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Mattis: U.S. determined to reduce civilian casualties in Yemen

27 Comments
By SAGAR MEGHANI

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27 Comments
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How about NOT selling offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia?

Thar would definitely stop civilian deaths.....

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Dotard Trump himself sold the arms to Saudi Arabia they are using to shell Yemen, killing civilians! Wakey wakey!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Why the UN Human Rights' High Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein doesn't stop the Saudi bombing of civilians? Also, he doesn't denounce the Saudi Government for killing Yemeni civilian children, women and men. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein was the right person for the UN Human Rights' High Commissioner Office? Saudi Government was bombing and killing Houthi peoples because of they were not Sunni Muslim as the Saudi Royal family.

Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein silence on the Saudi bombingofHouthis is he was supporting Saudi Government's crime against Humanitarian. Saudi Government must face war crime and also Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein should face war crime along with Saudi Government for assisting the Saudi Government by not protecting Yemeni children, women and men as the UN Human Rights' High Commissioner.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Just a wild guess, but I suspect our Saudi partners do not share our delicate sensibilities. In fact, you could make the case that they are treating the Yemenis the same as their own citizens...particularly women.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Carpet bombing, a favoured action of the US military does not tend to be discriminatory.

To the US government weapon sales are of utmost importance, at least of far greater importance than protecting civilian lives including, it seems, American lives.

How many Americans died in 911? How many Iraquis died in reprisal for the actions of Saudis?

Crazy Joe, just a wild guess, but I suspect your Saudi partners do share your not so delicate sensibilities, at least you nation's sensibilities in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Iraq, Afghanistan, many South and Central American countries. There are just too many countries too list.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Our country''s complicity has caused the atrocities in Yemen. Mattis is shameless.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

reduce the number of civilian casualties

we are disgusted when a terrorist drives a truck into a xmas market killing 6, but when Saudi (USA/British armed and trained) kill a hundred or two civilians...no problem. the fact that it is openly admitted that it happens, makes all sides the same. How can you just blow a random stranger to pieces?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

but when Saudi (USA/British armed and trained) kill a hundred or two civilians...no problem

Of course! Saudis pay the US and UK, and if you pay the West it will play the ball with you. The motto is "Nothing personal, it's business".

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@PT The same thing's happening with Russian involvement in Syria

@asak Not correct. There are three big differences between the situations in Yemen in Syria.

Yes, the Houthis are rebels who have attempted to overthrow the existing government, which I won’t defend, to set up a Shi’a state. In my mind that doesn’t make them any better or worse than any other rebel group. I understand you represent the Russian government and expect you and other Russian posters to defend your government’s actions. For me, Russia, like the US, is using its military power in foreign countries, sovereign nations, in attempts to further establish the wealth and power of Russia (or American) leaders and the ruling .01%.

I see the Syrian situation similar to Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan and other places where the superpowers have intervened for decades. Of course the details differ in each case, but to me the principles are the same: take control of resources, send the wealth back to Moscow (or Washington DC). I am opposed to authoritarianism, imperialism, colonialism, predatory capitalism, any belief system that tries to justify military invasions of any sort.

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4070334-syria-safe-zones-win-russia-gazprom

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/russian-resolve-why-syria-matters-to-putin/article34643406/

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@asakThe last resort? When you are out of logical arguments, call your opponenent a Russian (government agent / bot)? Please note that I do not call you a MSM bot or something

I can't imagine a non-Russian consistently writing in support of everything Russia does and constantly defending Russian actions and extolling Putin. I've lived outside my country for over 30 years and have yet to meet a non-Russian Russia-phile. It could be, however, you're the first. And I don't see you as an 'opponent'; I see you as having a different perspective, one that reflects your nation's government's. Having worked with numerous Slavic language speakers, the way you use English is consistent with theirs. Nothing wrong with that.

@asakWrong again. Russia is in Syria with full consent of the Syrian government and it welcomed by local population.

