Houthi Red Sea Blockade

[OldSolduer]

Bounce the rubble...

Secretary of State says airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthis are "doing the world a favor"

One day after the U.S. launched airstrikes on Iran-back Houthi rebels in Yemen, Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that the U.S.is "doing the world a favor by getting rid of these guys and their ability to strike global shipping."

www.cbsnews.com

well he isn't wrong.

 

[brihard]

Bounce the rubble...

Secretary of State says airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthis are "doing the world a favor"

One day after the U.S. launched airstrikes on Iran-back Houthi rebels in Yemen, Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that the U.S.is "doing the world a favor by getting rid of these guys and their ability to strike global shipping."

www.cbsnews.com

Gotta wonder what the Houthi campaign has been doing to America’s cruise missile inventory.

 

[OldSolduer]

Gotta wonder what the Houthi campaign has been doing to America’s cruise missile inventory.

I can imagine a few have been fired downrange. I bet they have a few in stock though.

 

[Remius]

Gotta wonder what the Houthi campaign has been doing to America’s cruise missile inventory.

I’m sure that Trump will find a way to make everyone pay compensation for it.

 

[brihard]

I can imagine a few have been fired downrange. I bet they have a few in stock though.

Don’t forget this is just the latest. Operation Prosperity Guardian has been ongoing since late 2023. They’ve also expended a lot of surface to air missiles against Houthi missiles and drones.

 

[Val St]

Saudi and others in region capable itself to end this mess but nope, they prefer dirty job for them would be done by westerners.

 

[GR66]

Saudi and others in region capable itself to end this mess but nope, they prefer dirty job for them would be done by westerners.

I'm not sure they are as capable as you suggest. Their last intervention didn't go so well...

Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[KevinB]

The Saudis have a decent sized Military, but it’s not exactly capable at least in a way that Western countries would consider capable.

They also experienced an insurgency that has all the latest TTP’s in fighting against a Military. While the Saudi tactics and equipment were not ready for the EFP, IED, ATGM, RPG and SUAS attacks.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Get KSA to help the Yemen government to do Bite and hold along to coast. Improve roads and infrastructure as they go. Slowly push the Houthi back into the mountains, spend money to bribe tribes to switch sides and keep paying them. Without access to the coast, the Houthi will gradually lose power to attack anyone. Do not follow them into the mountains.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Get KSA to help the Yemen government to do Bite and hold along to coast. Improve roads and infrastructure as they go. Slowly push the Houthi back into the mountains, spend money to bribe tribes to switch sides and keep paying them. Without access to the coast, the Houthi will gradually lose power to attack anyone. Do not follow them into the mountains.

How very 'Western Culture' of you

 

[PPCLI Guy]

Soooo...

Bounce the rubble...

Secretary of State says airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthis are "doing the world a favor"

One day after the U.S. launched airstrikes on Iran-back Houthi rebels in Yemen, Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that the U.S.is "doing the world a favor by getting rid of these guys and their ability to strike global shipping."

www.cbsnews.com

OPSEC was brutal on this one, and it is clear that none of the principals have any clue about the very concept...according to a Signal thread that included detailed plans, weapons, timings, BDA etc. We know this to be true because Mike Waltz invited a journalist to the Principal's Planning Committee by accident:

The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans

U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.

www.theatlantic.com

The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans​

U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.​

By Jeffrey Goldberg​

​

The world found out shortly before 2 p.m. eastern time on March 15 that the United States was bombing Houthi targets across Yemen.​

​

I, however, knew two hours before the first bombs exploded that the attack might be coming. The reason I knew this is that Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m. The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.​

​

This is going to require some explaining.​

​

This is what happens when you select key personnel based on ideology, level of campaign contributions, or the degree that the selection will enrage "the establishment", or all three.

 

[dapaterson]

Let he who has never used unapproved tools to communicate top secret special access plans and accidentally included an uncleared civilian without need to know cast the first stone.

 

[PPCLI Guy]

What is truly revelatory (because they are saying the quiet part out loud) is just how transactional and mercenary the US has become...

A few minutes later, the “Michael Waltz” account posted a lengthy note about trade figures, and the limited capabilities of European navies. “Whether it’s now or several weeks from now, it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes. Per the president’s request we are working with DOD and State to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans.”​

​

The account identified as “JD Vance” addressed a message at 8:45 to @PETE Hegseth: “if you think we should do it let’s go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.” (The administration has argued that America’s European allies benefit economically from the U.S. Navy’s protection of international shipping lanes.)​

​

The user identified as Hegseth responded three minutes later: “VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC. But Mike is correct, we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this. Nobody else even close. Question is timing. I feel like now is as good a time as any, given POTUS directive to reopen shipping lanes. I think we should go; but POTUS still retains 24 hours of decision space.”​

​

At this point, the previously silent “S M” joined the conversation. “As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return. We also need to figure out how to enforce such a requirement. EG, if Europe doesn’t remunerate, then what? If the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return.”​

 

[lenaitch]

What is truly revelatory (because they are saying the quiet part out loud) is just how transactional and mercenary the US has become...

