Saudi Arabia may be our “ally of convenience” much of the time but I think few Americans would be under the delusion that it is our friend or a reliable partner. That makes it disturbing that Donald Trump has decided to share some of the United States’ most advanced weapons technology with the theocratic dictatorial kingdom.
As you may recall, Trump cited a so-called “national emergency” with Iran last month in order to bypass Congressional opposition and provide powerful weapons to Saudi Arabia. The armaments include anti-tank missiles, F-16 fighter aircraft engines, and 120,000 laser-guided munitions. [1,7] When, precisely, will the Saudis use these weapons against Iran?
Ha! It’s a trick question. The correct answer, of course, is “never.” The Saudis have zero intention of going to war with Iran; they know they can get their pet idiot in the Oval Office (and his even stupider son-in-law) to send Americans to do that nasty work, if needed. No, they have a better and more immediate use for their new deadly toys: smashing Yemen.
Yemen in turmoil, a brief synopsis
Yemen — Saudi Arabia’s southern neighbor — has been steeped in internal conflict for many years now. Formerly two nations — North Yemen and South Yemen — frequently bitterly opposed to each other, the Republic of Yemen was governed by President Ali Abdullah Saleh since its unification in 1990.
The corruption and cronyism of Saleh only exacerbated the existing tensions within the fractious country. Followers of cleric Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi rose up in revolt in 2004, asserting that the Yemeni central government was persecuting them for being Shia Muslims; that dissident faction is now known as the Houthi movement.
Shia Muslims are the sect dominant in Iran and a great deal of antagonism exists between them and the Sunni Muslim majority in Saudi Arabia. So, in a place like Yemen with strong factions of each sect, the participants are used as proxies by Iran and Saudi Arabia as they jockey for power and control. Think of it like the old Northern Ireland troubles, with two sects — Protestants and Catholics — locked in a lethal struggle even though both are nominally Christian.
Anyway, things got more heated and chaotic as time went on. In 2011, Saleh resigned the presidency and his VP, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, became head of state and began his own kleptocracy.
The change didn’t help. Violence continued and the people as well as the armed forces chose sides — not just between the Houthis and the nominal government but also among other splintered factions. Allegations come from all sides that the others are violators of human rights, terrorists, and so on.
The Saudis got involved in 2015 when it appeared that the Houthis might win the civil war. They organized a coalition of some of their neighboring nations — none of which are democratic or respecters of human rights — to fight on behalf of the Hadi government.
The coalition — plus mercenaries like Acedemi (formerly Blackwater) — launched innumerable air attacks over their border against Houthi targets, including civilian structures and people, as well as ground assaults. The country has been devastated and is suffering a horrendous humanitarian crisis caused by the ravages of war: two-thirds of the population struggle to get food and malnutrition is rife. Millions of Yemenis do not have access to clean water or medical facilities. [2] Over 50,000 Yemeni children died of starvation in 2017. [8]
Saudi Arabia claims that allies of the Houthis in Yemen include Al Qaeda and other assorted terrorists, providing justification for their military strikes against the rebel groups. That has also been the reason given for the US permitting its allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia, to use US-supplied weaponry against the Houthis.
Is this to say the Houthis are the “good guys”? Not at all. There don’t seem to be any good guys in this mess. The Houthis, their Yemeni-government opponents, and the Saudi-led coalition of regional nations have all committed war crimes against civilians and none are enlightened human rights supporters for women, LGBQT people, or religious dissenters, to say the least. [3]
What Emperor Palpatine Donald Trump hath wrought
By declaring a “national security emergency”, Trump was able to ignore Congress’ objections and push through a package of actions. First, assorted armaments — as previously mentioned — were authorized to be sold to Saudi Arabia. Second, weapons technology which had previously been restricted from export to the Saudis is now permitted. Raytheon Corporation, a war industry giant, can now partner with the kingdom to produce the control systems and electronics for precision-guided munitions. [4]
Now far be it from me to say that Saudi Arabia’s bloodthirsty, psychotic, and despotic de facto ruler is not a trustworthy guy, but I have a wee bit of doubt that the Saudi government won’t soon have the entire set of blueprints or documents or whatever is needed to build such weapons. The idea that these technical trade secrets will remain securely within the Raytheon-partnered factory in the kingdom is risible.
Give me the weaponry secrets, cretin.
No, Your Highness, I promised Raytheon I would keep their technology safe.
I will cut you into tiny pieces later. Now, I will start on your children. Bring me my bone saw!
May I help Your Highness cart all of these files to your limo?
Nor would it be reasonable to believe that Saudi Arabia will not further transfer the technologies to undesirable elements, both malevolent or unstable nations as well as terror groups they have historically cooperated with or supported.
Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners have transferred American-made weapons to al Qaeda-linked fighters, hardline Salafi militias, and other factions waging war in Yemen, in violation of their agreements with the United States …
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, its main partner in the war, have used the US-manufactured weapons as a form of currency to buy the loyalties of militias or tribes, bolster chosen armed actors, and influence the complex political landscape, according to local commanders on the ground and analysts who spoke to CNN. [5]
As appalling as this is from the standpoint of threats to human rights and regional peace in the Middle East, it’s an economic disaster as well. At his rallies, Trump incessantly berates the Chinese for stealing American technology via joint ventures and partnerships with U.S. companies; it’s just ludicrous to think that the deeply corrupt and arrogant Saudis won’t do the same. Even if — try not to snicker here — the Saudi government upheld its end of the bargain, it’s a given that some enterprising technician or manager would abscond with the goods and sell them to the highest bidder or just give them to an ideological affiliate. [6]
In short, expect locally-built smart bombs to become ubiquitous on all sides in the Middle East soon, adding extra helpings of lethality to the existing carnage there. Thanks, Donald!
Meanwhile in the Empire …
In related news, the High Council of Alderaan has approved the transfer of its technology for a planet-busting “Death Star” to Lord Darth Vader.
In response to controversy over this decision, Alderaan’s First Chairman and Viceroy said:
This is a smart economic move for our planet. There are very fine people on both sides of the imperial conflict. What could possibly go wrong?
Sources
[1] Citing Iran, Trump bypasses Congress to sell arms to Saudis at Al Jazeera
[2] Yemen crisis: Why is there a war? at the BBC
[3] Yemen at Human Rights Watch
[4] Trump OKs advanced bomb parts to be built in Saudi: NYT at Al Jazeera
[5] Sold to an ally, lost to an enemy at CNN
[6] I've sold nuclear secrets to Libya, Iran and N Korea at the Telegraph (UK)
[7] Trump Allows High-Tech U.S. Bomb Parts to Be Built in Saudi Arabia at the New York Times
[8] Yemen at Wikipedia