Had you written welcomed by some in the local population I probably would have agreed. I get tired of all or nothing, one pole or the other arguments. It's only extremists and true believers who reason pitting one pole of a spectrum against the other.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I can't imagine a not-US / UK government employee consistently decrying everything Russia does, even if this criticism is against facts, logic and common sense.

Actually I'm comfortably 'unemployed' (Japanese definition), but not from working for my government. I greatly enjoy Russian music and literature, but because I am opposed to totalitarian regimes and have read a lot of history have zero respect for Russian government. Nor for any authoritarian government, including the one being built in the US. I sent links re pipelines; I understand you don't accept them. It's OK to say you're Russian. You shouldn't feel ashamed. :) Unless of course your bosses say you have to pretend.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@asak Of course! Saudis pay the US and UK, and if you pay the West it will play the ball with you. The motto is "Nothing personal, it's business".

I agree. The same thing's happening with Russian involvement in Syria. At the expense of the Syrian people Russia gets to keep its naval port, and Gazprom and/or whichever other Russian corporation gets its pipeline. It's all about the richest members of the world's most powerful nations like the US and Russia doing 'business'. For the gain of the .01%.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@PTownsend

The same thing's happening with Russian involvement in Syria

Not correct. There are three big differences between the situations in Yemen in Syria.

First, the Houtis in Yemen are really rebels in the true meaning of the word. The West does not like them because the Houtis are Iran-linked, but at least they do not cut throats of unarmed people, do not burn people alive and do not do other ugly things ISIS and other groups that the Russians fight in Syria are notorious for.

Second, contrary to the Western propaganda myth, in Syria Assad is really popular and most Syrians support him - that is the reason why the Russians were able to turn the tide of the war for only a small fraction of the efforts and treasury that the US spent and keeps spending in Afghanistan and Iraq. In Yemen most locals do not support the Saudi / UAE installed president, that is why the Saudi coalition is nowhere close to its desired goals.

Third, the Saudis really tend to bomb civilian areas indiscriminately - contrary to the Russians, who bomb very accurately. Every story of "massive civilian casualties of Russian bombs" inevetably turned out to be a dud, produced by terrorebels' propaganda outlets and eagerly broadcasted by the Western media.

Gazprom and/or whichever other Russian corporation gets its pipeline

Can you elaborate on Gazprom plans in Syria? Never heard of any. Pipeline from where to where?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@asak West does not like them because the Houtis are Iran-linked

@fizzb That’s never been proven. That's all Hadi has been screaming since was ousted. Many many intelligence professionals have disputed this.

Never been proven to your satisfaction? This isn’t ‘proof', but there’s enough ‘evidence’ to show linkage. For me, at least. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houthis

I'll take info got from a crowd-sourced site like Wikipedia over a single person site's info any day.

And I think @Asakaze was defending Iran’s involvement because Iran and Russia are partnering to take even greater control of natural gas markets.

@fizxb Wrong. Just too simple of a comment and seems you don't know what's really going on. Granted, a lot of things have changed since 2015.

I admit I don’t know what’s really going on in Yemen and doubt that many really do. I’m certainly not privy to inside info on what’s happening anywhere beyond my house in Japan. Like other posters here, I have my opinions and use this forum to express them.

Thanks for providing your source. http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/

I’ll stick with mine.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

PTown: Nicely put. Younwere polite and provided your rationale. I wanted to take you to task for the wiki cite, but you acknowledged its weakness.

BTW, PTown means either Portland or pound town to me. (Yep, I acknowledge I'm juvenile at times!)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@tommy. what if they want a pipeline? its just business. but you should realise that the sea base is most important for russia in latakia.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

We are going to try to make that military of the Saudis more capable of carrying out ...

the Saudi and American mission of gaining even greater control of resources in MENA and around the world. More innocents killed, more innocents made homeless as the US and its allies battle against Russia and its allies in final battles for control over gas and oil and their shipment.

Until the world learns to burn less gas and oil, the killings and destruction will continue.

