TO: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
FROM: Aran Hamilton-Grenham
DATE: 2 March 2018
SUBJECT: United States Yemen Policy
SUMMARY: President Trump has largely continued the policies that were undertaken by President Obama relating to the Yemenis Civil War, namely backing the Saudi led coalition while using drones to fight back Al-Qaeda in the area. United States support has not been limited but has actually increased despite wide reports from human rights groups such as Amnesty International. They have reported the purposeful bombing and shelling of civilian targets by both sides. The United States should threaten, and if necessary actually pull all military aid until the humanitarian crisis is fixed. We should play no part in the murder of civilians.
CONTEXT: Yemen was split into two nations up until 1967, when they split due to a previous Civil War. There was a capitalist north, and the communist south. In 1990, the North and South Yemen came to be one, united by at that time President Ali Abdullah Saleh. He remained President until 2011, with his Vice President Abed Rabbu Mansour Hadi taking over until 2014 when an islamist group, the Houthi’s, charged into the capital Sadah and took it over. In early 2015, the Saudi Arabian government launched Operation Decisive Storm, Due to the intense fighting and conflict taking place, many civilians are left malnourished and at risk of succumbing to disease. A water treatment facility in Yemen was bombed by the Saudi’s, with American made bombs, that resulted in a Cholera outbreak that is still taking place today. The civil war is seen largely as a part of the a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with Iran backing the Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia backing the Hadi government. As it stands now, the people of Yemen are the ones who have suffered the most recently, with 75 percent of people needing humanitarian assistance according to the United Nations. This includes 11.3 million children who could not survive without it.
ALTERNATIVE: Instead of financing and assisting with the perpetuation of fighting, the United States should not continue its participation and tacit acceptance of the Saudi behavior and end its involvement in military matters. Incentives can be used such as threats of a reductions in financial and general military assistance. On the humanitarian end, the United States should attempt to negotiate without military involvement, and finance and help with assisting the Yemenese people.
MAIN ARGUMENT: This would help President Trump accomplish his long held goal of ending radical religious terrorism. Many in the region, without a home or food to look for, have ended up falling into the hands of organizations such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS. If stability can be brought to Yemen though, steps can be taken to prevent radicalization. We would not just be getting involved in a conflict that we have nothing to do with. We would be saving American lives. In terms of the effects on the people of Yemen, the consequences of continued military action will be dire. With 75 percent of people needing humanitarian assistance according to the United Nations. This includes 11.3 million children who could not survive without it. This places a burden where many organizations, with a significant proportion of funding coming from the United States.
CONCLUSION: Financially, morally, and security wise, the United States would benefit from pulling out of military action in Yemen. As it stands now, the United States is supporting a war that denigrates the image of the entire country. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut recently referenced this in a speech on the Senate Floor, where he illustrated that to the people of Yemen, these are American bombs coming down and destroying everything that they know. The repercussions of continued action will be felt through out the world if actions are not taken to prevent the denigration of the American image.
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