Saudis begin military ops in Yemen

[LongBlade]

Stuff continues to get worse in that part of the world. I suppose the Saudi intervention was inevitable, but it sure sucks that things have come to this.

Saudi Arabia and its Persian Gulf allies launched air attacks early Thursday in neighboring Yemen, after Shiite rebels believed backed by Iran swept toward that country's second-largest city and forced the president to flee.

The Saudi ambassador to the United States, Adel al-Jubeir, made the announcement on Wednesday evening in Washington. He said the operation began at 7 pm EDT in order "to prevent Yemen from falling into the hands of the Houthis," the rebels.

The operation was an extraordinary development that could plunge Yemen into full-out war. The ambassador said that military forces from several countries were preparing to join the operation, apparently referring to Saudi Arabia's Gulf allies. He said the air strikes had targeted sites around the country, including in its capital, Sanaa. The Saudi government had consulted "very closely and very intensely with our partners, in particular the United States," he said.

more at the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/report-yemens-embattled-president-flees-stronghold-as-rebels-advance/2015/03/25/e0913ae2-d2d5-11e4-a62f-ee745911a4ff_story.html?wpisrc=al_alert

[OJsDad]

What a mess.  The US is helping Iran, who is helping the Iraqi's turn back ISIS and now the Saudi's are starting operations against Iranian supported forces in Yemen, after the US supported government fell.

[LongBlade]

Yup. It is difficult to imagine a more screwed up foreign policy. smh

[OJsDad]

There are reports now that both Saudi and Egypt are going to send in ground troops.

[BanzaiCat]

Don't worry! Hillary will fix it all when she gets voted in, in 2016!

She WAS the Secretary of State, y'know.  ::)

[bayonetbrant]

A more perfect summation I cannot imagine

http://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-the-us-doing-in-the-middle-east-2015-3

Confused? If you're a pro-Iran Shiite militia in Iraq, you get US air cover. If you're a pro-Iran Shiite militia in Yemen, US helps bomb you

Amazing to picture US and Iranian diplos hurtling towards a deal in Switzerland during this chaos #yemen #iraq #whatthehellisgoingon

My Middle East bracket is completely busted.

[OJsDad]

If ever we were in need of Abbott & Costello

[Airborne Rifles]

And now the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. won't rule out the kingdom building its own nukes:

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/politics/saudi-open-to-nuclear-bomb/index.html

[mirth]

And now the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. won't rule out the kingdom building its own nukes:

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/politics/saudi-open-to-nuclear-bomb/index.html

That's not a bad play with Iran  He was totally non committal.

"This is not something we would discuss publicly," Ambassador Adel Al-Jubeir said on "The Situation Room." Later, when pressed, he said, "This is not something that I can comment on, nor would I comment on."

[Airborne Rifles]

I agree. But it's unfortunate they feel the need to start to rattle the nuclear saber. We don't need more countries with nukes in the world.

[BanzaiCat]

Especially not in the Middle East.

[bayonetbrant]

And now the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. won't rule out the kingdom building its own nukes:

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/politics/saudi-open-to-nuclear-bomb/index.html

last time they tried this, the Israelis sent a message... (pick up on page 42). Is there some urban legend exaggeration? Maybe. But it's damned funny.

https://books.google.com/books?id=ej0wLt-D0WcC&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=gold+of+exodus+israel+bomb+saudi+airstrip&source=bl&ots=gs1xyOk55-&sig=012JP0Nt4ByOEBtHzmawL_sB38s&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qnIVVaWrA--0sASzg4HIDQ&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

[LongBlade]

And now the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. won't rule out the kingdom building its own nukes:

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/politics/saudi-open-to-nuclear-bomb/index.html

That's probably because in the last couple of days the US has leaked extensive details about Israel's nuke program - before we were silent on the issue even though everyone knew they had them.

Ah, here's a story. Sorry, the editorial slant is quite hard on this one, but the facts seem to be straight. It was the first article I found on the subject. There are more if anyone wants to look.

President Obama has declassified the details of Israel's nuclear program in a stunningly irresponsible and dangerous action meant to hurt one of our strongest allies.

In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the administration just released a report from 1987 that goes into extensive detail about Israel's nuclear and conventional warfighting capabilities.

source: http://www.westernjournalism.com/fit-revenge-obama-declassifies-israeli-nuclear-program/

[Gusington]

Oy vey, what a DB move by Obama.

[GDS_Starfury]

meh, its an '87 report.  they have more and better now.  O0