Congress has never authorized U.S. involvement in the war in Yemen, yet for almost three years the United States has literally fueled the conflict and its war crimes. Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia and its allies have targeted civilians, hospitals, schools, and farms with American made bombs dropped by planes refueled by the U.S. Meanwhile, the U.S. has provided Saudi Arabia and its allies political cover while they deliberately use starvation and disease as weapons of war, putting 8 million Yemenis a step away from famine. None of this brutality would be possible without continued American support.
Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced a resolution, which would end U.S. military involvement in the Saudi-led coalition’s war in Yemen. The resolution would end U.S. refueling of and intelligence-sharing to coalition warplanes conducting aerial bombings in Yemen. It invokes the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which was passed in the wake of the Vietnam War to empower Congress as the sole body that can declare war. Under the War Powers Resolution, this important legislation is guaranteed a vote, which means that the Senate will finally debate and vote soon on this unauthorized war. This legislation is our best chance to end the U.S. role in this unconstitutional war and push for peace, which is the only significant way to relieve the suffering of the Yemeni people.
Please take a moment to send a message to your senators, encouraging them to support the Sanders-Lee-Murphy resolution.