A few minutes later, the “Michael Waltz” account posted a lengthy note about trade figures, and the limited capabilities of European navies. “Whether it’s now or several weeks from now, it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes. Per the president’s request we are working with DOD and State to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans.”​

​

The account identified as “JD Vance” addressed a message at 8:45 to @PETE Hegseth: “if you think we should do it let’s go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.” (The administration has argued that America’s European allies benefit economically from the U.S. Navy’s protection of international shipping lanes.)​

​

The user identified as Hegseth responded three minutes later: “VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC. But Mike is correct, we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this. Nobody else even close. Question is timing. I feel like now is as good a time as any, given POTUS directive to reopen shipping lanes. I think we should go; but POTUS still retains 24 hours of decision space.”​

​

At this point, the previously silent “S M” joined the conversation. “As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return. We also need to figure out how to enforce such a requirement. EG, if Europe doesn’t remunerate, then what? If the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return.”​

Maybe they'll try to annex Egypt, or make it a state (what are we up to now . . . 65?) I'm not why Trump & Co. cares. The US doesn't need anybody and is completely self sufficient.

 

[brihard]

Soooo...



OPSEC was brutal on this one, and it is clear that none of the principals have any clue about the very concept...according to a Signal thread that included detailed plans, weapons, timings, BDA etc. We know this to be true because Mike Waltz invited a journalist to the Principal's Planning Committee by accident:

The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans

U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.

www.theatlantic.com

The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans​

U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.​

By Jeffrey Goldberg​

​

The world found out shortly before 2 p.m. eastern time on March 15 that the United States was bombing Houthi targets across Yemen.​

​

I, however, knew two hours before the first bombs exploded that the attack might be coming. The reason I knew this is that Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m. The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.​

​

This is going to require some explaining.​

​

This is what happens when you select key personnel based on ideology, level of campaign contributions, or the degree that the selection will enrage "the establishment", or all three.

In an administration that wasn’t a sick joke, every one of them would have their security clearance suspended and reviewed for cause, and several of them would be under criminal investigation. And of course several of them have commented in the past about how important it is to safeguard classified information.

The utter casualness of this basically guarantees that this is a routine practice.

 

[QV]

What is truly revelatory (because they are saying the quiet part out loud) is just how transactional and mercenary the US has become...

A few minutes later, the “Michael Waltz” account posted a lengthy note about trade figures, and the limited capabilities of European navies. “Whether it’s now or several weeks from now, it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes. Per the president’s request we are working with DOD and State to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans.”​

​

The account identified as “JD Vance” addressed a message at 8:45 to @PETE Hegseth: “if you think we should do it let’s go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.” (The administration has argued that America’s European allies benefit economically from the U.S. Navy’s protection of international shipping lanes.)​

​

The user identified as Hegseth responded three minutes later: “VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC. But Mike is correct, we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this. Nobody else even close. Question is timing. I feel like now is as good a time as any, given POTUS directive to reopen shipping lanes. I think we should go; but POTUS still retains 24 hours of decision space.”​

​

At this point, the previously silent “S M” joined the conversation. “As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return. We also need to figure out how to enforce such a requirement. EG, if Europe doesn’t remunerate, then what? If the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return.”​

With the debt burden the US is carrying that cannot go on forever, I don't think too many Americans are going to be that upset this administration is trying to even out the cost column.

 

[KevinB]

Let he who has never used unapproved tools to communicate top secret special access plans and accidentally included an uncleared civilian without need to know cast the first stone.

I mean there is a reason certain communication platforms are authorized for usage of classified conversations and the reason others aren’t.

Generally anything authorized won’t allow you to add an unsecured user/account/number etc it’s almost like there is a point to that…

 

[KevinB]

With the debt burden the US is carrying that cannot go on forever, I don't think too many Americans are going to be that upset this administration is trying to even out the cost column.

Well, the issue is that USG spending is UP since T47, despite all the slash and burn stupidity.

 

[Remius]

Well, the issue is that USG spending is UP since T47, despite all the slash and burn stupidity.

Winning.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

It is western aid that keeps the Houthi in power, without it they would lose a lot of the tribes, but the people would suffer terribly.