Feeding the Saudi Shark

Heeding the comradely advice of a commentator we should be aware of the involvement of our own government in the Saudi Arabia's intervention in the Yemen Civil War.

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman, is very shortly to visit the UK. He is directly involved in the conduct of his country's participation in that war. HMG makes no bones about its approval of this war.
"The UK supports the Saudi-led Coalition military intervention [in Yemen]"

At the start of the conflict in March 2015 former Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: "If we are requested to provide them with enhanced support – spare parts, maintenance, technical advice, resupply – we will seek to do so. We’ll support the Saudis in every practical way short of engaging in combat."

The UK has licensed over £4.6 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia since the bombing began in March 2015.

The weapon categories include approximately:

• £2.7 billion worth of ML10 licences (Aircraft, helicopters, drones)
• £1.9 billion worth of ML4 licences (Grenades, bombs, missiles, countermeasures)
• £572,000 worth of ML6 licences (Armoured vehicles, tanks)

In September 2016 the House of Commons Business, Innovation & Skills and International Development Committees commented: " it seems inevitable that any violations of international humanitarian and human rights law by the coalition have involved arms supplied from the UK.

And in December 2016, the UK government finally admitted that UK-made cluster bombs had also been deployed in the conflict.

Typhoon and Tornado aircraft, manufactured by BAE Systems, have been central to the attacks. The government has confirmed that they have been deployed on combat missions in Yemen. Throughout the bombing, further Typhoon aircraft have continued to be delivered to Saudi Arabia from BAE's Warton site. Meanwhile, BAE and the UK government are pushing hard for a new contract. UK-supplied precision-guided weapons have been used in Yemen: Raytheon's Paveway bombs, MBDA's PGM500 bombs and Brimstone and Storm Shadow missiles, and BAE's ALARM (anti-radiation) missiles. The government confirmed that it accelerated delivery of Paveway precision-guided bombs in response to Saudi requests.

 In January 2017 UN panel warned the Security Council that the Saudi-led military coalition has carried out attacks in Yemen that "may amount to war crimes". It investigated 10 coalition airstrikes between March-October 2016 and concluded "In eight of the 10 investigations, the panel found no evidence that the air strikes had targeted legitimate military objectives" and "For all 10 investigations, the panel considers it almost certain that the coalition did not meet international humanitarian law requirements of proportionality and precautions in attack" and "some of the attacks may amount to war crimes."

 All humanitarian principles and all concerns for human suffering are conveniently forgotten so that UK armament corporations can reap the "rewards" of the deaths of innocent men women an children in Yemen 

 LET US NOT FORGET AMERICA'S DOUBLE STANDARDS