Alternative energy now! But fat chance when Trump, Putin etal want to use their and their allies' militaries to ensure hydrocarbons remain king.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Just a wild guess, but I suspect our Saudi partners do not share our delicate sensibilities.

By "our" do you mean American?

The US has never been very concerned about killing innocent civilians. Their drones have a habit of killing many civilians, often massacring entire weddings.

These are just more empty words from Mattis. I don't expect much to change.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

West does not like them because the Houtis are Iran-linked

That's never been proven. That's all Hadi has been screaming since was ousted. Many many intelligence professionals have disputed this.

Yes, the Houthis are rebels who have attempted to overthrow the existing government, which I won’t defend, to set up a Shi’a state. 

Wrong. Just too simple of a comment and seems you don't know what's really going on. Granted, a lot of things have changed since 2015.

The zaidiyah  is named for Zayd, the fifth Shia Imam. For that reason the Zaidis (or Zeidis) are often referred to as Fivers as opposed to Ismaili Shia Seveners (loyal to the memory of the seventh Imam) or Imami Twelver Shia (loyal to the 12th Imam). These different groups of Shia are NOT interchangeable in their membership and indeed are competitive in their claims as to which was the last worthy imam. 

http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/2015/03/httpinreuterscomarticle20150328yemen-security-idinkbn0mo0dj20150328.html

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@PTownsend

I understand you represent the Russian government and expect you and other Russian posters to defend your government’s actions

The last resort? When you are out of logical arguments, call your opponenent a Russian (government agent / bot)? Please note that I do not call you a MSM bot or something.

I see the Syrian situation similar to Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan and other places where the superpowers have intervened for decades

Wrong again. Russia is in Syria with full consent of the Syrian government and it welcomed by local population. The US in Afghanistan and Iraq is an invader, here is why Americans in these countries prefer not to venture out of "Green zones" or firebases and not to mingle with locals.

The links you provided are not of much use, still no answer to my question: what pipelines Gazprom wants to build in Syria, accordung to you. From what gas field, to where?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Raw Beer

Think befre you write comments....

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

@PTownsend

I can't imagine a non-Russian consistently writing in support of everything Russia does and constantly defending Russian actions and extolling Putin

I can't imagine a not-US / UK government employee consistently decrying everything Russia does, even if this criticism is against facts, logic and common sense. By the way, I do not always defend Russian actions. And I do not remember me "constantly extolling Putin". Can you give several examples of this consistency of extolling?

I'm very interested in international affairs, particularly armed conflicts, that's why my posts are mainly about Syria, Yemen, Iraq etc. Not much time to write on something else.

I presume you are unable to support your claim about Gazprom with facts? Next time back up your claims.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I presume you are unable to support your claim about Gazprom with facts? Next time back up your claims.

Already did:

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4070334-syria-safe-zones-win-russia-gazprom

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/russian-resolve-why-syria-matters-to-putin/article34643406/

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Their drones have a habit of killing many civilians, often massacring entire weddings.

Often massacring entire weddings? Really?

Yes, US drones have on several occasions wiped out wedding cellebrations in Afghanistan.

The US has a long history of indiscriminate bombing.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

The US has never been very concerned about killing innocent civilians.

There weren't consequences for My Lai?

Their drones have a habit of killing many civilians, often massacring entire weddings.

Often massacring entire weddings? Really?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

@Tommy Jones

Did you actually read this links?

@PTownsend

Those links did not answer the question I've asked. They say (correctly) that Saudia Arabia will be happy to send its gas to Europe, but they did not say that it was the reason SA supported ISIS in Syria in the hope to overthrow Assad and lay its pipeline in Syria after that. I repeat my question again: if, as you claimed, the evil Gazprom had its pipeline plans in Syria, please tell me from where (what gas field) to what destination.

Didn't work with "extolling Putin" thing either, heh? Tell your bosses to help you with backing up your claims.

And it's OK to say that you work for a certain government agency, you should't be ashamed. It's just your job.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

PTown: Think you'll get a rebuttal from any of the Russians?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

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