Congress passes joint-resolution condemning support for Saudi war in Yemen News
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Congress passes joint-resolution condemning support for Saudi war in Yemen

The US House of Representatives voted to approve a joint resolution on Thursday to cease US Military aid with respect to the civil war between a Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis in Yemen.

The resolution was approved by a vote of 247-175 and invokes Section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution. If confirmed into law, it would direct the president to end US involvement in assisting the Saudi-led coalition with “aerial targeting and help to coordinate military and intelligence activities,” in the Yemeni civil war.

The Senate passed a coinciding resolution in March by a margin of 54 to 46, well short of the two-thirds majority necessary to bypass a presidential veto.

The joint-resolution “directs the President to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities in or affecting the Republic of Yemen, except United States Armed Forces engaged in operations directed at al Qaeda or associated forces” by April 12, 2019.

The joint-resolution goes on to define “hostilities” to include “in flight refueling of non-United States aircraft conducting missions as part of the ongoing civil war in Yemen.” However, the joint-resolution makes clear that nothing in it should “be construed to influence or disrupt any intelligence, counterintelligence, or investigative activities” in the region.

In a March 13 policy statement, the White House indicated the Executive Branch’s opposition saying the resolution “would raise serious constitutional concerns to the extent it seeks to override the President’s determination as Commander in Chief.” And indicating that if the resolution were presented to President Trump, “his senior advisors would recommend he veto the joint resolution.”

Then in a nearly identical policy statement released April 1, the White House reconfirmed its opposition to the joint-resolution, raising concerns that enactment of the measure would “negatively affect our ability to prevent the spread of violent extremist organizations.”

The White House further stated that “continued cooperation with regional partner nations allows the United States to support diplomatic negotiations to end the conflict, promote humanitarian access, mitigate civilian casualties, enhance efforts to recover United States hostages in Yemen, and defeat terrorists who seek to harm the United States.”

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