Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Thursday bemoaned the lack of US involvement in planning and assisting Saudi Arabia’s newly-launched military campaign in Yemen.
The head of the Armed Services Committee claimed that the fundamentalist government’s last-minute outreach to Washington about the attack on Iranian-backed groups “authenticates” the theory that “some people think it’s better to be an enemy of the United States than a friend.”
McCain made the remarks while chairing a hearing, in a back-and-forth with Gen. Lloyd Austin, the leader of US Central Command.
“Isn’t that quite a commentary on our relationship with Saudi Arabia and the other thirteen countries in their coalition–that they would, literally, the day of their attacks, tell the United States of America that they’re going to launch a major campaign?” he asked.
“I mean, that is really a fantastic indicator of the deterioration of the trust and confidence that these countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, have in us,” McCain added.
As Austin had said to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Washington responded to news that the operation was launched by offering Riyadh intelligence, logistics and planning assistance.
“They’re great partners, and I think they’ll be very much appreciative of the help that we’ll provide them,” Austin remarked.
He noted, however, in response to another question from Gillibrand, that he did not know “the specifics of their goals and objectives.”
Some in Washington have disputed the benefits and sincerity of Saudi Arabia’s friendship, given the Gulf monarchy’s fundamentalist system and its alleged support for extremists. Current and former lawmakers, for example, have been pressing the Obama administration to declassify parts of the 9/11 Commission Report that they say detail the Saudi government’s ties to the worst terrorist attack in United States history.
Members of the Saudi-backed coalition include regional autocratic states operating through the Gulf Cooperation Council–Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates. Oman, another GCC member, declined to join the alliance.
Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, and Sudan are also partaking in the mission. And as of Thursday morning, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey supports the operation and will consider offering logistical support “based on the evolution of the situation.”
The Associated Press also reported, during the committee hearing, that Egypt, Saudi Arabia “and other forces” are prepping a ground incursion into Yemen.
Austin, consistent with prior testimony, denied any knowledge of the plans, when asked a last second question on the matter by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).
“What a commentary,” McCain replied, before declaring the hearing adjourned.
Across the aisle, while the panel was still in session, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) pushed back on the idea that limited US involvement was something to lament.
“I’m gratified by that,” he said. “I want to see a region that will stand up and try to deal with its own problems, rather than telling us quietly that they think it’s a problem, and not doing anything.”
Just after the hearing, in a daily press briefing, State Department spokesperson Jeff Rathke said that the US sees the Saudi-backed intervention “as consistent with our goal,” a diplomatic resolution.
He also noted that Secretary of State John Kerry–in Lausanne, Switzerland for the latest round of multilateral nuclear talks with Iran, “briefly raised” the matter of Yemen with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.
Rathke stressed, however, that the negotiations between Iran and the permanent members of the UN Security Council remain focused on Tehran’s nuclear program.
