israeli ones. Waters off Yemen's coast are strategically important. Iranian oil shipments pass through them daily. Keeping them safe is vital - for Iran and all regional oil producing states. Iranian nationals are in Yemen. Saudi General al-Assiri warned those planning to stay "would face the same fate as the Houthis and their supporters." Deliberately targeting Iranian nationals risks involving Tehran militarily. If one of its warships is attacked, conflict between both nations could follow. US intelligence provides Riyadh with movements of Iranian vessels. A potential Saudi-initiated clash with Iran remains possible. It depends on what Washington has in mind. If congressional leaders, Israel and/or its Lobby pressure Obama to designate Iran a regional threat, a US-ordered/Saudi-initiated false flag may follow. Days earlier, Riyadh escalated tensions with Iran by banning its flights carrying worshipers to Mecca. Yemen's conflict risks involving Iran - perhaps Russia and China in this strategically important part of the world. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif urged ending Yemen's conflict diplomatically. "Bridges are being bombarded. Factories are being bombarded. Hospitals" are targeted, he said. "That can only entrench animosity. So we need to put an end to this." Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said Iran remains involved in restoring regional security and stability. He blamed Washington for destabilizing regional conditions. He accused Saudi authorities of committing war crimes in Yemen. He called on the UN to end Yemen's ordeal. Fars News reported Yemen's Ansarullah Movement rejected Riyadh's proposal for talks to resolve things diplomatically - not as long as terror-bombing continues. On Monday, Ansarullah Movement spokesman Mohammad Abdul Salam said: "Yemen will never sit at the negotiating table with Saudi Arabia until the illegal airstrikes are stopped," "Any political issue on Yemen ought to be resolved through diplomatic process and agreement of all political parties." Saudi terror-bombing is in its 19th day. It's intensifying. Humanitarian crisis conditions worsen daily. On Monday, Riyadh terror-bombed a Ma'rib hospital. At least five other hospitals were attacked in other areas. On Monday alone, Saudi strikes left dozens killed and injured. Iran and Russia urge all-out efforts be made to resolve Yemen's conflict peacefully. Obama wants war escalated. He wants control over Washington's former client state regained. Conflict shows no signs of ending. Expect much worse ahead. Washington is systematically raping another regional country. Obama continues turning one nation after another to rubble. His endless direct and proxy wars threaten everyone. World peace hangs by a thread. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs. |
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