Arr, ye scurvy dogs o' the Houthi be a foul band o' rapscallions! Here's what the Biden-Blinken crew must do!
2024-01-04
Arr, in the February of 2021, th' Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, be removin' th' Yemeni Houthi from th' list o' Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Three years hence, 'tis clear as crystal that this be an enormous blunder, me hearties!
In February 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken removed the Yemeni Houthi from the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT). This decision has proven to be a significant mistake. Blinken's rationale was that the terrorist designations had no practical effect on the Houthi and that delisting them would facilitate humanitarian aid and help end the Saudi-Houthi war. However, this move has only encouraged the Houthi's Iran-sponsored terrorist violence against Saudi Arabia and UAE, with little response from the United States. The Houthi have now aligned themselves with Hamas and are attacking U.S. Navy vessels and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. This poses a threat to Americans at home.The Trump administration had also recognized the severity of the humanitarian crisis caused by the Houthi, leading to a debate over their designation. Despite objections from the State Department, the decision was made to officially designate them as terrorists in order to take action against them and their supporters. Terrorist designations have real consequences, as seen in the recent prosecution of an American citizen for providing material support to an African terrorist group on the FTO list.
The Biden administration's reluctance to retaliate directly against the Houthi is due to their hopes of achieving a Yemen peace deal. However, this reticence has caused several European partners to withhold support for Operation Prosperity Guardian, which aims to ensure safe passage of commercial shipping through the Red Sea. Without strong action against the Houthi, disruptions to global supply chains, particularly food and energy, will worsen.
Shipping through the Red Sea is currently operating at half its normal capacity, leading to increased costs and delays. As Americans return to the office in January, they may face higher prices at the pump and the grocery store. It is crucial for the Biden administration to recognize the potential cost of inaction against the Houthi and re-designate them as terrorists, taking the necessary actions to deter further violence. Failure to do so may lead to voter accountability.