The Houthi attacks should have been stopped the day they began.
Oderint dum metuant and all that.
From CDR Salamander, March 17:
As I mentioned at the opening of yesterday’s Midrats Podcast:
The origin story of the United States of America begins, in no small part, with maritime trade issues. Most of the declared and many of the undeclared wars our nation has fought can be traced to the safety of our maritime commerce and unfettered access to the open seas.
The shores of Tripoli, the Quasi-War, Free Trade and Sailors' Rights, Remember the Maine, the Lusitania, and other operations of various sizes—all these revolve around a simple rule we ask the world,
Seriously, don’t touch our boats.
However, in the almost 18 months since the Houthi rebels have been attacking Western shipping in the Red Sea, we have mostly been playing defense.
Why have we been playing defense? The Biden Administration, like the Obama Administration, was worm-ridden with Iranian accommodationalists. The Houthi, like Hamas and Hezbollah, are Iranian proxies.
After the murder, rape, slaughter, and kidnapping from Gaza into Israel on October 7th, 2023 by Iranian proxies, the Houthi started their campaign of support—as directed by Iran—by attacking shipping in the Red Sea.
It could not be ignored, but we never took the needed action. We did not even do half-measures. At best we did quarter-measures.
The attacks continued and our credibility on the world stage degraded in proportion to that.
As we have discussed often here, we have a few thousand years of dealing with piracy and bad-faith actors on the high seas. It has direct costs in commerce, treasure, and lives.
*****
....Where is all this going? Well, let’s establish a few things first.
Clearly what we were doing was not working.
The Houthi are a 4th rate non-naval power. We like to tell everyone that, though we are the world’s second largest navy, we are the most capable. If we can’t keep the Houthi away from shipping through a major Sea Line of Communication, then why should anyone expect we could do more.
Europe won’t/can’t help. They not only lack the capability to project power ashore against the Houthi to any reasonable measure, they lack the will.
China does not care. It does not impact them. They benefit from this chaos against the West.
Russia thinks this is wonderful.
Iran can’t believe we are letting this go on. The Houthi are the last significant proxy, so they will do all they can to keep them going.
The lines are fairly clear right now. Not much room to maneuver. Looks like we will be at this for awhile. More extended range time....
....MUCH MORE
- After U.S., Others, Write Strongly Worded Letter, Houthis Launch Explosive Sea-Drone
- "Red Sea attacks already bigger issue for supply chain than pandemic, maritime advisory warns"
- Are U.S. Military Leaders Incompetent Or Are Their Political Masters Playing Make-Believe?: Houthi Edition
- You Knew China Had A Base At The Approaches To The Red Sea, Right? "...Chinese, Iranian and Indian Warships Are Now in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden"
- Today I Learned: The Houthi Slogan
Via the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point:
Catchy. I wonder if they have a jingle?
In New York City the protestors were chanting: "Yemen, Yemen Make Us Proud, Turn Another Ship Around!" but that has obvious problems with the rhyme and I'm not sure the Houthis would be attracted to the cadence either. Ditto for the traditional "Two, Four, Six, Eight, [something, something rhymes with ate]:....
....Here's the Houthi flag/banner with the slogan on it, I'll see if we can get a rhyme out of it in Arabic:
I think jingles are going to make a 2024 comeback in the corporate branding biz. and aim to be right there with the good stuff. (if interested see also the Great Band Name Adventure)
