by Stephen Lendman

On Wednesday, things in Yemen changed but stayed the same. Saudi rhetoric belies its policy.

It announced Operation Restoring Hope replacing Decisive Storm. US-planned and orchestrated/Saudi-led terror bombing offered Yemenis none. Nor does continued US-ordered war.

Washington's policy remains hardline. It's unchanged. It includes:

• regaining unchallenged control over its former client state;


• crushing Houthi resistance;


• restoring US-installed/Houthi ousted illegitimate president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi to power serving Western interests at the expense of his people; or


• another puppet leader operating the same way.

Saudi claims of aggression ending against Yemenis rings hollow. Conflict continues. Maybe in different form alone - not objectives.

Houthis won't surrender to US/Saudi rule. Washington settles for nothing less.

Expect no peace in Yemen ahead. Expect more pain and suffering than already.

Saudi/US air and naval blockade remains in place. Houthi Ansarullah fighters are still attacked.

Civilians face more Saudi state terror at its discretion. Humanitarian crisis conditions remain woefully under-addressed.

Aid able to get in is far too little. Much more is needed. Blockade prevents it.

A meaningless Saudi Defense Ministry spokesman statement claimed its terror-bombing campaign "successfully managed to thwart the threat on the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries."

He said Renewal of Hope aims to protect civilians and combat "terrorism." It will combine "political, diplomatic and military action."

At the same time, he said "(w)e are not talking about a ceasefire." The next so-called phase of Saudi state terror "has a military component."

It remains to be seen in what form and how intense. It's clear the overwhelming ordeal of millions of Yemenis continues without end.

Saudi-led terror-bombing began on March 26. It lasted 27 days. It's temporarily halted Saudis claim - to resume any time at Washington's discretion.

Obama's latest atrocity adds more criminality to his rap sheet. His war on humanity continues without end.

US planned and orchestrated/Saudi-led terror bombing accomplished nothing strategically. It enraged 25 million Yemenis and millions more worldwide.

It created a devastating humanitarian crisis worsening daily - in a country suffering from extreme poverty and deprivation in normal times.

War continues against Houthi Ansarullah fighters - including resumption of terror-bombing at Obama's discretion.

Saudi announced diplomacy is code language for demanding unconditional Houthi surrender - returning Yemen to US-controlled despotic rule.

The devastating toll after nearly a month of conflict includes thousands killed or wounded, mostly civilians, well over 150,000 displaced, and a deepening humanitarian disaster.

Before Saudi's Wednesday announcement, Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi vowed to resist its aggression "by all means and options."

"It is the right of our people to resist aggression by any means," he said.

Saudi's goal is "plac(ing) (Yemen) again under its feet and hegemony. Our Yemeni people will never give in. (They'll) resist in the face of the savage aggression."

Obama's war on Yemen is part of Washington's aim for unchallenged regional control.

War is America's strategy of choice - dirty, merciless, brutal mass slaughter and destruction harming defenseless civilians most.

No end of regional conflicts appear likely. Expect more war ahead, not less.

Washington bears full responsibility. Rogue NATO partners, Israel and regional despotic regimes share it. Humanity's fate hangs in the balance.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html